- Volume 67, Issue 3, 2017

‘ Streptomyces caelicus ’ DSM 40835 was first reported as the producer of the antibiotic griselimycin by some coworkers of Rhone Poulenc in 1971. The project on isolation of the antibiotic compound was stopped because of the bad solubility and selectivity of the compound towards Mycobacteria. At Sanofi-Aventis, Germany, the project was re-evaluated in 2007 and the gene cluster of griselimycin could be identified, characterized and was patented in 2013. At this time, ‘ S. caelicus ’ was an invalid name. During the strain characterization work, it was found that ' S. caelicus ' belongs to the group of species of the genus Streptomyces which show an unusual heterogeneity of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. However, high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Streptomyces muensis JCM 17576T and Streptomyces canchipurensis JCM 17575T were obvious. Here, we present a comparative description of ' Streptomyces caelicus ’ DS 9461 (=DSM 40835=NCCB 100592) with S. muensis and S. canchipurensis by use of a polyphasic taxonomy approach and additional comparison of some housekeeping genes by multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA). An emended description of Streptomyces muensis is provided as a result of this work.

An aerobic, mildly acidophilic actinobacterium was isolated from the Ochre Beds bog in Kootenay National Park, Canada. Cells of isolate OB1T were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, pink- to purple-pigmented filaments. The pH range for growth was pH 3.5–6.5 (optimum pH 5.5), and the temperature range was 13–30°C. The major cellular fatty acids were i-C16 : 0 (28.5 %), i-C15 : 0 (14.6 %) and ai-C15 : 0 (14.3 %), and the major polar lipid was phosphohexose. The major quinone was menaquinone-11 (MK-11), and the peptidoglycan type was A1γ. The DNA G+C content was 70.2 %. Along with growth on complex media including yeast extract, proteose peptone, casamino acids and tryptic soy broth, growth occured on mono- and disaccharides (glucose, sucrose, galactose and xylose) and polysaccharides (starch, gellan, pectin, xylan and alginate). Anaerobic growth was not observed. The cells did not fix atmospheric nitrogen. On the basis of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, this isolate belonged to the family Actinospicaceae , in the suborder Catenulisporineae of the order Actinomycetales . The most closely related species was Actinospica robiniae . However, the 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to this bacterium was low (92.8 %) and there were several chemotaxonomic differences from this species. We therefore propose a novel genus and species, Actinocrinis puniceicyclus gen. nov., sp. nov., with strain OB1T (=DSM 45618T=ATCC BAA-2771T) as the type strain.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated YIM A1136T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Xingyi county, Guizhou province, south-western China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were aerobic, Gram-staining-positive and rod-shaped. Colonies of the strain were circular, convex, opaque and yellowish-white in colour. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain YIM A1136T was most closely related to the type strains Nocardioides ganghwensis JC2055T (98.3 % sequence similarity), Nocardioides exalbidus RC825T (98.2 %), Nocardioides alpinus Cr7-14T (98.2 %), Nocardioides hwasunensis HFW-21T (98.0 %), Nocardioides oleivorans DSM 16090T (97.9 %) and Nocardioides furvisabuli SBS-26T (97.8 %) and is therefore considered to represent a member of the genus Nocardioides . DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain YIM A1136T and related type strains of the genus Nocardioides were less than 70 %. ll-Diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell sugars were galactose, glucose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H4), while the major fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain YIM A1136T merits representation of a novel species of the genus Nocardioides , for which the name Nocardioides cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM A1136T (=KCTC 39551T=DSM 29950T).

Two Gram-stain-variable, non-motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-negative bacteria, designated AK20-18T and AM20-54, were isolated from forest soil samples collected in the Italian Alps. Growth occurred at a temperature range of 5–30 °C, at pH 6–9 and in the presence of 0–5 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains AK20-18T and AM20-54 was 100 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain AK20-18T had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of Arthrobacter psychrochitiniphilus (96.9 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan structure of strain AK20-18T was of the type A3alpha l-Lys–l-Thr–l-Ala2 (A11.27). The whole-cell sugars were galactose, ribose and lesser amounts of mannose. The major respiratory quinone of the two strains was menaquinone 9(H2) [MK-9(H2)], whereas MK-10(H2) was a minor component. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and unknown glycolipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 59.9 mol%. Combined data of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses demonstrated that strains AK20-18T and AM20-54 represent a novel genus and species, for which the name Psychromicrobium silvestre gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Psychromicrobium silvestregen. nov., sp. nov. is AK20-18T (=DSM 102047T=LMG 29369T).

