- Volume 67, Issue 8, 2017

A light yellow-coloured, Gram-stain-negative, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain K-3-1T, was isolated from reclaimed grassland soils of Belbari, Morang, Nepal. It was able to grow at 4–45 °C, at pH 5.0–10.0, and at 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl concentrations. This strain was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain K-3-1T belongs to the genus Massilia and is closely related to Massilia consociata CCUG 58010T (98.3 % sequence similarity), Massilia tieshanensis TS3T (98.1 % sequence similarity), Massilia kyonggiensis TSA1T (98.1 % sequence similarity), Massilia yuzhufengensis Y1243-1T (98.1 % sequence similarity), Massilia haematophila CCUG 38318T (98.0 % sequence similarity), Massilia varians CCUG 35299T (97.9 % sequence similarity), Massilia niastensis 5516 S-1T (97.6 % sequence similarity) and Massilia alkalitolerans YIM 31775T (97.5 % sequence similarity). The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant fatty acids of strain K-3-1T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, C12 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The genomic DNA G+C content of this novel strain was 66.8 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain K-3-1T and its closest reference strains were significantly lower than the threshold value of 70 %. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain K-3-1T represents a novel species of the genus Massilia , for which the name Massilia agri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K-3-1T (=KEMB 9005-446T=KACC 19000T=JCM 31661T).

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacterial strains, named CPA5T and BR75T, were isolated from the halophyte Halimione portulacoides. Both presented optimum growth at 30 °C, pH 7.0–7.5 and 1–2 % NaCl (w/v) for strain CPA5T, and pH 7.5–8.0 and 2 % NaCl (w/v) for strain BR75T. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated both strains to the genus Altererythrobacter. CPA5T presented highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Altererythrobacter aestuarii KYW147T (96.5 %), followed by Altererythrobacter namhicola KYW48T (95.9 %), Novosphingobium indicum H25T (95.6 %) and Altererythrobacter oceanensis Y2T (95.5 %). BR75T displayed highest similarity with Altererythrobacter marensis MSW-14T (96.5 %), followed by Altererythrobacter xinjiangensis S3-63T, Altererythrobacter luteolus SW-109T and Altererythrobacter indicus MSSRF26T (96.1 %). Neither strain contained Bacteriochlorophyll a. The main fatty acids observed for CPA5T were C17 : 1ω6c and summed features 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) and 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The latter summed feature was the dominant fatty acid observed for strain BR75T as well. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified phospholipids and unidentified glycolipids for both strains. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10 for both strains, and the DNA G+C contents were 63.4 mol% and 58.3 mol% for CPA5T and BR75T, respectively. Based on phenotypic and genotypic results, both strains represent novel species belonging to the genus Altererythrobacter for which the names Altererythrobacter halimionae sp. nov. (type strain CPA5T=CECT 9130T=LMG 29519T) and Altererythrobacter endophyticus sp. nov (type strain BR75T=CECT 9129T=LMG 29518T) are proposed.

A novel Gram-staining-negative, oval-shaped (0.4–0.6×0.8–1.0 µm), non-motile strain without flagella, designated B7T, was isolated from deep seawater in the South China Sea. Strain B7T was able to grow at 25–40 °C (optimum 35 °C), at pH 5.5–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0–8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the predominant isoprenoid quinone was Q-10 and the dominant fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo 8c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18  : 1 ω6c). The polar lipids of strain B7T were diphosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one unknown aminophospholipid, one unknown glycolipid and three unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain B7T belongs to the genus Mesorhizobium with similarities ranging from 96.2 to 97.5 %. Phylogenetic analyses of housekeeping genes recA, atpD and glnII indicated that strain B7T represented a distinct evolutionary lineage with the genus Mesorhizobium . OrthoANI values between strain B7T and related strains of the genus Mesorhizobium (<80 %) were lower than the threshold value of 95 % ANI relatedness for species demarcation. Therefore, strain B7T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Mesorhizobium , for which the name Mesorhizobium oceanicumsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B7T (=KCTC 42783T=MCCC 1K02305T).

