- Volume 67, Issue 6, 2017

A Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobe bacterial strain, designated CAU 1312T, was isolated from sea sand of Eurwangri beach, South Korea. The strain’s taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. CAU 1312T grew at temperatures from 20 to 40 °C, in the range of pH 6.0–9.0 and at salinities from 1–4 % (w/v). The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that CAU 1312T represented a member of the genus Thioclava and was most closely related to Thioclava atlantica 13D2W-2T (similarity 96.53 %). The strain contained Q-10 as the predominant menaquinone and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/ω6c) as the major fatty acid. The polar lipids of CAU 1312T consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two aminophospholipids, a phosphoglycolipid, and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 64.7 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties and phylogenetic inference, CAU 1312T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Thioclava , for which the name Thioclava arenosa sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1312T(=KCTC 52190T=NBRC 111989T).

A slightly yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain IMT-305T, was isolated from soil in Alabama, USA. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the strain in between the genera Pusillimonas , Parapusillimonas and Candidimonas with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain of Parapusillimonas granuli (97.5 %) and Candidimonas nitroreducens (97.4 %). The genomic G+C content of strain IMT-305T was 63.9 mol%. The main cellular fatty acids were C18:1ω7c, C17:0 cyclo, C16:0 and C16:1 ω7c/iso-C15:0 2-OH (detected as summed feature 3). The polyamine pattern of strain IMT-305T contained the major compound putrescine and the betaproteobacterial diagnostic 2-hydroxyputrescine and the major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. Predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified lipid lacking any functional group. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses a novel species within a new genus, Paracandidimonas soli gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Paracandidimonas soli is IMT-305T (=DSM 100048T=CIP 110902T=LMG 28740T=CCM 8599T).

The Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, white- to pale-yellow-coloured and rod-shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum or a stalk, designated strain 7F14T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of cultivated watermelon (Citrullus lanatus) collected from Hefei, China. Growth of strain 7F14T was observed at pH 6.0–9.0, 10–30 °C and in the presence of 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl. Cells were catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 7F14T formed a phyletic lineage within the genus Caulobacter of the family Caulobacteraceae and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Caulobacter henricii ATCC 15253T (98.66 %), Caulobacter segnis ATCC 21756T (98.27 %), Caulobacter vibrioides CB51T (97.92 %) and C aulobacter flavus RHGG3T (97.44 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.6 mol%. Strain 7F14T contained Q-10 as the sole ubiquinone and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) as the major fatty acids. The polar lipids profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, an unknown phosphoglycolipid, five unknown glycolipids, an unknown phospholipid and three unknown lipids. DNA–DNA relatedness values to the most closely related type strains Caulobacter henricii DSM 4730T and Caulobacter segnis DSM 7131T were 26.0 and 19.7 %, respectively. Based on unique phenotypic traits, and phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and DNA–DNA hybridization results, strain 7F14T should be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Caulobacter , for which the name C aulobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 7F14T (=CGMCC 1.15915T=KCTC 52515T).

The species Arthrobacter viscosus was isolated from soil from Guatemala and it was classified into the genus Arthrobacter on the basis of phenotypic traits. Nevertheless, the results of16S rRNA gene analysis indicated that this species is a member of the genus Rhizobium , with Rhizobium alamii GBV016T and Rhizobium mesosinicum CCBAU 25010T as the most closely related species with 99.64 and 99.48 % similarity, respectively. The similarity values for the recA gene are 92.2 and 94.4 % with respect to R. alamii GBV016T and R. mesosinicum CCBAU 25010T, respectively, and those for the atpD gene are 92.9 and 98.7 %, respectively. Results of DNA–DNA hybridization analysis yield averages of 46 and 41 % relatedness with respect to the type strains of R. alamii and R. mesosinicum , respectively. Phenotypic characteristics also differed from those of the most closely related species of the genus Rhizobium . Therefore, based on the data obtained in this study, we propose to classify strain LMG 16473T as representing a novel species named Rhizobium viscosum comb. nov. (type strain LMG 16473T=CECT 908T).