A novel halophilic actinomycete strain, designated TRM 46074T, was isolated from Aiding salt lake in Turpan Basin, north-west China. Strain TRM 46074T was aerobic, Gram-stain-positive and grew optimally with 12 % (w/v) NaCl. The strain was observed to produce sparse aerial mycelium with long chains of spores that were non-motile and oval or spherical in shape with a rough or smooth surface; substrate mycelium was branched and well developed. The cell wall was determined to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid; the diagnostic whole-cell sugars were galactose, arabinose and ribose. The diagnostic polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H4), MK-10(H8) and MK-10(H4). The G+C content of the DNA was 70.9 mol%. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain TRM 46074T belongs to the genus Saccharopolyspora . Strain TRM 46074T had 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.6 % with the closest described species, Saccharopolyspora ghardaiensis H53T. DNA–DNA hybridization between strain TRM 46074T and Saccharopolyspora ghardaiensis H53T showed 58.6 % relatedness. On the basis of the evidence from a polyphasic study, strain TRM 46074T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Saccharopolyspora , for which the name Saccharopolyspora aidingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TRM 46074T (=CCTCC AA 2012014T=JCM 30185T).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic bacterial strain, designated SL15-1T, was isolated from desert soil which was sampled from the rhizosphere of Ammopiptanthus mongolicus, Hangjin Banner, Ordos, Inner Mongolia, northern China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SL15-1T was clustered with Kribbella strains, sharing the highest similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequence (96.97 %) with Kribbella sandramycini DSM 15626T. Strain SL15-1T contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown lipid and two unknown aminophospholipids as the major polar lipids. MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone, while anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and iso-C14 : 0 were the major cellular fatty acids. Its genomic DNA G+C content was 65.3 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the discrimination of strain SL15-1T from its phylogenetic relatives. Kribbella deserti sp. nov. is therefore proposed with strain SL15-1T (=CGMCC 1.15906T=KCTC 39825T) as the type strain.

A bacterial strain, designated 5GHs33-3T, was isolated from greenhouse soil collected from Yongin region, Gyeonggi province, South Korea. The strain was an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium. Strain 5GHs33-3T grew at 4–37 °C (optimally at 28–30 °C), pH 6.0–10.0 (optimally at pH 7.0) and with 0–7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimally with 0 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain 5GHs33-3T had high sequence similarity with Actinotalea suaedae EGI 60002T (98.4 %), Actinotalea ferrariae CF5-4T (96.4 %) and Actinotalea fermentans DSM 3133T (96.2 %), and less than 95.5 % sequence similarity against all the other species with validly published names. The phylogenetic tree revealed that strain 5GHs33-3T formed a robust independent monophyletic line with Actinotalea suaedae EGI 60002T. The predominant fatty acids of strain 5GHs33-3T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. The only quinone was MK-8(H4). Polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unknown phosphoglycolipid and unknown lipids. The peptidoglycan type was A4β, with ornithine as the diagnostic diamino acid and an interpeptide bridge comprising l-Glu. The DNA G+C content is 69.0 mol%. Based on phylogenetic evidence and the results of phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain 5GHs33-3T represents a novel species of a new genus of the family Cellulomonadaceae , for which the name Pseudactinotalea terrae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is 5GHs33-3T (=KACC 16542T=NBRC 111006T). We also propose the reclassification of Actinotalea suaedae as Pseudactinotalea suaedae comb. nov. (type strain EGI 60002T=JCM 19624T=KACC 17839T=KCTC 29256T).

Strain JBM2-3T, a pale-yellow-coloured, aerobic, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive and Gram-stain-negative bacterium, was isolated from wet soil. The isolate grew aerobically at 25–30 °C (optimum 25 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain JBM2-3T belonged to the genus Spirosoma , with a sequence similarity of 96.2 % with Spirosoma panaciterrae Gsoil 1519T. The strain showed the typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Spirosoma , with the presence of menaquinone 7 as the respiratory quinone; the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (composed of C16: 1ω6c /ω7c), C16: 1ω5c and iso-C15: 0. The DNA G+C content of strain JBM2-3T was 47.4 mol%. The polar lipid profile contained major amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine and aminophospholipids. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain JBM2-3T should be classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Spirosoma , for which the name Spirosoma swuense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JBM2-3T (=KCTC 52176T=JCM 31298T).

