- Volume 67, Issue 5, 2017

Two closely related thermophilic bacterial strains, designated YIM 73013T and YIM 73008, were isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in Tibet, western Tibet province, China. The taxonomic positions of the two isolates were investigated using a polyphasic approach. The novel isolates were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod-shaped and motile by means of a polar flagellum. They were oxidase- and catalase-positive and were able to grow at 30–55 °C (optimum, 37–45 °C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with NaCl tolerance up to 1 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains YIM 73013T and YIM 73008 formed a distinct lineage with respect to closely related genera in the family Comamonadaceae and shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequences similarities with Acidovorax caeni R-24608T (96.3 and 96.4 %, respectively). The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) and the major cellular fatty acids observed were C17 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains YIM 73013T and YIM 73008 were 68.7 and 68.3 mol%, respectively. Based on the morphological, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results, the two isolates represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Tibeticola sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Tibeticola sediminis is YIM 73013T (=DSM 101684T=KCTC 42873T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, oval to rod-shaped, prosthecate bacterium, designated strain WM6T, was isolated from a seawater sample collected from the South China Sea at a depth of 150 m and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Cells of strain WM6T were approximately 0.5–0.6 µm in width and 0.8–1.2 µm in length, and colonies were smooth, circular, convex and whitish yellow. Strain WM6T was found to grow at 10–45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.5–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5–8.5) and with 1–6 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1–2 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed the predominant respiratory quinone and the major fatty acid of strains WM6T were ubiquinone-10 and C18 : 1ω7c, respectively. The polar lipids of strain WM6T were phosphatidylglycerol, glucuronopyranosyldiglyceride, monoglycosyldiglyceride, sulfo-quinovosyl diacylglycerol, seven unknown glycolipids and two unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain WM6T was determined to be 59.8 mol% by HPLC. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities showed that strain WM6T was related most closely to the genus Maricaulis with a similarity range from 92.3 to 93.8 %. Phylogenetic trees reconstructed with the neighbour-joining and maximum-likelihood methods using mega and maximum-likelihood methods using arb showed that strain WM6T constituted a separated branch in the family Hyphomonadaceae . Differential phenotypic properties, together with phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain WM6T is clearly distinct from any validly published genus. On the basis of these features, strain WM6T represents a novel species of a new genus with the name Hyphobacterium vulgare gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Hyphobacterium vulgare is WM6T (=MCCC 1K03222T=KCTC 52487T).

A novel acid-tolerant and alkalitolerant gammaproteobacterium designated strain RS22T was isolated from Kyonggi University forest soil. Cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Strain RS22T was able to assimilate lactic acid, l-proline and 3-hydroxybenzoic acid; it tolerated 4 % (w/v) NaCl, fermented glucose and was able to grow at pH 11.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain RS22T formed a lineage within the class Gammaproteobacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria that was distinct from various species of the genus Rhodanobacter , including Rhodanobacter denitrificans 2APBS1T (97.7 % sequence similarity), Rhodanobacter thiooxydans LCS2T (97.5 %), Rhodanobacter terrae GP18-1T (97.5 %) and Rhodanobacter soli DCY45T (97.2 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids of strain RS22T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain RS22T was 63.2 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization between strain RS22T and other closest members of the genus Rhodanobacter revealed relatedness values from 28 to 51 %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, strain RS22T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodanobacter , for which the name Rhodanobacter humi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RS22T (=KEMB 9005-480T=KACC 19048T=NBRC 112473T).

A facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, nitrogen-fixing, endophytic bacterial strain designated MP23T was isolated from the roots of Phragmites karka growing in Chilika Lagoon, Odisha, India. Strain MP23T was slightly halophilic, and the optimal NaCl concentration and temperature for growth were 1 % and 30 °C, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain MP23T was affiliated to the family Enterobacteriaceae and most closely related to Mangrovibacter yixingensis KCTC 42181T and Mangrovibacter plantisponsor DSM 19579T with 99.71 % similarity, followed by Salmonella enterica subsp. salamae DSM 9220T (97.22 %), Cronobacter condimenti LMG 26250T (97.14 %) and Salmonella enterica subsp. diarizonae DSM 14847T (97 %). Sequence analysis of 16S rRNA, hsp60, gyrB and rpoB genes showed that strain MP23T formed a phylogenetic cluster with M. yixingensis KCTC 42181T and M. plantisponsor DSM 19579T indicating that it belongs to the genus Mangrovibacter . The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c, C14 : 0, C14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso-C16 : 1 I and C17 : 0 cyclo. Polar lipids of strain MP23T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 50.3 mol%. Based on experimental DNA–DNA hybridization values and average nucleotide identity derived from in silico comparison of whole-genome sequences, strain MP23T could be distinguished from its closest neighbours. We therefore conclude that strain MP23T represents a novel species of the genus Mangrovibacter for which the name Mangrovibacter phragmitis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MP23T (=DSM 100250T=KCTC 42580T).

Four bacterial strains isolated from peat bog soil or swampy meadow in Baden-Württemberg (Germany) and found to have rrs sequences close to that of Rouxiella chamberiensis were compared to this species by using multi-locus sequence analysis and phenotypic tests. The four strains constituted two discrete groups (referred to as the Baden and the Silva groups) belonging to the genus Rouxiella . These groups differed in their ability to grow at 37 °C, reduce nitrate into nitrite, and to produce acid from several carbohydrates. Two novel species are, therefore, proposed: Rouxiella badensis sp. nov. for the Baden group (type strain, 323T=CIP 111153T=DSM 100043T) and Rouxiella silvae for the Silva group (type strain, 213T=CIP 111154T=DSM 103735T). The definition of the genus Rouxiella has also been emended in order to take these two novel species into account.

A bacterial strain, designated JS7-11T, was isolated from the surface sediment of the Jiulong River and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of JS7-11T were Gram-staining-negative, non-motile and short-rod-shaped. Growth was observed at 10–40 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), at pH 6–8 (optimum 7) and in 1–12 % NaCl (optimum 3–4 %, w/v). The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that JS7-11T and Nioella nitratireducens SSW136T formed an independent cluster, sharing 97.9 % similarity between the two strains, and less than 96.0 % similarities with other type strains of members of the family Rhodobacteraceae . The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 and C16 : 0. The quinone was identified as Q-10. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 63.4 mol%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between JS7-11T and N. nitratireducens SSW136T were 22.1 and 79.4 %, respectively. The results of phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses clearly indicated that JS7-11T represents a novel species within the genus Nioella , for which the name Nioellasediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the novel species is JS7-11T (=MCCC 1A00710T=KCTC 42144T).

A slightly beige-white pigmented, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain M1A1T, was isolated from seawater samples obtained in Fildes Bay, Antarctica (62°12′ S 58° 57′ W). Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate shared 98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to the type strain of Psychromonas arctica , but less than 97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other species of the genus Psychromonas . DNA–DNA hybridization with Psychromonas arctica DSM 14288T showed low values (21 %, reciprocal 27 %). The main cellular fatty acid of strain M1A1T was summed feature 3 fatty acids (C16 : 1ω7c/C16  : 1ω8c), followed by C16 : 0. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, genomic and phenotypic analyses, we propose a novel species of the genus Psychromonas with the name Psychromonas aquatilis sp. nov. and the strain M1A1T (=CIP 111183T=CCM 8710T=LMG 29766T) as type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, opaque, white-pigmented, helical-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium that was motile by means of bipolar tufts of flagella and grew under microaerophilic conditions, was isolated from a soil sample of a reed pond in Shangqiu, Henan province, PR China. The strain, designated THG-SQE6T, grows well at 25–42 °C, pH 6.5–7.5 and in the presence of 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl. hylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain THG-SQE6T was most closely related to Aquaspirillum serpens IAM 13944T (97.23 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-SQE6T was 53.10 mol%. In DNA–DNA hybridization experiments, the DNA–DNA relatedness between strain THG-SQE6T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 62.6 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-SQE6T was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were identified as C12 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. These data support the affiliation of strain THG-SQE6T to the genus Aquaspirillum . Based on findings from the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-SQE6T, a novel species of the genus Aquaspirillum named Aquaspirillum soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-SQE6T (=KACC 18846T=CCTCC AB 2016081T).