Rodentibacter gen. nov. is proposed based on isolation and phenotypic characterization of strains, predominantly from rodents. The strains showed 86 % or higher rpoB gene sequence similarity and indicated a genus-level relationship within Pasteurellaceae . The strains compared at 16S rRNA gene sequence level showed 93.8 % or higher similarity, and their genus-level relationship within Pasteurellaceae was confirmed by phenotypic analysis. The type species Rodentibacter pneumotropicus comb. nov. is reclassified from [ Pasteurella ] pneumotropica with type strain NCTC 8141T (=CCUG 12398T). Whole genomic comparison allowed the estimation of DNA–DNA renaturation. Rodentibacter heylii sp. nov. was proposed for a group that included the biovar Heyl of [ Pasteurella ] pneumotropica with the type strain ATCC 12555T (=CCUG 998T). A group was proposed as Rodentibacter ratti sp. nov., which included the taxon 22 of Bisgaard; the type strain is F75T (=CCUG 69665T=DSM 103977T). Taxon 41 of Bisgaard was proposed as Rodentibacter myodis sp. nov. with type strain Ac151T (=CCUG 69666T=DSM 103994T). Rodentibacter heidelbergensis sp. nov. included the type strain 1996025094T (=Ac69T) (=CCUG 69667T=DSM 103978T). A group strains of was proposed as Rodentibacter trehalosifermentans sp. nov. with type strain H1987082031T (=CCUG 69668T=DSM 104075T). Two strains including the reference strain of taxon 17 of Bisgaard that showed 16S rRNA gene similarity of 97.3 % were proposed as Rodentibacter rarus sp. nov. 2325/79T (=CCUG 17206T=DSM 103980T). Rodentibacter mrazii sp. nov. was proposed with type strain Ppn418T (Bisgaard taxon 21) (=CCUG 69669T=DSM 103979T). The eight species could be separated based on phenotypic characteristics such as NAD requirement, ornithine decarboxylase and indole formation, α-glucosidase, β-galactosidase and in acid formation from (+)-l-arabinose, (−)-d-ribose, (+)-d-xylose, myo-inositol, (−)-d-mannitol, lactose, melibiose and trehalose. Forty-six strains including taxon 48 of Bisgaard formed a monophyletic group by rpoB and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, but could not be separated phenotypically from R. pneumotropicus and R. heylii, and it was left as an unnamed genomospecies 1 of Rodentibacter with reference strain Ppn416. Another taxon that included 13 strains, mainly isolated from Apodemus sylvaticus, could not be separated phenotypically from R. pneumotropicus or R. heylii and was designated as genomospecies 2. Strain Ppn85 with 95 % or less rpoB gene sequence similarity and with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97 % or less to the other members of Rodentibacter was left as an unnamed singleton.

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacterium, designated WD12T, was isolated from a rotten tree at Chungbuk National University, South Korea. WD12T grew optimally at 30–37 °C and pH 7.0–7.5 and could assimilate arbutin and potassium-5-ketogluconate. The major cellular fatty acid were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, cyclo C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, summed features 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 69.1 %. The results of phylogenetic and comparative analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that WD12T formed a tight phylogenetic lineage with Pseudoxanthomonas mexicana AMX 26BT and Pseudoxanthomonas japonensis 12-3T of the the genus Pseudoxanthomonas in the family Xanthomonadaceae . Sequence similarity to other members of the genus Pseudoxanthomonas ranged from 98.6 % ( P. mexicana AMX 26BT) to 95.1 % ( Pseudoxanthomonas taiwanensis CB-226T). DNA–DNA relatedness between WD12T and eight type strains of species of the genus Pseudoxanthomonas showing more than 97 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity were 6±0–26±1 %. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, WD12T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudoxanthomonas , for which the name Pseudoxanthomonas putridarboris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WD12T (=KACC 15045T=LMG 25968T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain F01T, was isolated from leaves of Tamarix chinensis Lour. The isolate grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0 and with 5.0 % (w/v) NaCl, and showed a high tolerance to manganese, lead, nickel, ferrous ions and copper ions. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0, and the predominant respiratory quinone was Q-9. Polar lipids were dominated by diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified aminoglycolipids and phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 65.8 %. Based on multilocus phylogenetic analysis, strain F01T belonged to the genus Salinicola , with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Salinicola peritrichatus CGMCC 1.12381T (97.7 %). The level of DNA–DNA hybridization between strain F01T and closely related Salinicola strains was well below 70 %. According to the phenotypic, genetic and chemotaxonomic data, strain F01T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Salinicola , for which the name Salinicola tamaricis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is F01T (=CCTCC AB 2015304T=KCTC 42855T).