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, bright-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strain, slightly motile by gliding, catalase- and oxidase-positive and aerobic, but growing weakly under anaerobic conditions, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the flower mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus L.) located in Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The strain named THG-HG1.4T grew at 15–35 °C, pH 6.5–9.0 and in the presence of 0–2.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain THG-HG1.4T was most closely related to Flavobacterium gyeonganense HME7524T (98.83 %) and Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans S2-3HT (97.28 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-HG1.4T was 41.2 mol%. In DNA–DNA hybridization, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain THG-HG1.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 64.1 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-HG1.4T was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, two unidentified glycolipids and an unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3. Thus, based on the report of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-HG1.4T, it has been concluded that the novel isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium. Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-HG1.4T (=KACC 18852T=CCTCC AB 2016178T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented, flexirubin-producing, rod-shaped and endophytic bacterium, designated strain CC-YTH209T, was isolated from a maize leaf and subjected to a taxonomic study. Strain CC-YTH209T was found to grow at 15–40 °C (optimal 30 °C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimal pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–2 % (optimal 1 %) (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CC-YTH209T appeared to belong to the genus Chryseobacterium within the class Flavobacteriia , and was closely related to Chryseobacterium rigui CJ16T (97.5 % similarity) and Chryseobacterium taeanense PHA3-4T (96.9 %). The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CC-YTH209T and Chryseobacterium rigui CJ16T was 14.4 % (reciprocal, 13.0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes revealed a distinct taxonomic position attained by strain CC-YTH209T within the clade that accommodated Chryseobacterium species. The DNA G+C content was 37.2 mol%. Strain CC-YTH209T contained menaquinone MK-6 as the predominant respiratory quinone and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The major cellular fatty acids of the isolate were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and C16 : 1 ω6c/C16  : 1 ω7c. The polar lipid profile comprised phosphatidylethanolamine and five aminolipids, three lipids, one glycolipid, one aminophospholipid and one phospholipid, which are presently uncharacterized. On the basis of evidence presented in this study, strain CC-YTH209T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium , for which the name Chryseobacterium endophyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-YTH209T (=BCRC 80938T=JCM 31226T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated OITF-20T, was isolated from the tidal flat in Oido, an island of South Korea. The novel strain grew optimally at 25 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain OITF-20T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species of the genus Lutibacter . Strain OITF-20T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.8, 97.6 and 97.6 % to the type strains of Lutibacter crassostreae , Lutibacter flavus and Lutibacter litoralis , respectively, of 94.9–96.8 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Lutibacter and of less than 93.4 % to the type strains of the other recognized species. Strain OITF-20T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C15 : 1ω6c and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain OITF-20T were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain OITF-20T was 31.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of L. crassostreae , L. flavus and L. litoralis were 17–27 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain OITF-20T is separated from other recognized species of the genus Lutibacter . On the basis of the data presented, strain OITF-20T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Lutibacter , for which the name Lutibacter litorisediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is OITF-20T (=KCTC 52501T=NBRC 112458T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and pink-pigmented bacterial strain, designated 16F7GT, was isolated from river water. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 16F7GT belongs to the genus Hymenobacter . The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to members of the genus Hymenobacter ranged from 90.5 to 97.4 %, and the most closely related strains were Hymenobacter rigui WPCB131T (97.4 %) and Hymenobacter xinjiangensis X2-1gT (97.3 %). Strain 16F7GT had <70 % DNA–DNA relatedness with H. rigui (32.8±7.8 %) and H. xinjiangensis (30.2±6.2 %), indicating that it represents a novel genospecies. Cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive. The genomic DNA G+C content was 56.6 mol%. The major fatty acids were summed feature 4 (C17 : 1iso I/C17 : 1 anteiso B; 19.8 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16  : 1 ω6c; 18.4 %), C15 : 0 iso (17.0 %), C16 : 1 ω5c (11.8 %) and C15 : 0 anteiso (9.8 %). The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine and the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, it is concluded that strain 16F7GT represents a novel species within the genus Hymenobacter , for which the name Hymenobacter seoulensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 16F7GT (=KCTC 52197T=JCM 31655T).

The Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strain GSE06T, isolated from the surface-sterilized root of a cucumber plant grown in a field in Gunsan, Korea, was characterized by not only cultural and morphological features but also physiological, biochemical and molecular analyses. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain GSE06T was most closely related to species of the genus Chryseobacterium . Furthermore, strain GSE06T exhibited the highest sequence similarities with the type strains Chryseobacterium indologenes ATCC 29897T (98.9 %), Chryseobacterium gleum ATCC 35910T (98.8 %), Chryseobacterium arthrosphaerae CC-VM-7T (98.7 %), Chryseobacterium contaminans C26T (98.5 %), Chryseobacterium artocarpi UTM-3T (98.3 %), and Chryseobacterium gallinarum 100T (97.9 %). Average nucleotide identity values between genome sequences of strain GSE06T and the above-mentioned reference strains ranged from 81.2 to 86.9 %, which were lower than the threshold of 95 % (corresponding to a DNA–DNA reassociation value of 70 %). The DNA G+C content of strain GSE06T was 36.1 mol%; the predominant respiratory quinone of the strain was MK-6. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three aminolipids, one aminophospholipid, four glycolipids and one unidentified lipid. These results of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics could differentiate strain GSE06T from closely related type strains belonging to the genus Chryseobacterium . Thus, strain GSE06T is proposed as a representative of a novel species in the genus Chryseobacterium, Chryseobacterium cucumeris sp. nov. The type strain is GSE06T (=KACC 18798T=JCM 31422T).