A polyphasic taxonomic study was undertaken to clarify the exact position of type strain DY6-4T of Xuhuaishuia manganoxidans . A combination of physiological properties of X. manganoxidans DY6-4T was consistent with those of type strain 22DY15T of Brevirhabdus pacifica . The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses indicated that X. manganoxidans DY6-4T and B. pacifica 22DY15T shared 100 % similarity and formed a monophyletic group. The close relationship between the two strains was underpinned by the results of chemotaxonomic characteristics, including the fatty acids, quinone and polar lipids. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between the two strains were 99.90 and 99.98 %, respectively. Based on these results, we propose that Xuhuaishuia manganoxidans is a later heterotypic synonym of Brevirhabdus pacifica .

A bacterial strain, designated DL5-4T, was isolated from the surface seawater of Dalian Bay and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells of DL5-4T were Gram-staining-negative, non-motile and short-rod-shaped. Growth was observed at 8–40 °C (optimum 28–30 °C), at pH 6–9 (optimum pH 7) and in 0–7 % NaCl (optimum 1–3 %, w/v). The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that DL5-4T formed an independent branch with members of the genus Defluviimonas , sharing high similarities with five related type strains, Defluviimonas aquaemixtae CDM-7T (96.6 %), Defluviimonas denitrificans DSM 18921T (96.0 %), Defluviimonas indica 20V17T (95.8 %), Defluviimonas aestuarii BS14T (95.8 %) and Defluviimonas alba cai42T (94.5 %). The predominant fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c). The isoprenoid quinone was identified as Q-10. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, four phospholipids, an aminolipid and an unknown lipid. The DNA G+C content was 63.8 mol%. The results of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses clearly indicated that DL5-4T represents a novel species of the genus Defluviimonas , for which the name Defluviimonas nitratireducens sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain DL5-4T (=MCCC 1A06955T=LMG 29616T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and short-rod-shaped bacterium, designated RP18T, was isolated from forest soil in Gwang-ju, Republic of Korea. Growth occurred at 15–30 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 6.0–7.0 (optimum pH 7.0), and was inhibited in the presence of normal saline. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain RP18T showed the highest sequence similarity to Sphingomonas kyeonggiensis THG-DT81T (96.0 %), followed by Sphingomonas pituitosa EDIVT (95.4 %) and Sphingomonas dokdonensis DS-4T (95.2 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RP18T was clustered with Sphingomonas gimensis 9PNM-6T and Sphingomonas jejuensis MS-31T under the genus Sphingomonas . The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain RP18T was 61.5 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids (>6 % of the total) were C16 : 0, C14 : 0 2-OH, C17 : 1ω6с, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7с and/or C16 : 1ω6с) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7с and/or C18 : 1ω6с). Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) and sym-homospermidine were detected as the predominant respiratory quinone and major compound in the polyamine pattern, respectively. The major polar lipids of the isolate consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phospholipid and sphingoglycolipid. Based on phylogenetic analysis and physiological and biochemical characterization, strain RP18T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas , for which the name Sphingomonas silvisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RP18T (=KACC 18914T=JCM 31801T).