Four bacterial strains, LFT 1.7T, LT2C 2.5, LT4C 2.8 and TM 4.6, were isolated from great scallop (Pecten maximus) larvae and tank seawater in a Norwegian hatchery and characterized by a polyphasic approach including determination of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic traits. All were Gram-stain-negative, motile rods, oxidase- and catalase-positive and required sea salts for growth. Major fatty acids present were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16  : 1ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, C14 : 0, summed feature 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 1 I), C12 : 0 3-OH and C12 : 0. Strain LFT 1.7T contained menaquinone MK-6 as the sole respiratory quinone. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that all strains formed a distinct lineage within the genus Arcobacter with a low similarity to known species (94.77–95.32 %). The DNA G+C content was 28.7 mol%. Results of in silico DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity confirmed that the isolates constitute a novel species of Arcobacter , for which the name Arcobacter lekithochrous sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LFT 1.7T (=CECT 8942T=DSM 100870T).

A novel sulfur-oxidizing autotrophic bacterium, strain J1AT was isolated from a hot spring microbial mat. The cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. As sole electron donor for chemolithoautotrophic growth, strain J1AT utilized sulfide, thiosulfate, elemental sulfur, and tetrathionate. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 66 mol%. Major cellular fatty acids (>40 % of total) were C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The predominant quinone was Q-8. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain J1AT is a relative of species of the genus Thiobacillus , but shares only 93 % or lower sequence similarities with them. On the basis of its properties, strain J1AT represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Sulfuritortus calidifontis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is J1AT (=DSM 103923T=NBRC 112474T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, yellow and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CR164T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of a ginseng field at Geumsan in Korea. CR164T grew at between 15 and 37 °C (optimal growth at 28 °C), between pH 6.0 and 9.0 (optimal growth at pH 7.0) and at salinities of 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl, growing optimally in the absence of NaCl. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that CR164T represents a member of the genus Rhodanobacter , showing the highest sequence similarity to Rhodanobacter caeni MJ01T (98.5 %), Rhodanobacter ginsenosidimutans Gsoil 3054T (98.4 %), Rhodanobacter thiooxydans LCS2T (98.3 %), Rhodanobacter lindaniclasticus RP5557T (98.1 %), Rhodanobacter denitrificans 2APBS1T (98.0 %), Rhodanobacter fulvus Jip2T (97.6 %), Rhodanobacter soli DCY45T (97.3 %) and ‘ Rhodanobacter xiangquanii’ BJQ-6 (97.0 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 1ω9c (21.8 %), iso-C15 : 0 (12.1 %), iso-C11 : 0 (11.9 %) and iso-C16 : 0 (11.1 %). The predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 62.3 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness between CR164T and the type strains of eight other species of the genus ranged from 51 to 9 %. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis, CR164T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodanobacter , for which the name Rhodanobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CR164T (=KACC 18699T=NBRC 111845T).