A yellow-coloured, Gram-staining-negative, motile and rod shaped bacterium, designated strain R366T, was isolated from forest soil of Kyonggi University, South Korea. It was able to grow at 15–42 °C, pH 6.0–10.0 and with 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl concentration. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain R366T belongs to the genus Sphingopyxis and is closely related to Sphingopyxis italica SC13E-S71T (98.72 % sequence similarity), Sphingopyxis chilensis S37T (98.51 %), Sphingopyxis fribergensis Kp5.2T (98.29 %), Sphingopyxis alaskensis RB2256T (98.15 %), Sphingopyxis ginsengisoli Gsoli 250T (98.15 %) and Sphingopyxis taejonensis JSS54T (98.01 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10, and the major polyamine was spermidine. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine and sphingoglycolipid. The predominant fatty acids of strain R366T were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C17 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl and C14 : 0 2-OH. The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 65.1 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain R366T and Sphingopyxis italica DSM 25229T, Sphingopyxis chilensis KCCM 41918T, Sphingopyxis alaskensis KCCM 41983T, Sphingopyxis ginsengisoli KACC 13918T and Sphingopyxis taejonensis KACC 12341T was 51.7, 45.3, 39.0, 41.3 and 44.7 %, respectively. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain R366T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingopyxis , for which the name Sphingopyxis solisilvae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R366T (=KEMB 9005-451T=KACC 19003T=JCM 31675T).

Some bacteria collectively known as rhizobia can establish symbiotic relationships and the N2-fixation process with several legumes used as green manure, in pastures and for wood production. Symbionts belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium are predominant in the tropics, and an increasing number of studies report high genetic diversity within the genus. We performed a polyphasic study with two strains belonging to the genus Bradyrhizobium – SEMIA 6399T and SEMIA 6404–isolated from root nodules of Deguelia costata (syn. Lonchocarpus costatus), an important legume native to eastern Brazil. In general, sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were highly conserved in members of the genus Bradyrhizobium , and the two strains were positioned in the Bradyrhizobium elkanii superclade, sharing 100 % nucleotide identity with Bradyrhizobium embrapense , Bradyrhizobium erythrophlei and Bradyrhizobium viridifuturi . However, multilocus sequence analysis with four housekeeping genes (dnaK, glnII, gyrB and recA) confirmed that the two strains belong to a distinct clade, sharing from 87.7 to 96.1 % nucleotide identity with related species of the genus Bradyrhizobium , being most closely related to B. viridifuturi . Average nucleotide identity of genome sequences between SEMIA 6399T and related species was lower than 92 %, below the threshold of species circumscription. nifH phylogeny clustered the SEMIA strains in a clade separated from other species of the genus Bradyrhizobium , and the nodD phylogeny revealed that SEMIA 6399T presents a more divergent sequence. Other phenotypic and genotypic traits were determined for the new group, and our data support the description of the SEMIA strains as representatives of Bradyrhizobium mercantei sp. nov.; SEMIA 6399T (=CNPSo 1165T=BR 6010T=U675T=LMG 30031T) was chosen as the type strain.