Two Gram-negative, heterotrophic, aerobic, prosthecated, marine bacteria, designated strains MCS23T and MCS27T, were isolated from seawater samples. NaCl was required for growth. The major polar lipid detected in strain MCS27T was phosphatidylglycerol, whereas those detected in MCS23T were phosphatidylglycerol, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol and 1,2-diacyl-3-α-d-glucuronopyranosyl-sn-glycerol taurineamide. The most abundant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7 and C16 : 0, hydroxyl-fatty acids were 3-OH C12 : 0 in both strains and 3-OH C11 : 0 in MCS23T. Strains MCS23T and MCS27T had DNA G+C contents of 57.0 and 55.0 mol%, respectively. The two strains shared 99.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity; levels of similarity with the type strains of species of the genus Henriciella were 99.4–97.8 % but DNA–DNA hybridizations were 53 % or lower. Besides their 16S rRNA gene sequences, the novel strains can be differentiated from other species of the genus Henriciella by cell morphology, lipid and fatty acid patterns and enzyme activities. The data obtained led to the identification of two novel species, for which the names Henriciella barbarensis sp. nov. (type strain MCS23T=LMG 28705T=CCUG 66934T) and Henriciella algicola sp. nov. (type strain MCS27T=LMG 29152T=CCUG 67844T) are proposed. As these two novel species are the first prosthecate species in the genus Henriciella , an emended genus description is also provided.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, facultatively aerobic strain, motile by a monotrichous (polar or lateral) flagellum, designated BSS09T, was isolated from surface sediment of the Bohai Sea, PR China. Growth was observed at 10–45 °C (optimum 32 °C), in the presence of 1.0–7.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4.0 %) and at pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum pH 6.0). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain BSS09T belonged to the genus Roseibium and showed the highest sequence similarity of 96.5 % to Roseibium hamelinense JCM 10544T. The significant dominant fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids comprised one phosphatidylcholine, one phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one phosphatidylglycerol, one phosphatidylethanolamine and one unidentified polar lipid. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content of strain BSS09T was 57.1 mol%. On the basis of evidence from this polyphasic study, strain BSS09T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Roseibium , for which the name Roseibium sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BSS09T (=KCTC 52373T=MCCC 1K03201T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, motile and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, JDTF-113T, was isolated from a tidal flat in Jindo, an island of South Korea. Strain JDTF-113T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–8.0 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain JDTF-113T fell within the clade enclosing the type strains of species of the genus Alteromonas . Strain JDTF-113T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.1–98.1 % to the type strains of Alteromonas lipolytica , Alteromonas litorea , Alteromonas mediterranea , Alteromonas confluentis , Alteromonas hispanica , Alteromonas genovensis and Alteromonas marina , and of 94.8–96.9 % to those of the other species of the genus Alteromonas . Strain JDTF-113T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of strain JDTF-113T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain JDTF-113T was 51.1 mol% and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of seven closely phylogenetically related species of the genus Alteromonas were was 10–23 %. The differential phenotypic properties and phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness support strain JDTF-113T being separated from species of the genus Alteromonas with validly published names . On the basis of the data presented, strain JDTF-113T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Alteromonas , for which the name Alteromonas aestuariivivens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JDTF-113T (=KCTC 52655T=NBRC 112708T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic and ovoid or rod-shaped bacterium, designated SCTF-16T, was isolated from a tidal flat on the Yellow Sea, South Korea. Strain SCTF-16T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. In the neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and maximum-parsimony phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SCTF-16T clustered with the type strains of two species of the genus Umboniibacter . Strain SCTF-16T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 99.6 and 97.1 % to the type strains of Umboniibacter roseus and Umboniibacter marinipuniceus , respectively, and of less than 93.4 % to the type strains of the other recognized species. Strain SCTF-16T contained Q-7 as the predominant ubiquinone and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C13 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain SCTF-16T were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content of strain SCTF-16T was 50.0 mol%, and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of U. roseus and U. marinipuniceus were 31 and 9 %, respectively. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain SCTF-16T is separated from the two recognized species of the genus Umboniibacter . On the basis of the data presented, strain SCTF-16T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Umboniibacter , for which the name Umboniibacter caenipelagi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCTF-16T (=KCTC 52628T=NBRC 112760T).

Strain LA220T, isolated from seawater of the Eastern Pacific Ocean, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and short rod-shaped. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain LA220T showed high similarity to Henriciella litoralis SD10T (98.5 %), Henriciella marina DSM 19595T (98.3 %) and Henriciella aquimarin a P38T (97.5 %), and exhibited less than 97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to the type strains of other Hyphomonadaceae species. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain LA220T fell within the cluster of the genus Henriciella. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain LA220T and the type strains of Henriciella species were 74.8–76.8 and 18.4–20.8 %, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The principal fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were three unidentified glycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 59.9 mol%. Phylogenetic distinctiveness, chemotaxonomic differences and phenotypic properties revealed that strain LA220T could be differentiated from recognized Henriciella species. Therefore, strain LA220T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Henriciella , for which the name Henriciella pelagia sp. nov. (type strain LA220T=CGMCC 1.15928T=KCTC 52577T) is proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid, ovoid or rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated JSSK-14T, was isolated from the place where the ocean and a freshwater spring meet at Jeju island, South Korea. Strain JSSK-14T grew optimally at pH 7.0–8.0, at 30 °C and in the presence of 1.0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JSSK-14T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species of the genus Erythrobacter . Strain JSSK-14T exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.09–98.42 % to the type strains of Erythrobacter gangjinensis , Erythrobacter atlanticus and Erythrobacter luteus and of 94.31–96.97 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Erythrobacter . Strain JSSK-14T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids of strain JSSK-14T were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and sphingoglycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain JSSK-14T was 63.5 mol%, and its mean DNA–DNA relatedness values with the type strains of Erythrobacter gangjinensis , Erythrobacter atlanticus and Erythrobacter luteus were 13–25 %. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain JSSK-14T is separated from recognized species of the genus Erythrobacter . On the basis of the data presented, strain JSSK-14T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Erythrobacter , for which the name Erythrobacter aquimixticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JSSK-14T (=KCTC 52764T=NBRC 112765T).