During the study of hydrocarbon-degrading bacteria in the oil-contaminated soil of Biratnagar, Morang, Nepal, a yellow-coloured, Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain C-5-3T, was isolated. This strain was characterized taxonomically by a polyphasic approach. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain C-5-3T belonged to the genus Chryseobacterium and was closely related to Chryseobacterium profundimaris DY46T (98.19 % sequence similarity), Chryseobacterium takakiae AG1-2T (98.15 % sequence similarity), Chryseobacterium taiwanense BCRC 17412T (98.14 % sequence similarity), Chryseobacterium camelliae THG C4-1T (97.73 % sequence similarity) and Chryseobacterium hispalense DSM 25574T (97.60 % sequence similarity). The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6, and phosphatidylethanolamine was the major polar lipid. The predominant fatty acids of strain C-5-3T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 9 (iso- C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 38.6 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain C-5-3T and Chryseobacterium profundimaris JCM 19801T, C. takakiae DSM 26898T, C. taiwanense KACC 13400T, C. camelliae KACC 16985T and C. hispalense DSM 25574T was 53.3, 42.7, 47.3, 33.0 and 28.0 %, respectively. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain C-5-3T represents a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium , for which the name Chryseobacterium nepalense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C-5-3T (=KEMB 9005-411T=KACC 18907T=JCM 31469T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, named wh15T, was isolated from the waste water of a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Wuhu, PR China. The taxonomic status of the strain was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Growth occurred at 15–45 °C (optimum, 25–40 °C), at pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0–4 % NaCl (optimum, 1–2 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that wh15T represented a member of genus Flavobacterium and shared the highest similarity with Flavobacterium ummariense DS-12T (93.93 %), Flavobacterium ceti 454–2T (93.71 %) and Flavobacterium marinum SW105T (93.63 %). The major respiratory quinone of wh15T was MK-6 and major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The DNA G+C content of wh15T was 32.3 mol%. Phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic evidence indicated that wh15T represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , the name Flavobacterium cloacae is proposed. The type strain is wh15T (=CCTCC AB 2015420T=JCM 31173T).

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain SM1504T, was isolated from Arctic seawater. It hydrolysed aesculin and gelatin but did not reduce nitrate to nitrite. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SM1504T constituted a distinct phylogenetic line within the family Cytophagaceae and was closely related to species of the genera Lacihabitans , Emticicia , Fluviimonas and Leadbetterella , with respect to which low sequence similarities between 88.9 and 91.6 % were observed. The major fatty acids of strain SM1504T were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and iso-C15 : 0. The predominant polar lipids of strain SM1504T were phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified lipid. The only respiratory quinone detected in strain SM1504T was MK7. The DNA G+C content of strain SM1504T was 40.8 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characterization in this study, strain SM1504T is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus of the family Cytophagaceae , for which the name Arcticibacterium luteifluviistationis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SM1504T (=KCTC 42716T=CCTCC AB 2015348T).

A yellowish-orange-pigmented marine bacterium, designated MEBiC08714T was isolated from a sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius collected at the west edge of the East Sea of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that MEBiC08714T was affiliated with the genus Echinicola and that the strain was most closely related to Echinicola vietnamensis KCTC 12713T (96.9 %), followed by ‘ Echinicola shivajiensis ’ JCM 17847 (96.3 %), Echinicola jeungdonensis KCTC 23122T (96.1 %), and Echinicola pacifica KCTC 12368T (95.0 %). Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod shaped, flexirubin-type pigments-negative and motile by gliding. Growth was observed at 20–35 °C (optimum 25 °C), at pH 6–11 (optimum pH 7.0), and with 0–13 % NaCl (optimum 2 %). This strain was able to hydrolyze agar and starch. The polar lipids of MEBiC08714T contained phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, and four unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (27.5 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (11.5 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (5.2 %), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c, 20.3 %) and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or10-methyl C16 : 06, 6.3 %). The DNA G+C content was 44.2 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was MK-7. On the basis of these polyphasic taxonomic data, MEBiC08714T represents a novel species of the genus Echinicola , for which the name Echinicola strongylocentroti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MEBiC08714T (=KCTC 52052T=JCM 31307T).