A protease-producing bacterial strain, 13-12T, was isolated from the ocean sediment of Laizhou Bay, PR China and systematically studied. The bacterium was Gram-stain negative, non spore-forming rods, which were motile with two flagella. It was positive for oxidase, the hydrolysis of starch, agar and gelatin, and for nitrate reduction. It was negative for catalase, esterase and the degradation of CM-cellulose. Optimum growth was observed at 28 °C, pH 6.5–7.0 and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, and whole genome data, affiliated it to the genus Photobacterium . It was most closely related to Photobacterium jeanii R-40508T (96.7 % 16S rRNA gene similarity). Strain 13-12T was found to have less than 86.1 % similarities with the type strains of its most closely related species in multi-locus sequence analysis, less than 75.2 % using genome average nucleotide identities (ANI), and less than 18.5 % in DNA–DNA relatedness studies. Q8 was the predominant respiratory menaquinone. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoaminolipid and phospholipid were the major polar phospholipids and summed feature 3 (48.2 %), C16 : 0 (18.4 %) and C18 : 1ω5c (14.1 %) the major fatty acids. The combined phenotypic, phylogenetic, genomic and chemotaxonomic data support this strain representing a novel species of the genus Photobacterium , for which the name Photobacterium proteolyticum sp. nov. is proposed, with 13-12T (=KCTC 42764T=CGMCC 1.14970) as the type strain. The genome size of 13-12T is 6.2 Mbp, comprising 5806 predicted genes and the DNA G+C content is 47.9 mol%.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod-shaped bacterium, motile by means of one flagellum (THG-T2.8T), was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa flower. Growth occurred at 10–37 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6–8 (optimum 7) and with 0–5 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The major quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C10 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid, two unknown phospholipids, one unknown glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.8T was 65.5 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.8T were identified as Paracoccus tibetensis Tibet-S9a3T (98.6 %), Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (98.4 %), Paracoccus rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T (98.3 %) and Paracoccus beibuensis JLT1284T (98.2 %). Levels of sequence similarity among strain THG-T2.8T and other species of the genus Paracoccus were lower than 98.0 %. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T2.8T and P. tibetensis Tibet-S9A3TT, P. aestuarii B7T, P. rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T and P. beibuensis JLT1284 T were 36.5 % (38.8 %, reciprocal analysis), 32.8 % (34.8 %), 31.6 % (33.8 %) and 15.3 % (24.8 %), respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.8T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus , for which the name Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.8T (=KACC 18932T=CCTCC AB 2016181T).

A Gram-stain-negative, short-rod-shaped, non-motile bacterial strain, designated HWR-46T, was isolated from seawater of the Yellow Sea, South Korea, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain HWR-46T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 20–25 °C and in the presence of 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HWR-46T fell within the clade comprising Pseudorhodobacter species, clustering with the type strain of Pseudorhodobacter aquimaris , with which it exhibited 98.4 % sequence similarity. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain HWR-46T and the type strains of other Pseudorhodobacter species was 95.1–96.3 %. The DNA G+C content of strain HWR-46T was 63.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness value with P. aquimaris HDW-19T was 24.6±1.5 %. Strain HWR-46T contained only Q-10 as the ubiquinone and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. Differential phenotypic properties, together with phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain HWR-46T is distinguishable from other Pseudorhodobacter species. On the basis of the data presented, strain HWR-46T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pseudorhodobacter , for which the name Pseudorhodobacter ponti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HWR-46T (=KCTC 52470T=NBRC 112426T).

