- Volume 67, Issue 8, 2017

A mesophilic, endospore-forming, sulfate-reducing bacterium, designated strain NAW-5T, was isolated from marsh soil. Cells of strain NAW-5T were Gram-stain-negative, curved rods that were motile. Strain NAW-5T grew at 18–48 °C (optimum 32–37 °C) and pH 5.8–8.4 (optimum pH 6.2–7.3). Electron donors utilized were various organic acids and H2 which support autotrophic growth. Fermentative growth occurred on carboxylic acids, but not on sugar. Sulfate, thiosulfate and elemental sulfur were used as electron acceptors. The respiratory isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The genomic DNA G+C content of this strain was 46.6 mol%. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain NAW-5T was affiliated to the family ‘Desulfotomaculaceae’ but the strain shared very low sequence similarity with any representatives of this family (≥89 %). Strain NAW-5T belongs to Desulfotomaculum subcluster Ig which does not include any species with validly published names. On the basis of significant differences in the phylogenetic and phenotypic properties between strain NAW-5T and related species, strain NAW-5T represents a novel species of a new genus for which the name Desulfocucumis palustris gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is NAW-5T (=DSM 102911T=NBRC 112242T).

Two bacterial strains (1-10M-8-7-50T and 1M) were isolated from lagoon sediments. The strains were obligately aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped and motile. Both strains were able to grow at 25–60 ˚C (optimum 40–42 ˚C), at pH 6.0–8.8 (optimum pH 7.0–7.5) and with 0–2.0 % (w/v) (optimum 0–0.8 %) NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, and the cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid, glycine and alanine. Phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phosphoglycolipids and three unidentified lipids were present as polar lipids. Genomic DNA G+C content was 41.9 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons of both strains indicated that they belong to the genus Aneurinibacillus within the family Paenibacillaceae of the class Bacilli . Both strains had a sequence similarity of 97.6 % with Aneurinibacillus migulanus B0270T, 97.6 % with Aneurinibacillus aneurinilyticus ATCC 12856T, 97.5 % with ‘ Aneurinibacillus humi ' U33 and <97 % with other members of the genus Aneurinibacillus . The DNA–DNA reassociation value between strain 1-10M-8-7-50T and 1M was >90 %, while strains 1-10M-8-7-50T and 1M were only 35.1±1, 29.8±1 and 24.5±1 % related to A. migulanus KACC 18173T, A. aneurinilyticus KACC 18174T and ‘ A. humi ' U33, respectively. Distinct morphological, physiological and genotypic differences from the previously described taxa support the classification of strain 1-10M-8-7-50T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Aneurinibacillus , for which the name Aneurinibacillus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1-10M-8-7-50T (=KEMB 563-460T=JCM 31819T).

A pale-red-pigmented bacterial strain, designated CW1T, was isolated from a polluted soil sample in China and was characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain CW1T was Gram-stain-positive (or variable), coccoid, motile by a single polar flagellum and non-spore-forming. Growth was observed at 15–37 °C, but not at 10 °C or 40 °C, at pH 5.0–9.0 and with 0–5 % NaCl (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain CW1T belongs to the genus Planococcus . The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between CW1T and the four most closely related type strains, Planococcus antarcticus DSM 14505T, Planococcus halocryophilus DSM 24743T, Planomicrobium soli XN13T and Planomicrobium okeanokoites NBRC 12536T were 97.96, 97.83, 97.83 and 97.82 %, respectively. The whole-cell sugars contained galactose, ribose and glucose. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 followed by MK-8, and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphoglycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 48.6 mol%. The phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses indicated that strain CW1T belongs unanimously to the genus Planococcus . However, DNA–DNA hybridization showed relatively low relatedness of 21.8 % (DSM 14505T) and 19.6 % (DSM 24743T) with the two most closely related strains of the genus Planococcus . Combined with the genotypic and phenotypic analysis, strain CW1T should represent a novel species in the genus Planococcus , for which the name Planococcus ruber sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CW1T (=CCTCC AB 207187T=LMG 24442T).