A novel, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and filamentous bacterial strain, designated HMF3829T, was isolated from wetland freshwater in Gyeong-an wetland, Republic of Korea. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HMF3829T formed a lineage within the genus Runella . Strain HMF3829T was closely related to Runella slithyformis DSM 19594T (95.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Runella limosa DSM 17973T (94.9 %), Runella zeae NS12T (94.2 %) and Runella defluvii EMB13T (94.0 %). The major fatty acids of strain HMF3829T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The polar lipids of strain HMF3829T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified phospholipid, three unidentified aminophospholipids and 12 unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain HMF3829T was 46.2 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain HMF3829T represents a novel species of the genus Runella , for which the name Runella palustris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HMF3829T (=KCTC 42850T=CECT 8978T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain HMF2268T, was isolated from a lagoon in the Republic of Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain HMF2268T belonged to the genus Polaribacter and was most closely related to Polaribacter huanghezhanensis SM1202T (96.8 % similarity). Cellular fatty acids were dominated by iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 1 G. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 34.3 mol%. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic analyses, it is concluded that strain HMF2268T represents a novel species of the genus Polaribacter , for which the name Polaribacter lacunae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HMF2268T (=KCTC 42191T=CECT 8862T).

Strain KT0803T was isolated from coastal eutrophic surface waters of Helgoland Roads near the island of Helgoland, North Sea, Germany. The taxonomic position of the strain, previously known as ‘ Gramella forsetii ’ KT0803, was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, chemo-organotrophic, heterotrophic, strictly aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, rod-shaped, motile by gliding and had orange–yellow carotenoid pigments, but was negative for flexirubin-type pigments. It grew optimally at 22–25 °C, at pH 7.5 and at a salinity between 2–3 %. Strain KT0803T hydrolysed the polysaccharides laminarin, alginate, pachyman and starch. The respiratory quinone was MK-6. Polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, six unidentified lipids and two unidentified aminolipids. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 1ω7c and iso-C17 : 1ω7c, with smaller amounts of iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C17 : 1ω6c. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.6 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence identities were 98.6 % with Gramella echinicola DSM 19838T, 98.3 % with Gramella gaetbulicola DSM 23082T, 98.1 % with Gramella aestuariivivens BG-MY13T and Gramella aquimixticola HJM-19T, 98.0 % with Gramella lutea YJ019T, 97.9 % with Gramella portivictoriae DSM 23547T and 96.9 % with Gramella marina KMM 6048T. The DNA–DNA relatedness values were <35 % between strain KT0803T and type strains with >98.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity. Based on the chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and genomic characteristics, strain KT0803T has been assigned to the genus Gramella , as Gramella forsetii sp. nov. The type strain is KT0803T (=DSM 17595T=CGMCC 1.15422T). An emended description of Gramella gaetbulicola Cho et al. 2011 is also proposed.

A novel indole-3-acetic acid-producing bacterium, designated TEGT-2T, was isolated from the roots of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum collected from the Qinling Mountains in shaanxi province, northwestern China, and was subjected to a taxonomic study by using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain TEGT-2T were Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, endospore-forming rods and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TEGT-2T was a member of the genus Paenibacillus , exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Paenibacillus pectinilyticus KCTC 13222T (97.9 %), Paenibacillus frigoriresistens CCTCC AB 2011150T (97.3 %), Paenibacillus ferrarius CCTCC AB 2013369T (96.9 %) and Paenibacillus alginolyticus NBRC 15375T (96.5 %). The only menaquinone detected was MK-7, and the major fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 46.6 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness values for strain TEGT-2T with respect to its closest phylogenetic relatives Paenibacillus pectinilyticus KCTC 13222T and Paenibacillus . frigoriresistens CCTCC AB 2011150T were lower than 40 %. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic data, strain TEGT-2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus qinlingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TEGT-2T (=CCTCC AB 2015258T=KCTC 33806T).

Gram-stain-positive cocci were isolated from miscellaneous sites of the skin of healthy dogs as well as from infection sites in dogs. The closest relative by sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene was Macrococcus caseolyticus with 99.7 % sequence identity, but compared with M. caseolyticus , the novel strains shared only 90.8 to 93.5 % DNA sequence identity with cpn60, dnaJ, rpoB and sodA partial genes, respectively. The novel strains also exhibited differential phenotypic characteristics from M. caseolyticus , and the majority displayed a visible haemolysis on sheep blood agar, while M. caseolyticus did not have any haemolytic activity. They generated different matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS spectral profiles compared with the other species of the genus Macrococcus . Furthermore, strain KM 45013T shared only 53.7 % DNA–DNA relatedness with the type strain of M. caseolyticus , confirming that they do not belong to the same species. The DNA G+C content of strain KM 45013T was 36.9 mol%. The most abundant fatty acids were C14 : 0, C18 : 3ω6c (6, 9, 12) and C16 : 0 n alcohol. MK-6 was the menaquinone type of KM 45013T. Cell-wall structure analysis revealed that the peptidoglycan type was A3α l-Lys–Gly2–l-Ser. Based on genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we propose to classify these strains within a novel species of the genus Macrococcus for which the name Macrococcus canis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KM 45013T (=DSM 101690T=CCOS 969T=CCUG 68920T).