Thirty-nine denitrifying bacterial strains closely related to one another, represented by strains TSA40T and TSA66T, were isolated from rice paddy soils. Strains TSA40T and TSA66T were Gram-stain-negative, slightly curved rod-shaped, and motile by means of polar flagella. They were able to reduce nitrate, nitrite and nitrous oxide, but unable to fix atmospheric N2. While strain TSA66T was able to grow autotrophically by H2-dependent denitrification, strain TSA40T could not. Phylogenetic analysis suggested that they belong to the family Oxalobacteraceae , the order Burkholderiale s in the class Betaproteobacteria . Major components in the fatty acids (C16 : 0, C17 : 0 cyclo, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3) and quinone (Q-8) also supported the affiliation of strains TSA40T and TSA66T to the family Oxalobacteraceae . Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strains TSA40T and TSA66T showed the greatest degree of similarity to Herbaspirillum massiliense JC206T, Noviherbaspirillum malthae CC-AFH3T, Noviherbaspirillum humi U15T, Herbaspirillum seropedicae Z67T and Paucimonas lemoignei LMG 2207T, and lower similarities to the members of other genera. Average nucleotide identity values between the genomes of strain TSA40T, TSA66T and H. massiliense JC206T were 75–77 %, which was lower than the threshold value for species discrimination (95–96 %). Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis in combination with physiological, chemotaxonomic and genomic properties, strains TSA40T (=JCM 17722T=ATCC TSD-69T) and TSA66T (=JCM 17723T=DSM 25787T) are the type strains of two novel species within the genus Noviherbaspirillum , for which the names Noviherbaspirillum denitrificans sp. nov. and Noviherbaspirillum autotrophicum sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. We also propose the reclassification of Herbaspirillum massiliense as Noviherbaspirillum massiliense comb. nov.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach including analysis of phenotypic, physiological and genotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence and DNA–DNA hybridization analysis was used to determine the most consistent affiliation of Pseudomonas pictorum . Pseudomonas pictorum ATCC 23328T exhibited phenotypic traits of members of the genus Stenotrophomonas including cellular fatty acid composition, quinone and limited range of substrates that could be used. Antibiotic susceptibility and physiological characteristics were determined. The DNA G+C content was 65.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the type strains of Stenotrophomonas terrae , Stenotrophomonas humi , Stenotrophomonas nitritireducens and Stenotrophomonas acidaminiphila were the nearest relatives (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.0 to 98.8 %). All the other type strains of species of the genus Stenotrophomonas showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities (96.8 to 97.2 %). DNA–DNA hybridizations revealed 31.0, 32.0, 43.3 and 43.6 % reassociation between Pseudomonas pictorum ATCC 23328T and the type strains of S. terrae , S. humi , S. nitritireducens and S. acidaminiphila , respectively. Our overall results indicate that Pseudomonas pictorum should be transferred to the genus Stenotrophomonas as a novel species of this genus, Stenotrophomonas pictorum comb. nov. Since the original description of the genus Stenotrophomonas was made with only one species ( Stenotrophomonas maltophilia ), an emendation of the genus description is proposed in order to match better with the characteristics of the eleven novel species assigned to this genus since then.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium with a singular polar flagellum, designated as strain XMDDZSB0408T, was isolated from the intestine of adult abalone, Haliotis diversicolor. Activity of oxidase was positive and catalase activity was negative. It could grow at salinities from 3 to 6 % NaCl (w/v), and pH 7–9. It had the highest sequence similarity of <96.0 % with all previously established species for the complete 16S rRNA gene (1531 bp). The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that the strain was affiliated to the genus Shewanella and closely related to Shewanella gaetbuli TF-27T and Shewanella japonica KMM 3299T (95.8 % sequence similarity), Shewanella electrodiphila MAR441T (95.6 %), Shewanella pacifica KMM 3597T (95.4 %), Shewanella donghaensis LT17T (95.3 %) and Shewanella olleyana ACEM 9T (94.7 %). The respiratory quinones were MK-7, Q-8, Q-7, MK-8, Q-7 (H4) and Q-6. The predominant fatty acids consisted of C16:0, summed feature 3 (comprised of C16 : 1ω7c/C16  : 1ω6c), C18 : 0, summed feature 8 (comprised of C18 : 1ω7c/C18  : 1ω6c), C12 : 0 and C14 : 0. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a glycolipid (GL), a phospholipid (PL) and one unidentified lipid (L). The DNA G+C content was 41.4 mol% calculated from the draft genome sequence. On the basis of its polyphasic taxonomic properties, strain XMDDZSB0408T represented a novel species, for which the name Shewanella intestini sp. nov. was proposed, with the type strain XMDDZSB0408T (=KCTC 52125T=MCCC 1A01895T).