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterium, designated FJAT-27215T, was isolated from grass soil collected from Wudalianchi in the Heilongjiang Province of China. Growth was observed at 10–60 °C (optimum 30 °C), in 0 and 3.0 % NaCl (optimum 0 %) and at pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum 7.0), respectively. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the isoprenoid quinone was MK7. The main fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, and iso-C16 : 0. The main polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidyl ethanolamine. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated strain FJAT-27215T to the genus Bacillus . Strain FJAT-27215T showed high sequence similarities to Bacillus encimensis SGD-V-25T (98.6 %), Bacillus badius NBRC 15713T (98.6 %), Domibacillus indicus SD111T (96.9 %) and Bacillus thermotolerans SgZ-8T (96.5 %). The average nucleotide identity values between strain FJAT-27215T and the type strains of closely related species were much lower than the 96 % threshold value for delineation of genomic prokaryotic species. The in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain FJAT-27215T and the most closely related strain B. encimensis SGD-V-25T showed a similarity of 22.4 % and lower than 70 %, indicating that they belong to different taxa. The phenotypic characters and taxono-genomics study revealed that strain FJAT-27215T represents a novel Bacillus species, for which the name Bacillus wudalianchiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-27215T (=CCTCC AB 2015266T=DSM 100757T).

While studying culturable bacterial diversity in different marine habitats of the central west coast of India, two novel Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, motile, endospore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strains designated as SAOS 44T and SAB 38T were isolated from mangrove sediment soil and the surface of a macroalga, respectively. The strains were taxonomically characterized by using a polyphasic approach and genomic methods. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing placed the strains firmly in the genus Domibacillus and were most closely related to Domibacillus antri KCTC 33636T. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol in addition to an aminophosphoglycolipid. MK-6 was the only respiratory quinone. The range of values of digital DNA–DNA hybridization (19.2–24.9 %) and the ortho-average nucleotide identity (74.1–81.4 %) among strains SAOS 44T, SAB 38T and other Domibacillus species clearly supports their status as a distinct and novel species for which the names Domibacillus mangrovi sp. nov. SAOS 44T (=DSM 100930T=KCTC 33820T=MTCC 12571T) and Domibacillus epiphyticus sp. nov. SAB 38T (=DSM 100929T=KCTC 33830T=MTCC 12575T) are proposed, respectively.

Several strictly anaerobic bacteria that are Gram-stain-positive have the ability to use uric acid as the sole source of carbon and energy. The phylogeny of three such species, Clostridium acidurici , Clostridium purinilyticum , and Eubacterium angustum , members of the Clostridium cluster XII that ferment purines, but not most amino acids or carbohydrates, has been re-examined, taking advantage of their recently sequenced genomes. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, protein sequences of RpoB and GyrB, and on a concatenated alignment of 50 ribosomal proteins, revealed tight clustering of C. acidurici and C. purinilyticum . Eubacterium angustum showed consistent association with C. acidurici and C. purinilyticum , but differed from these two in terms of the genome size, G+C content of its chromosomal DNA and its inability to form spores. We propose reassigning C. acidurici and C. purinilyticum to the novel genus Gottschalkia as Gottschalkia acidurici gen. nov. comb. nov. (the type species of the genus) and Gottschalkia purinilytica comb. nov., respectively. Eubacterium angustum is proposed to be reclassified as Andreesenia angusta gen. nov. comb. nov. Furthermore, based on the phylogenetic data and similar metabolic properties, we propose assigning genera Gottschalkia and Andreesenia to the novel family Gottschalkiaceae. Metagenomic sequencing data indicate the widespread distibution of organisms falling within the radiation of the proposed family Gottschalkiaceae in terrestrial and aquatic habitats from upstate New York to Antarctica, most likely due to their ability to metabolize avian-produced uric acid.