A bacterial strain, designated SN6-9T, was isolated from soil of the Gotjawal, lava forest, located in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Strain SN6-9T was Gram-stain-negative, motile, oxidase- and catalase-negative, yellow-pigmented and rod-shaped. It contained summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acids, Q-10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid and two unidentified phospholipids as the polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 64.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strain formed a separate lineage in the genus Sphingomonas . Based on the results from this polyphasic taxonomic study, it is concluded that strain SN6-9T represents a novel species in the genus Sphingomonas . The name Sphingomonas gotjawalisoli sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is SN6-9T (=KCTC 52405T=NRRL B-65395T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccoid to short-rod-shaped bacterial strain (THG-N2.22T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus). Growth occurred at 20–40 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5–9 (optimum 7) and with 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-N2.22T were identified as Roseomonas rhizosphaerae YW11T (98.5 % similarity), Roseomonas rubra S5T (98.5 %), Roseomonas cervicalis ATCC 49957T (98.2 %), Roseomonas aestuarii JC17T (97.8 %), Roseomonas oryzae JC288T (97.3 %) and Roseomonas ludipueritiae 170/96T (97.3 %); levels of similarity with the type strains of other Roseomonas species were lower than 97.0 %. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified lipids. The major quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1 2-OH, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-N2.22T was 64.1 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain THG-N2.22T and R. rhizosphaerae YW11T, R. rubra S5T, R. cervicalis ATCC 49957T, R. aestuarii JC17T, R. oryzae JC288T and R. ludipueritiae 170/96T were 43.1 % (30.2 %, reciprocal analysis), 39.0 % (24.7 %), 34.4 % (15.2 %), 18.0 % (14.5 %), 14.7 % (9.7 %) and 11.0 % (5.6 %), respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain THG-N2.22T represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas , for which the name Roseomonas hibiscisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-N2.22T (=KACC 18935T=CCTCC AB 2016176T).

In previous studies, two hydrocarbon-degrading sulfate-reducing bacteria, strains PP31T and PL12T, were obtained from oil-polluted marine sediments of Shuaiba, Kuwait. They had been reported as organisms capable of anaerobic degradation of p-xylene and n-alkanes, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain PP31T showed 98.8 % sequence similarities to that of Desulfosarcina variabilis ‘Montpellier’T. Strains PL12T had 97.8 % of sequence similarity to Desulfosarcina ovata oXys1T. They both have been partially characterized, but not been validly published as new species of the genus Desulfosarcina . In this study, additional characterizations of these strains were made to describe them as two new species of the genus Desulfosarcina . Major cellular fatty acids of strain PP31T were C15 : 0 (25.9 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (22.3 %), whereas those of strain PL12T were C15 : 0 (21.3 %), C16 : 0 (17.8 %) and anteiso-15 : 0 (11.6 %). The phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene revealed that these isolates should not be classified as any of the known species in the genus Desulfosarcina . On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, these two sulfate reducers are proposed to form two novel species of the genus Desulfosarcina : Desulfosarcina widdelii sp. nov. (PP31T=JCM 31729T=DSM 103921T) and Desulfosarcina alkanivorans sp. nov. (PL12T=JCM 31728T=DSM 103901T). In addition, emended description of the genus Desulfosarcina is presented in this study.

A moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain SP30T, was isolated from a solar saltern located in Santa Pola, Alicante, on the East coast of Spain. It was a Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic bacterium, able to grow in 7.5–25 % (w/v) NaCl and optimally in 12.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that the novel isolate is a member of the genus Spiribacter , with the most closely related species being Spiribacter roseus SSL50T (99.9 % sequence similarity) and Spiribacter curvatus UAH-SP71T (99.4 % sequence similarity). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type species Spiribacter salinus M19-40T was 96.6 %. The DNA–DNA relatedness value between strain SP30T and S. roseus SSL50T and S. curvatus UAH-SP71T was 40 and 55 %, respectively; these values are lower than the 70 % threshold accepted for species delineation. The major fatty acids were C16:0, C18 : 1ω7c, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and C12 : 0. Similarly to other species of the genus Spiribacter , strain SP30Twas observed as curved rods and spiral cells. Metabolic versatility was reduced to the utilization of a few organic compounds as the sole carbon and energy sources, as with other members of Spiribacter. However, it differed in terms of colony pigmentation (brownish-yellow instead of pink) and in having a higher growth rate. Based on these data and on the phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization, we propose the classification of strain SP30T as a novel species within the genus Spiribacter , with the name Spiribacter aquaticus sp. nov. The type strain is SP30T (=CECT 9238T=LMG 30005T).