Bacterial strains MCy10943T and MCy10944T were isolated in 2014 from dried Nepalese soil samples collected in 2013 from Phukot, Kalikot, Western Nepal, and Godawari, Lalitpur, Central Nepal. The novel organisms showed typical myxobacterial growth characteristics, which include swarming colony and fruiting body formation on solid surfaces, and a predatory ability to lyse micro-organisms. The strains were aerobic, mesophilic, chemoheterotrophic and showed resistance to various antibiotics. The major cellular fatty acids common to both organisms were C17 : 0 2-OH, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 and iso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 72–75 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the strains belong to the family Cystobacteraceae , suborder Cystobacterineae, order Myxococcales . The 16S rRNA gene sequences of both strains showed 97–98 % similarity to Archangium gephyra DSM 2261T and Cystobacter violaceus DSM 14727T, and 96.7–97 % to Cystobacter fuscus DSM 2262T and Angiococcus disciformis DSM 52716T. Polyphasic taxonomic characterization suggested that strains MCy10943T and MCy10944T represent two distinct species of a new genus, for which the names Vitiosangium cumulatum gen. nov., sp. nov. and Vitiosangium subalbum sp. nov. are proposed. The type strain of Vitiosangium cumulatum is MCy10943T (=DSM 102952T=NCCB 100600T) while that for Vitiosangium subalbum is MCy10944T (=DSM 102953T=NCCB 100601T). In addition, emended descriptions of the genera Archangium and Angiococcus , and of the family Cystobacteraceae are provided.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic and moderate halotolerant bacterial strain, designated S2-26T, was isolated from sediment of the Asan Bay estuary in South Korea. Cells were motile rods with two polar flagella showing oxidase and catalase activities. Growth of S2-26T was observed at 15–45 °C (optimum, 25 °C) and pH 5.5–10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.5) and in the presence of 0–8.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0 %). S2-26T contained C17 : 1ω8c, summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c) and C17 : 0 as the major fatty acids and ubiquinone-8 as the sole isoprenoid quinone. The polar lipids of S2-26T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown phospholipid, an unknown aminolipid, an unknown glycolipid and an unknown lipid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 62.2 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that S2-26T formed a tight phylogenetic lineage with Parahaliea mediterranea 7SM29T with a 100 % bootstrap value. S2-26T was most closely related to the type strain of Parahaliea mediterranea , with a 97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, and its DNA–DNA relatedness level was 45.2±2.2 %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, it is clear that S2-26T represents a novel species of the genus Parahaliea, for which the name Parahaliea aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S2-26T (=KACC 18801T=JCM 31547T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and coccoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated GHTF-23T, was isolated from a tidal flat of the South Sea, South Korea. GHTF-23T grew optimally at 37 °C, at pH 6.5–7.5 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, GHTF-23T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species of the genus Microbulbifer . GHTF-23T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.1–97.9 % to the type strains of Microbulbifer salipaludis , Microbulbifer hydrolyticus , Microbulbifer elongatus , Microbulbifer mangrovi and Microbulbifer yueqingensis and 94.5–96.8 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Microbulbifer . GHTF-23T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in GHTF-23T and M. hydrolyticus DSM 11525T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of GHTF-23T was 60.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of M. salipaludis , M. hydrolyticus , M. elongatus , M. mangrovi and M. yueqingensis were 11–31 %. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that GHTF-23T is separated from species of the genus Microbulbifer with validly published names. On the basis of the data presented, GHTF-23T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer , for which the name Microbulbifer aestuariivivenssp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GHTF-23T (=KCTC 52569T=NBRC 112533T).

Thiomicrospira (Tms) species are small sulfur-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic members of the Gammaproteobacteria . Whilst the type species Tms. pelophila and closely related Tms. thyasirae exhibit canonical spiral morphology under sub-optimal growth conditions, most species are vibrios or rods. The 16S rRNA gene diversity is vast, with identities as low as 91.6 % for Tms. pelophila versus Tms. frisia, for example. Thiomicrospira was examined with closely related genera Hydrogenovibrio and Thioalkalimicrobium and, to rationalize organisms on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, physiology and morphology, we reclassify Tms. kuenenii, Tms. crunogena, Tms. thermophila and Tms. halophila to Hydrogenovibrio kuenenii comb. nov., H. crunogenus corrig. comb. nov., H. thermophilus corrig. comb. nov. and H. halophilus corrig. comb. nov. We reclassify Tms. frisia, Tms. arctica, Tms. psychrophila and Tms. chilensis to Thiomicrorhabdus (Tmr) gen. nov., as Tmr. frisia comb. nov., Tmr. arctica comb. nov., Tmr. psychrophila comb. nov. and Tmr. chilensis comb. nov. – the type species of Thiomicrorhabdus is Tmr. frisia. We demonstrate that Thioalkalimicrobium species fall within the genus Thiomicrospira sensu stricto, thus reclassifying them as Tms. aerophila corrig. comb. nov., Tms. microaerophila corrig. comb. nov., Tms. cyclica corrig. comb. nov. and Tms. sibirica corrig. comb. nov. We provide emended descriptions of the genera Thiomicrospira and Hydrogenovibrio and of Tms. thyasirae.