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterium, designated strain FJAT-25547T, was isolated from the purplish paddy soil collected from Linshan Township, Yanting Prefecture of Sichuan Province in PR China (31° 16′ N 105° 27′ E). Growth was achieved aerobically at temperatures between 15 and 40 °C (optimum 30 °C), with between 0 and 10.0 % NaCl (w/v) (optimum 4 %) and in the range of pH 5.0–12.0 (optimum pH 9.0). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, and the main isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (55.4 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (22.2 %), iso-C16 : 0 (5.1 %) and iso-C14 : 0 (6.5 %). The main polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FJAT-25547T was a member of the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus horneckiae DSM 23495T (97.7 % similarity), Bacillus eiseniae A1-2T (97.5 %), Bacillus mesophilum IITR-54T (97.2 %) and Bacillus kochii WCC 4582T (97.0 %). The average nucleotide identity value between strain FJAT-25547T and the type strain of the most closely related species, B. horneckiae DSM 23495T, was 77.7 %, less than the proposed cut-off value of 96.0 % for differentiating species within the genus. The in silico DNA–DNA hybridization value of strain FJAT-25547T with the most closely related species was 22.7 %, <70 %, again indicating they belong to different taxa. The DNA G+C content of strain FJAT-25547T was 39.1 mol%. This taxono-genomics study revealed that strain FJAT-25547T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus for which the name Bacillus praedii sp. nov. (type strain FJAT-25547T=CCTCC AB 2015208T=DSM 101002T) is proposed.

A novel themophilic bacterium, designated YIM 79486T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Jinze hot spring in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain YIM 79486T should be assigned to the genus Laceyella and formed a monophyletic clade with the type strain Laceyella putida KCTC 3666T (98.7 % similarity). Strain YIM 79486T formed white aerial mycelium and brown substrate mycelium. Abundant endospores were produced on short sporophores. Cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9 and MK-8. The genomic DNA G+C content observed for strain YIM 79486T was 47.8 mol%. Based on low DNA–DNA hybridization data, chemotaxonomic characteristics and differential physiological properties, strain YIM 79486T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Laceyella , for which the name Laceyella thermophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 79486T (=CCTC AB 2015040T=NBRC 110772T).

Two isolates of Gram-reaction-positive, facultatively anaerobic, motile, rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacteria were identified during a survey of the diversity of strains belonging to the genus Bacillus deposited in the Agriculture Research Service Culture Collection. These strains were originally isolated from soil in Evolution Canyon III (Israel) in a survey of ecological diversification. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of strains NRRL B-41294T and NRRL B-41327T determined they were closely related to members of the Bacillus licheniformis clade. The genome of each strain was sequenced, and further analysis indicated that the strains represented unique species based on in silico DNA–DNA hybridization analyses. A phylogenomic analysis revealed that NRRL B-41294T and NRRL B-41327T were closely related to the group that includes B. licheniformis . In phenotypic characterization, both NRRL B-41294T and NRRL B-41327T were found to grow at temperatures of between 15 and 60 °C and tolerated up to 12 % NaCl (w/v). The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0, and peptidoglycan from cell walls contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The DNA G+C content was 45.7 and 44.3 mol% for NRRL B-41327T and NRRL B-41294T, respectively. Furthermore, each strain had a unique carbon utilization pattern that distinguished it from its nearest phylogenetic neighbours. Based upon the consensus of phylogenetic and phenotypic analyses, we conclude that these strains represent two novel species within the genus Bacillus , for which the name Bacillus swezeyi sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain NRRL B-41294T (=CCUG 70177T), and the name Bacillus haynesii sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain NRRL B-41327T (=CCUG 70178T).