Two Gram-staining-negative, aerobic bacteria (YIC 5082T and YIC4104) isolated from root nodules of Sesbania cannabina grown in a high-salt and alkaline environment were identified as a group in the genus Agrobacterium because they shared 100 and 99.7 % sequence similarities of 16S rRNA and recA+atpD genes, respectively. These two strains showed 99.2/100 % and 93.9/95.4 % 16S rRNA and recA+atpD gene sequence similarities to Agrobacterium radiobacter LMG140T and Agrobacterium . pusense NRCPB10T, respectively. The average nucleotide identities (ANI) of genome sequences were 89.95 % or lower between YIC 5082T and the species of the genus Agrobacterium examined. Moreover, these two test strains formed a unique nifH lineage deeply separated from other rhizobia. Although the nodC gene was not detected in YIC 5082T and YIC4104, they could form effective root nodules on S. cannabina plants. The main cellular fatty acids in YIC 5082T were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18  : 1ω6c), C19 : 0cyclo ω8c, summed feature 2 (C12 : 0 aldehyde/unknown equivalent chain length 10.9525) and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content of YIC 5082T was 59.3 mol%. The failure to utilize d-sorbitol as a carbon source distinguished YIC 5082T from the type strains of related species. YIC 5082T could grow in presence of 5.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at a pH of up to 10.0. Based on results regarding the genetic and phenotypic properties of YIC 5082T and YIC4104 the name Agrobacterium salinitolerans sp. nov. is proposed and YIC 5082T (=HAMBI 3646T=LMG 29287T) is designed as the type strain.

A Gram-straining-negative, facultatively aerobic, rod-shaped strain, motile by a polar flagellum and designated P03D4T, was isolated from the bottom seawater of the East China Sea. Growth occurred at 10–50 °C (optimum 32 °C), pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum pH 6.0) and in the presence of 1–7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence placed P03D4T within the genus Photobacterium of the family Vibrionaceae in the class Gammaproteobacteria , and revealed that strain P03D4T was most closely related to Photobacterium frigidiphilum SL13T with 96.9 % sequence similarity and had sequence similarities with other species of the genus Photobacterium in the range 94.6–96.9 %. The dominant fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and C16 : 0. The polar lipids of strain P03D4T comprised phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and one unknown lipid. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The DNA G+C content of strain P03D4T was 44.3 mol%. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, strain P03D4T is proposed as representing a novel species of the genus Photobacterium , for which the name Photobacterium alginatilyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is P03D4T (=KCTC 52365T=MCCC 1K03200T=CGMCC 1.15764T).

A coccoid-shaped phototrophic purple sulfur bacterium, strain AK35T, was isolated from a coastal surface water sample collected from Visakhapatnam, India. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, motile and purple, containing bacteriochlorophyll a and the carotenoid rhodopinal as major photosynthetic pigments. Strain AK35T was able to grow photoheterotrophically and could utilize a number of organic substrates. It was unable to grow photoautotrophically. Strain AK35T was able to utilize sulfide and thiosulfate as electron donors. The main fatty acids present were identified as C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c, and C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2OH (summed feature 3). Strain AK35T contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and six unidentified lipids as polar lipids. The G+C content of the DNA of strain AK35T was 63.1 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that the isolate represented a member of the family Chromatiaceae . 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AK35T is phylogenetically distinctly positioned outside the groups of most members of the genus Thiorhodococcus , clustered with members of the genera Marichromatium and Phaeochromatium , but was most closely related to Thiorhodococcus bheemlicus with a pairwise sequence similarity of 98.75 %. Based on DNA–DNA hybridization between strain AK35T and Thiorhodococcus bheemlicus MTCC 8120T a relatedness of 39.46 % was established. Distinct morphological, physiological and genotypic differences from these previously described taxa supported the classification of the new isolate as a representative of a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Imhoffiella purpurea gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Imhoffiella purpurea is AK35T (=JCM 18851T=KCTC 15575T=MTCC 12304T). In addition, Thiorhodococcus bheemlicus is recognized as another species of this genus and transferred to Imhoffiella bheemlica comb. nov.

A bacterial strain, designated RA6T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Cistus ladanifer. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the isolate into the genus Delftia within a cluster encompassing the type strains of Delftia lacustris , Delftia tsuruhatensis , Delftia acidovorans and Delftia litopenaei , which presented greater than 97 % sequence similarity with respect to strain RA6T. DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed average relatedness ranging from of 11 to 18 % between these species of the genus Delftia and strain RA6T. Catalase and oxidase were positive. Casein was hydrolysed but gelatin and starch were not. Ubiquinone 8 was the major respiratory quinone detected in strain RA6T together with low amounts of ubiquinones 7 and 9. The major fatty acids were those from summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses showed that strain RA6T should be considered as a representative of a novel species of genus Delftia , for which the name Delftia rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RA6T (=LMG 29737T= CECT 9171T).