The genus Thiobacillus comprises four species with validly published names, of which Thiobacillus aquaesulis DSM 4255T (=ATCC 43788T) is the only species that can grow heterotrophically or mixotrophically – the rest being obligate autotrophs – and has a significant metabolic difference in not producing tetrathionate during the oxidation of thiosulfate during autotrophic growth. On the basis of this and differential chemotaxonomic properties and a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 93.4 % to the type species Thiobacillus thioparus DSM 505T, we propose that it is moved to a novel genus, Annwoodia gen. nov., for which the type species is Annwoodia aquaesulis gen. nov., comb. nov. We confirm that the position of the genus Thiobacillus in the Betaproteobacteria falls within the Nitrosomonadales rather than the Hydrogenophilales as previously proposed. Within the Nitrosomonadales we propose the circumscription of genera to form the Thiobacilliaceae fam. nov. and the Sterolibacteriaceae fam. nov. We propose the merging of the family Methylophilaceae into the Nitrosomonadales , and that the Sulfuricellaceae be merged into the Gallionellaceae , leaving the orders Methylophilales and Sulfuricellales defunct. In the Rhodocyclales we propose the Azonexaceae fam. nov. and the Zoogloeaceae fam. nov. We also reject the Hydrogenophilales from the Betaproteobacteria on the basis of a very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the class-proper as well as physiological properties, forming the Hydrogenophilalia class. nov. in the ‘ Proteobacteria ’. We provide emended descriptions of Thiobacillus , Hydrogenophilales , Hydrogenophilaceae , Nitrosomonadales , Gallionellaceae , Rhodocyclaceae and the Betaproteobacteria .

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented, non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DHOB07T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the lower subtropical forest of the Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China (23° 10′ N 112° 31′ E). Strain DHOB07T grew at 10–37 °C, pH 4–7 and 0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl, with an optimum at 28 °C, pH 5–5.5 and 0% (w/v) NaCl on R2A medium. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain formed a clade with Dyella jejuensis JP1T, Dyella nitratireducens DHG59T, Dyella koreensis BB4T, Dyella marensis CS5-B2Tand Dyellasoli JS12-10T, with sequence similarities of 98.9, 98.0, 97.9, 97.9 and 97.8 %, respectively. Multilocus sequence analysis based on the concatenated sequences of partial housekeeping genes gyrB, lepA and recA confirmed that strain DHOB07T belongs to thegenus Dyella but is distinct from all currently known species of the genus Dyella . The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 58.2 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain DHOB07T and D. jejuensis JP1T was 41.8 %. Iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c were the major fatty acids, and ubiquinone-8 was the only respiratory quinone detected, all of which supported the affiliation of strain DHOB07T to the genus Dyella . On the basis of the polyphasic characterization results presented above, strain DHOB07T represents a novel species of the genus Dyella , for which the name Dyella lipolytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DHOB07T (=NBRC 111473T=KCTC 52132T).

Eleven yeast strains representing four novel species of the genus Starmerella were isolated from scarabs beetles collected in Nanyang, Henan Province, Central China. Phylogenetic analysis using combined sequences of the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions placed all the novel species in a clade distinct from the other known species in the clade representing the members of the genus Starmerella. These novel species differed from each other or their closest known species by more than 4.9 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 domains and by more than 9.1 % nucleotide substitutions in the ITS regions. The four novel species can also be separated from their closest relatives in terms of physiological characteristics. No asci or signs of conjugation were found in the novel species on the most common sporulation media. The novel species are designated as Starmerella anomalae f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 157145T=CICC 33094T=CBS 14178T), Starmerella asiatica f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 15782T=CICC 33089T=CBS 14173T), Starmerella henanensis f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 15766T=CICC 33088T=CBS 14172T) and Starmerella scarabaei f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 15821T=CICC 33090T=CBS 14174T).