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, and catalase- and oxidase-negative bacterial strain designated MOZM2T, having 98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Lactobacillus reuteri DSM 20016T, was isolated from a swab of the oral cavity of a home-bred guinea pig. Comparative analyses based on the hsp60, pheS and tuf genes confirmed L. reuteri as its closest relative species, with calculated sequence similarities of 92.8, 88.8 and 96.9 %, respectively. DNA–DNA hybridisation revealed a 42 % degree of genetic similarity between the novel strain and L. reuteri DSM 20016T. Strain MOZM2T degrades carbohydrates via the 6-phosphogluconate/phosphoketolase pathway, evidenced by its production of gas from glucose and the end products of hexose catabolism. Comparative analysis of the cellular fatty acid profiles determined significant differences between MOZM2T and L. reuteri DSM 20016T in their proportions of C8 : 0, C14 : 1, C17 : 0, C18 : 2ω6t and C20 : 0 fatty acids. Results of genotypic analyses also demonstrated differences between these two strains. They also differed in DNA G+C content, and some biochemical and physiological characteristics. We therefore believe that the examined bacterial isolate should be considered as a new taxon within the group of obligately heterofermentative lactobacilli. The species name Lactobacillus caviae sp. nov. is proposed, of which the type strain is MOZM2T (=CCM 8609T=DSM 100239T=LMG 28780T).

A mesophilic, Gram-stain-positive, spore-forming bacterium that formed branched mycelia was isolated from paddy soil in Gunung Salak (Mount Salak), West Java, Indonesia. This strain, designated S-27T, grew at temperatures between 20 and 37 °C; the optimum growth temperature was 25 to 30 °C, and no growth was observed at 15 or 45 °C. The pH range for growth was pH 3.5 to 8.6; the optimum pH was 6.0, and no growth was observed at pH 3.0 or 9.2. Strain S-27T was able to hydrolyse polysaccharides such as starch, cellulose and xylan. The G+C content of the DNA of strain S-27T was 55.7 mol%. The major fatty acids were iso-C17 : 0 and C16 : 1 2-OH, and the major menaquinone was MK-9 (H2). The cell wall of strain S-27T contained d-glutamic acid, glycine, l-alanine, d-alanine, l-ornithine and β-alanine in a molar ratio of 1.0 : 1.6 : 1.4 : 0.6 : 0.9 : 1.1. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two glycolipids. The major cell-wall sugar was arabinose. Detailed phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S-27T belongs to the order Ktedonobacterales and is most closely related to Ktedonobacter racemifer SOSP1-21T (89.6 % sequence identity). On the basis of its chemotaxonomic and phenotypic features and phylogenetic position, we concluded that strain S-27T represents a novel genus and species, for which we propose the name Dictyobacter aurantiacus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Dictyobacter aurantiacus is strain S-27T (=NBRC 109595T=InaCC B312T). Emendation of the description of the genus Thermosporothrix is also provided.

A slightly thermophilic, aerobic bacterium, designated YIM 72257T, was isolated from a sediment sample taken from a hot spring in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. The isolate was Gram-stain-negative, non-sporulating and forms non-motile rods, appearing in chains. The isolate grew at 50–65 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and with 0.5–1 % NaCl (w/v). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIM 72257T was most closely related to Meiothermus cateniformans LY1T (95.6 %), Meiothermus ruber DSM 1279T (95.1 %) and Meiothermus taiwanensis WR-30T (94.6 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YIM 72257T was 62.6 mol%. The main cellular fatty acids (>5 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipids consisted of an uncharacterized phospholipid and two glycolipids. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain YIM 72257T is proposed to be a representative of a novel species of the genus Meiothermus , for which the name Meiothermus luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 72257T (=KCTC 52599T=CCTCC AB 2017100T).