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated R1-4T, was isolated from soil from a military shooting range in the Republic of Korea. Cells were non-motile short rods, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. Growth of R1-4T was observed at 15–45 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). R1-4T contained summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c/C18  : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c/C16  : 1ω6c), cyclo-C19 : 0ω8c and C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids and ubiquinone-10 as the sole isoprenoid quinone. Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, an unknown glycolipid and four unknown lipids were detected as polar lipids. The major polyamine was spermidine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.4 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that R1-4T formed a tight phylogenetic lineage with Novosphingobium sediminicola HU1-AH51T within the genus Novosphingobium . R1-4T was most closely related to N. sediminicola HU1-AH51T with a 98.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The DNA–DNA relatedness between R1-4T and the type strain of N. sediminicola was 37.8±4.2 %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties, it is clear that R1-4T represents a novel species of the genus Novosphingobium , for which the name Novosphingobium humi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R1-4T (=KACC 19094T=JCM 31879T).

Two yeast strains, DMKU-WBBC14 and UFMG-CM-Y3283, were isolated from soil in Samutprakarn province in the central part of Thailand and from rotting wood in an Amazonian forest site in the Roraima State in Brazil, respectively. The two strains showed identical sequences of the D1/D2 domain of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene and different sequences by three nucleotide substitutions of the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Therefore, these two strains represented a single species which was most closely related to Cyberlindnera mengyuniae CBS 10845T. The nucleotide sequence differences between the two strains of the novel species and the type strain Cyberlindnera mengyuniae CBS 10845T were 10 substitutions in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene and 46 substitutions in the ITS region. DMKU-WBBC14 and UFMG-CM-Y3283 differed in growth temperature profiles. Moreover, they also exhibited different carbon assimilation profiles and growth temperature profiles from the type strain of Cyberlindnera mengyuniae, CBS 10845T. The name Cyberlindnera tropicalis f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DMKU-WBBC14T (=CBS 14558T=TBRC 6562T). The Mycobank number is MB 819722.

Nine strains representing a single anamorphic novel yeast species in dispersed tropical and subtropical habitats were isolated from sugarcane leaf tissue (DMKU-SE24, DMKU-SE45T, DMKU-SE129 and DMKU-SE134) and corn leaf tissue (DMKU-CE36) in Thailand, phylloplane and rhizoplane of sugarcane in Brazil (IMUFRJ 52018 and IMUFRJ 52019), bromeliad leaf tissue in Brazil (IMUFRJ 51954) and plant leaf in Japan (IPM31-24). These strains showed identical or only 1 nt substitution in the sequences of the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene and 0–5 nt substitutions in the internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region. Phylogenetic analysis based on the combined sequences of the ITS and the D1/D2 regions showed that the eight of these strains represented a single species in the genus Occultifur that was distinct from related species. Occultifur kilbournensis was the most closely related species, but with 0.9–1.2 % nucleotide substitutions in the D1/D2 region of the LSU rRNA gene, and 2.4–2.6 % nucleotide substitutions in the ITS region. They are therefore considered to represent a novel species of the genus Occultifur although the formation of basidia was not observed. The name Occultifur plantarum f.a., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DMKU-SE45T (=CBS 14554T=TBRC 6561T).

Four novel Lipomyces strains were isolated from soil collected in the Okinawa and Yamanashi prefectures, Japan. Based on their morphological and biochemical characteristics, along with sequence typing using the D1/D2 domain of the LSU rRNA, internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region including 5.8S rRNA, and translation elongation factor 1 alpha gene (EF-1α), the four strains were shown to represent two novel species of the genus Lipomyces, described as Lipomyces okinawensis sp. nov. (type strain No.3-a(35)T=NBRC 110620T=CBS 14747T) and Lipomyces yamanashiensis f.a., sp. nov. (type strain No.313T=NBRC 110621T=CBS 14748T).