Two novel anaerobic, mesophilic, biohydrogen-producing bacteria, designated strains ZGM211T and G1T, were isolated from lake sediment. 16S rRNA and ATP synthase beta subunit (atp D) gene sequences and phylogenetic analysis of strains ZGM211T and G1T revealed an affiliation to the genus Clostridium sensu stricto (cluster I of the clostridia), with Clostridium acetobutylicum as the closest characterized species, showing the same sequence similarity of 96.4 % to the type strain (98.9 % between the two isolates). Cells of the two strains were rod shaped. Growth occurred at 20–45 °C, pH 4.0–8.0 and NaCl concentrations up to 2 % (w/v). Grown on glucose, the main fermentation products were H2, CO2, acetate and butyrate. The major fatty acids were C14 : 0 and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C contents of strains ZGM211T and G1T were 40.7 and 41.5 mol%, respectively. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic differences, strains ZGM211T (=CICC 24070T=BCRC 80950T) and G1T (=CICC 24069T=BCRC 80949T) are proposed as the type strains of novel species of the genus Clostridium with the names Clostridium guangxiense sp. nov. and Clostridium neuense sp. nov., respectively.

A unicellular cyanobacterium, strain Alchichica-D10, was isolated from microbialites of the alkaline Lake Alchichica, Mexico. The cells were short rods (3.9±0.6 µm in length and 1.1±0.1 µm in width) forming biofilms of intense emerald green colour. They exhibited red autofluorescence under UV light excitation. UV-visible absorption spectra revealed that they contain chlorophyll a and phycocyanin, and electron microscopy showed the presence of thylakoids. The strain grew within a temperature range of 15–30 °C. Genomic DNA G+C content was 52.2 mol%. The most remarkable feature of this species was its granular cytoplasm, due to the presence of numerous intracellular spherical granules (16–26 per cell) with an average diameter of 270 nm. These granules, easily visible under scanning electron microscopy, were composed of amorphous carbonate containing Ca, Mg, Ba and Sr. A multi-gene phylogeny based on the analysis of 59 conserved protein markers supported robustly that this strain occupies a deep position in the cyanobacterial tree. Based on its phenotypic characters and phylogenetic position, strain Alchichica-D10 is considered to represent a new genus and novel species of cyanobacteria for which the name Gloeomargarita lithophora gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Alchichica-D10 (Culture Collection of Algae and Protozoa CCAP strain 1437/1; Collections de Cyanobactéries et Microalgues Vivantes of the Museum National d’Histoire Naturelle in Paris strain PMC 919.15). Furthermore, a new family, Gloeomargaritaceae, and a new order, Gloeoemargaritales, are proposed to accommodate this species under the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile strain, designated GKXT, was isolated from deep seawater. Strain GKXT was able to grow at 20–35 °C (optimum, 25 °C), pH 5.5–9.5 (optimum, 7.5) and 0–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.0 %). The major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω9c (15.4 %), C16 : 0 (18.4 %), C14 : 0 (12.0 %), iso-C14 : 0 (30.1 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (5.7 %). Strain GKXT contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid as the main polar lipids. The only isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-9. The diagnostic amino acids of the cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain GKXT belonged to the genus Luteolibacter in the family Verrucomicrobiaceae . The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 98.0, 93.5 and 93.3 % sequence similarity, respectively, with those of Luteolibacter arcticus MC 3726T, L.uteolibacter pohnpeiensisA4T-83T and L.uteolibacter cuticulihirudinis E100T. DNA–DNA hybridization value of strain GKXT with L. arcticus MC 3726T was 33.1 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.5 mol%. On the basis of the genotypic, phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain GKXT was proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Luteolibacter , named Luteolibacter flavescens sp. nov. (type strain GKXT=MCCC 1K03193T=KCTC 52361T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain PC-2T, was isolated from penicillin fermentation fungi residue with pig manure co-compost in China. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, revealed that strain PC-2T should be assigned to the genus Chelatococcus and that it had 98.9 % similarity with Chelatococcus daeguensis , 98.8 % with Chelatococcus sambhunathii , 98.4 %, with Chelatococcus caeni and 96.0 % with Chelatococcus asaccharovorans . The G+C content of genomic DNA was 70.9 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, DNA–DNA relatedness values, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data, strain PC-2 T represents a novel species of the genus Chelatococcus , for which the name Chelatococcus composti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PC-2T (=DSM 101465T=CGMCC 1.15283T).