A thermophilic bacterial strain, designated YIM 73026T was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in Tibet, PR China. The taxonomic position of the novel isolate was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. Colonies were circular, convex, opaque and yellow. The strain grew at 50–70 °C (optimum, 60 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of up to 1.0 % NaCl (w/v). Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of YIM 73026T and those of other members of the genus Thermus showed sequence similarities ranging from 91.2 to 97.5 %, with YIM 73026T showing closest sequence similarity to Thermus scotoductus SE-1T (97.5 %). DNA–DNA hybridization results, however, revealed that DNA–DNA reassociation values between YIM 73026T and T. scotoductus DSM 8553T (37.6 %), Thermus amyloliquefaciens YIM 77409T (34.5 %), Thermus antranikianii DSM 12462T (30.3 %), Thermus caliditerrae YIM 77925T (28.6 %) and Thermus tengchongensis YIM 77924T (27.3 %) were well below the 70 % limit for species identification. YIM 73026T contained MK-8 as the respiratory quinone, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids (>10 %). The polar lipids consisted of one aminophospholipid, one phospholipid and two glycolipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of YIM 73026T was 65.4 mol%. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, it is proposed that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Thermus , for which the name Thermus caldifontis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 73026T (=NBRC 112415T=CCTCC AB 2016305T).

A Gram-stain-negative and rod-shaped bacterial strain, 12-OD1T, with rock phosphate solubilizing ability was isolated from agricultural soil in Hailun, Heilongjiang, PR China. The isolate was affiliated to the genus Massilia , based on 16S rRNA gene sequence alignments, having the highest similarities with Massilia putida 6 NM-7T (98.67 %), Massilia kyonggiensis TSA1T (98.28 %), and Massilia norwichensis NS9T (98.07 %), respectively. The DNA G+C content was 67.72 mol% and DNA–DNA hybridization showed low relatedness values (less than 47 %) between strain 12-OD1T and other phylogenetically related species of the genus Massilia . The predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q-8 and the polar lipid profile comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids were C17 : 0 cyclo (25.4 %), C16 : 0 (23.4 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) (22.5 %), which differentiates it from close relatives within the genus Massilia . Combined genetic, physiological and biochemical properties indicate that strain 12-OD1T is a novel species of the genus Massilia , for which the name Massilia phosphatilytica sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain 12-OD1T (=CCTCC AB 2016251T=LMG 29956T=KCTC 52513T).

A Gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped and non-flagellated bacterium, named strain XMTR2A4T, was isolated from the gut of a marine limpet, Notoacmea schrenckii on intertidal rocks. Colonies were small, light grey and circular. Catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth was observed at 15 to 37 °C (optimum 28–30 °C), with salinity range from 0.5 to 9 % (optimum 1–2 %), and at pH 6 to 9 (optimum pH 7). The almost full-length 16S rRNA gene of strain XMTR2A4T had the highest sequence similarity of 93.7 % with Mycoplana ramosa DSM 7292T, and of 93.5 , 93.5 and 93.4 % with Chelativorans intermedius CC-MHSW-5T, Ensifer fredii ATCC 35423T and Phyllobacterium myrsinacearum IAM 13584T, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain XMTR2A4T formed a tight cluster with a cultured but uncharacterized strain, YP382-1-A, which was deeply separated from the species within the order Rhizobiales in the class Alphaproteobacteria . The predominant fatty acid of strain XMTR2A4T was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 83.4 %). Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was detected as the sole respiratory quinone. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid and three unknown lipids. The genome size was about 3.6 Mbp and the G+C content was 61.5 mol%. Combining the results above, it was ascertained that strain XMTR2A4Trepresents a novel species of a new genus in the order Rhizobiales , for which the name Notoacmeibacter marinus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is XMTR2A4T (=MCCC 1A01882T=KCTC 52427T). A novel family in the order Rhizobiales , named Notoacmeibacteraceae fam. nov., is also proposed to accommodate the new genus.

Strain 011410T, isolated from air at the foot of Xiangshan Mountain, Beijing, China, was Gram-reaction-negative, facultatively anaerobic, oval-shaped, motile with two flagella and catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth of strain 011410T was observed at 4–41 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 4.5–10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and at salinities of 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0–2 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 011410T was a member of the genus Paracoccus and was related most closely to Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (96.62 % similarity) and Paracoccus sediminis CMB17T (96.48 % similarity). The major fatty acid was identified as C18 : 1ω7c, with smaller amounts of C18 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 2 (C14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso-C16 : 1 I). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10), with Q-9 as a minor component. Polar lipid analysis indicated the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unknown phosphoglycolipid, five unknown phospholipids, one unknown aminolipid, one unknown glycolipid and two unknown polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 63.5 mol%. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic characterization, strain 011410T represents a novel species, for which the name Paracoccus aerius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 011410T (=CFCC 14285T=KCTC 42845T).

The unusual chemo-organoheterotrophic proteobacterial strain MWH-Nonnen-W8redT was isolated from a lake located in the Black Forest (Schwarzwald), Germany, by using the filtration-acclimatization method. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain could not provide clear hints on classification of the strain in one of the current classes of the phylum Proteobacteria . Whole-genome sequencing resulted in a genome size of 3.5 Mbp and revealed a quite low DNA G+C content of 32.6 mol%. In-depth phylogenetic analyses based on alignments of 74 protein sequences of a phylogenetically broad range of taxa suggested assignment of the strain to a new order of the class Oligoflexia . These analyses also suggested that the order Bdellovibrionales should be transferred from the class Deltaproteobacteria to the class Oligoflexia , that this order should be split into two orders, and that the family Pseudobacteriovoracaceae should be transferred from the order Bdellovibrionales to the order Oligoflexales . We propose to establish for strain MWH-Nonnen-W8redT (=DSM 23856T=CCUG 58639T) the novel species and genus Silvanigrella aquatica gen. nov., sp. nov. to be placed in the new family Silvanigrellaceae fam. nov. of the new order Silvanigrellales ord. nov.

A bacterial strain, designated MVW-40T, was isolated from Maolin Spring in Taiwan and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells of strain MVW-40T were Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, motile by a single polar flagellum and bright yellow-pigmented rods with pointed ends. Growth occurred at 15–40 °C (optimum, 20–30 °C), at pH 6–9 (optimum, pH 6) and with 0–2 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MVW-40T belonged to the genus Cellvibrio and showed the highest levels of sequence similarity with respect to Cellvibrio mixtus subsp. mixtus ACM 2601T (98.1 %) and Cellvibrio fibrivorans R-4079T (97.2 %). Strain MVW-40T contained summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c as the predominant fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two uncharacterized aminophospholipids, two uncharacterized phospholipids and an uncharacterized lipid. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 52.8 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization value for strain MVW-40T with C. mixtus subsp. mixtus ACM 2601T and C. fibrivorans R-4079T was less than 45 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain MVW-40T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Cellvibrio fontiphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MVW-40T (=BCRC 80977T=LMG 29557T=KCTC 52237T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic marine bacterial strain, SAB-3T, was isolated from brown macroalgae (Dictyota sp.) growing in the Arabian sea, Goa, India. The strain grew optimally at 30 °C, with 2.0–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0 on marine agar medium. Strain SAB-3T was unable to hydrolyse aesculin and did not grow in the presence of rifamycin but showed resistance to antibiotics such as cefadroxil and co-trimoxazole. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω 6c) and C16 : 0, and Q-8 was the major ubiquinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 41.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and phylogenetic analysis indicated that the strain was a member of the genus Marinomonas with Marinomonas aquiplantarum IVIA-Po-159T (97.6 % similarity), Marinomonas posidonica IVIA-Po-181T (97.5 %) and Marinomonas dokdonensis DSM 17202T (97.4 %) as the closest relatives. Whole genome relatedness determined through DNA–DNA hybridization revealed values of 40–50 % (below the 70 % threshold recommended for species delineation) with the above three species, thus confirming it as representing a distinct and novel species of the genus Marinomonas for which the name Marinomonas epiphytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SAB-3T (=JCM 31365T=KCTC 52293T=MTCC 12569T).