A novel facultatively methanol-utilizing bacterial strain, SM30T, was isolated from rice rhizosphere. Strain SM30T was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, short rods, and grew optimally at pH 7 and at 28 °C. It could tolerate 0 to 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain SM30T was most closely related to Pleomorphomonas oryzae DSM 16300T, with a low similarity of 94.17 %. One of the lanthanide metals, lanthanum, could enhance its growth slightly on methanol. Phylogenetic trees, based on the mxaF, xoxF and cpn60 genes of SM30T showed its distinct phylogenetic position with respect to species with validly published names. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification of the nifH and growth on nitrogen-free medium indicated that strain SM30T is a diazotroph. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (containing 18 : 1ω7c and 18 : 1ω6c) and cyclo 19 : 0ω8c. The major quinone was ubiquinone 10. The DNA G+C content was 74.6 mol%. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain SM30T represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Oharaeibacter diazotrophicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain SM30T (=NBRC 111955T=DSM 102969T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, B555-2T, was isolated from an ice core drilled from Muztagh Glacier on the Tibetan Plateau, China. According to phylogenetic analysis with 16S rRNA gene sequences, the novel strain was most closely related to Polymorphobacter fuscus D40PT and Polymorphobacter multimanifer 262-7T with 98.4 and 96.9 % similarity, respectively. It grew optimally at pH 7 and 15 °C with 0.6 % NaCl (m/v). Carotenoid was detected from the cells. Major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, phophatidylmonomethy lethanolamine, phophatidylcholine. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) (42.8 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) (28.8 %), C14 : 0 2-OH (10.1 %) and C16 : 0 (8.2 %). The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 62.1 mol%. In DNA–DNA hybridization tests, strain B555-2T shared 21.9 and 18.6 % DNA–DNA relatedness with P . fuscus D40PT and P . multimanifer 262-7T, respectively. Accordingly, strain B555-2T represents a novel species in the genus Polymorphobacter , for which the name Polymorphobacter glacialis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B555-2T (=CGMCC 1.15519T=KCTC 52396T).

A new betaproteobacterium, CGII-59m2T, was isolated from an activated sludge bioreactor which treated landfill leachate. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain CGII-59m2T belonged to the family Alcaligenaceae and shared the highest pairwise similarity values with Parapusillimonas granuli LMG 24012T (97.7 %), various species of the genus Bordetella (97.3–97.0 %) and Candidimonas nitroreducens LMG 24812T (97.0 %). Cells of strain CGII-59m2T were rod-shaped, non-motile, and oxidase- and catalase-positive. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, cyclo C17 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c, the major respiratory quinone was Q-8, and the main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown phospholipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain CGII-59m2T was 62.3 mol%. The new bacterium can be distinguished from the closely related type strains based on its non-motile cells and its high C16 : 1ω7c fatty acid content. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular data, strain CGII-59m2T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Caenimicrobium hargitense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CGII-59m2T (=DSM 29806T=NCAIM B.02615T).

A group of seven Chilean isolates presumptively belonging to Vibrio tapetis was isolated from diseased fine flounders (Paralichthys adspersus) and red conger eel (Genypterus chilensis) experimentally reared in Quintay (Chile). All isolates were confirmed as members of V. tapetis on the basis of matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight MS, 16S rRNA gene sequencing, DNA–DNA hybridization values and G+C content. The ERIC-PCR and REP-PCR patterns were homogeneous among those isolates recovered from the same host (red conger or fine flounders), but distinct from the type strains V. tapetis subsp. tapetis CECT 4600T and V. tapetis subsp. britannicus CECT 8161T. On the basis of atpA, rpoA, rpoD, recA and pyrH gene sequence similarities (99.7–100 %) and clustering in the phylogenetic trees, the red conger isolates (Q20, Q047, Q48 and Q50) were confirmed as representing V. tapetis subsp. tapetis . However, they differed from V. tapetis subsp. tapetis CECT 4600T in their lipase, alpha quimiotripsin and non-acid phosphatase production. On the other hand, the fine flounder isolates (QL-9T, QL-35 and QL-41) showed rpoD, recA and pyrH gene sequence similarities ranging from 91.6 to 97.7 % with the type strains of the two V. tapetis subspecies (CECT 4600T and CECT 8161T) and consistently clustered together as an independent phylogenetic line within V. tapetis . Moreover, they could be differentiated phenotypically from strains CECT 4600T and CECT 8161T by nine and three different biochemical tests, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of V. tapetis in diseased red conger eel and fine flounder was demonstrated, extending the known host range and geographical location for this pathogen. Furthermore, this study demonstrates that the three isolates from fine flounder represent a novel subdivision within V. tapetis , for which the name V. tapetis subsp. quintayensis subsp. nov. is proposed and with QL-9T (=CECT 8851T=LMG 28759T) as the type strain. Although QL-9T was isolated from kidney of diseased fine flounder specimens, the challenge assays showed that it was non-pathogenic for this species.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain Y4G10-17T, was isolated from the saline–alkali farmland top soil, Inner Mongolia, northern China. Strain Y4G10-17T could grow at 4–45 °C (with 30 °C as the optimal temperature), pH 6.0–12.0 (optimal at pH 9.0) and in the presence of 1.0–12.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal at 4.0–6.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on the eight different copies of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Y4G10-17T shared the highest sequence similarity with Aliidiomarina maris CF12-14T, 97.93–98.66 %, and lower than 97.0 % sequence similarity with all other type strains. Its major cellular fatty acids contained iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), iso-C15 : 1 F, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c). Q-8 was the predominantubiquinone. The major polar lipids of strain Y4G10-17T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown lipids and one unknown aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 49.3 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization revealed that strain Y4G10-17T showed 20.2±5 % genomic DNA relatedness with its close relative A. maris CF12-14T. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic characteristics, strain Y4G10-17T represents a novel species within the genus Aliidiomarina , for which the name Aliidiomarina soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y4G10-17T (=CGMCC 1.15759T=KCTC 52381T).

Bacterial strains 4M-Z03T, 4M-K16T and DHG59T were isolated from forest soil samples collected from the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China (112° 31′ E 23° 10′ N). The three strains grew well at 28 °C, pH 5.0–6.0 on R2A medium. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the three strains, together with Dyella humi DHG40T, formed a distinct phyletic clade within the genus Dyella , and the sequence similarities between any strains of the clade ranged from 97.8 to 98.5 %. Sequence analysis of concatenated partial gyr B, lep A and rec A gene sequences also strongly suggested that the three strains represented three novel species of the genus Dyella . The respiratory lipoquinone of the three strains was ubiquinone-8, and their DNA G+C content was 58.2–59.0 mol%. The fatty acid profiles differed substantially among these three strains, although they had two common major fatty acids, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The DNA–DNA relatedness among the three strains and the type strains of the closest species of the genus Dyella examined was lower than 50 %. The results of genotypic and phenotypic characterization presented above demonstrate that the three strains examined represent three novel species of the genus Dyella , for which the names Dyella acidisoli sp. nov. (type strain 4M-Z03T=NBRC 111980T=KCTC 52131T), Dyella flagellata sp. nov. (type strain 4M-K16T=NBRC 111981T=KCTC 52130T) and Dyella nitratireducens sp. nov. (type strain DHG59T=NBRC 111472T=LMG 29201T=CGMCC 1.15439T) are proposed.

The morphology and infraciliature of one freshwater ciliate, Cyclidium sinicum spec. nov., isolated from a farmland pond in Harbin, northeastern China, was investigated using living observation and silver staining methods. Cyclidium sinicum spec. nov. could be distinguished by the following features: body approximately 20–25×10–15 µm in vivo; buccal field about 45–50 % of body length; 11 somatic kineties; somatic kinety n terminating sub-caudally; two macronuclei and one micronucleus; M1 almost as long as M2; M2 triangle-shaped. The genus Cyclidium is re-defined as follows: body outline usually oval or elliptical, ventral side concave, dorsal side convex; single caudal cilium; contractile vacuole posterior terminal; adoral membranelles usually not separated; paroral membrane ‘L’-shaped, with anterior end terminating at the level of anterior end of M1; somatic kineties longitudinally arranged and continuous. Phylogenetic trees based on the SSU rDNA sequences showed that C. sinicum spec. nov. clusters with the type species, Cyclidium glaucoma, with full support. Cyclidium is not monophyletic with members of the clade of Cyclidium+Protocyclidium+Ancistrum+Boveria.

Strawberry plants showing symptoms of lethal redness disease were found in production fields located in Tucumán province, Argentina. The presence of phytoplasmas was confirmed by PCR of 16S rDNA gene using phytoplasma universal primers. According to the 16S rDNA gene sequence identity, the four isolates analysed are related to the X-disease group (16SrIII) (identity ~99 %). These results were confirmed by in silico RFLP, actual RFLP and also by phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA gene. This new phytoplasma was named as Strawberry X-Redness (StrawXR). The results from virtual and actual RFLP analyses of 16S rDNA gene revealed the presence of subgroup 16SrIII-J and three new 16SrIII subgroups. This is the first record of phytoplasmas from X-disease group associated strawberry in Argentina. These results confirm the prevalence of X-disease group and also contribute to the knowledge of diversity of phytoplasmas in this region.

According to the current version of Rule 12c of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, one of the ways in which a specific epithet can be treated is as an adjective that must agree in gender with the generic name. I propose emending this part of Rule 12c to specify that such adjectives must be in the singular form in the nominative case.