- Volume 67, Issue 9, 2017

Strain MWH-Weng1-1T, isolated from an acidic freshwater habitat located in the Wenger Moor, Austria, was characterized by investigating its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic traits. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing placed the strain in the cryptic species complex PnecC within the genus Polynucleobacter . The strain had a genome of 2.04 Mbp with a G+C content of 45.6 mol%. The major fatty acids of the strain were C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. In order to resolve the systematic position of the strain within the species complex PnecC, concatenated partial sequences of eight housekeeping genes were used for phylogenetic analyses. The obtained trees did not place strain MWH-Weng1-1T close to any of the six previously described species within this cryptic species complex. Pairwise whole genome average nucleotide identity comparisons with genome sequences of strains representing the six previously described species of the subcluster resulted throughout in values <78 %, which clearly suggested that strain MWH-Weng1-1T (DSM 24018T=CIP 111099T) represents a novel species. We propose the name Polynucleobacter sphagniphilus sp. nov. and strain MWH-Weng1-1T as the type strain for this new species.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, gliding, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated RA3-2T, was isolated from the gut of an abalone (Haliotis discus hannai) collected from the sea around Jeju island, South Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. RA3-2T grew optimally at 20 °C and in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that RA3-2T fell within the clade comprising the type strains of species of the genus Tenacibaculum , clustering with the type strains of Tenacibaculum soleae , Tenacibaculum ovolyticum and Tenacibaculum dicentrarchi ; showing 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 96.2–96.8 %. The novel strain exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 93.5–96.9 % to the type strains of the other species of the genus Tenacibaculum . RA3-2T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids of RA3-2T were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified lipids, one unidentified aminophospholipid and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of RA3-2T was 31.7 mol%. The differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic data, revealed that RA3-2T is separated from other species of the genus Tenacibaculum with validly published names. On the basis of the data presented, RA3-2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tenacibaculum , for which the name Tenacibaculum haliotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RA3-2T (=KCTC 52419T=NBRC 112382T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile bacterium, designated M23T, was isolated from a laboratory culture of a bloom-forming cyanobacterium, Microcystis , which was isolated from a eutrophic lake in Korea. The strain grew optimally without NaCl and at 25–30 °C on R2A agar medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences positioned the novel strain among the genus Silanimonas , with the highest similarity to Silanimonas lenta DSM 16282T (98.5 %). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain M23T and the closely related species in the genus Silanimonas was <30 %. Strain M23T contained iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty acids and ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) as the major quinone. Strain M23T contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylmethylethanolamine as major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain M23T was 69.6 mol%. On the basis of the genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain M23T represents a novel species in the genus Silanimonas , for which the name Silanimonas algicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M23T (=KCTC 52219T=JCM 31889T)

The characterization of five Iranian isolates, four from hospital haemodialysis water and one from the sputum of a patient, led to the detection of a novel mycobacterium species. The strains were characterized by mucoid colonies developing in 3–5 days at temperatures ranging from 25 to 37 °C. The biochemical test pattern was unremarkable while the HPLC profile of mycolic acids resembled that of Mycobacterium fortuitum . The sequences of three major housekeeping genes (16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB) were unique and differed from those of any other mycobacterium. Mycobacterium brisbanense , which is the species that shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (99.03 %), was distinct, as shown by the average nucleotide identity and by the genome to genome distance values (91.05 and 43.10 %, respectively). The strains are thus considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mycobacterium, for which the name Mycobacterium aquaticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RW6T (=DSM 104277T=CIP111198T).

Gram-reaction-positive, strictly aerobic, motile coccoid- to rod-shaped actinobacteria, designated strains YC2-20T and YC2-19 were isolated from pieces of stalactites collected at the Yongcheon Cave in Jeju, Republic of Korea. The cells of orange-coloured colonies grew at 20–37 °C, pH 6–10 and in the absence of NaCl. In the neighbour-joining tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the novel isolates formed a distant sublineage at the base of the radiation of the genus Angustibacter. The novel isolates shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences to each other and revealed a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.6 % to the closest relative, Angustibacter aerolatus and <95 % to other members of the family Kineosporiaceae. Albeit with a low similarity of 16S rRNA gene sequences and a distinct phylogenetic position, most of the chemotaxonomic characteristics were in agreement with those of the genus Angustibacter: meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall; MK-9(H4) as the major menaquinone; polar lipids including diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside; and a DNA G+C content of 73.1 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, the novel isolates are considered to represent members of a novel species of the genus Angustibacter, for which the name Angustibacter speluncae sp. nov. is proposed, with type strain YC2-20T (=KCTC 39842T=DSM 103769T).

Three strains (JA826T, JA912T and JA913), which were yellowish brown colour, rod to oval shaped, Gram-stain-negative, motile, phototrophic bacteria with a vesicular architecture of intracytoplasmic membranes, were isolated from different pond samples. The DNA G+C content of the three strains was between 64.6 and 65.5 mol%. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of all three strains was with the type strains of the genus Rhodobacter sensu stricto in the family Rhodobacteraceae . Strain JA826T had highest sequence similarity with Rhodobacter maris JA276T (98.5 %), Rhodobacter viridis JA737T (97.5 %) and other members of the genus Rhodobacter (<97 %). Strain JA912T had highest sequence similarity with Rhodobacter viridis JA737T (99.6 %), Rhodobacter sediminis N1T (99.3 %), Rhodobacter capsulatus ATCC 11166T (98.8 %) and less than 97 % similarity with other members of the genus Rhodobacter . The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains JA826T and JA912T was 96.9 %. DNA–DNA hybridization showed that strains JA826T and JA912T (values among themselves and between the type strains of nearest members <44 %) did not belong to any of the nearest species of the genus Rhodobacter . However, strains JA912T and JA913 were closely related (DNA–DNA hybridization value >90 %). The genomic distinction was also supported by differences in phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics in order to propose strains JA826T (=KCTC 15478T=LMG 28758T) and JA912T (=KCTC 15475T=LMG 28748T) as new species in the genus Rhodobacter sensu stricto with the names Rhodobacter lacus and Rhodobacter azollae, respectively.

An aerobic, Gram-negative, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive bacterium, designated strain YC6-17T, was isolated from pieces of wood collected at the bottom of Youngcheon Cave in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YC6-17T formed a tight cluster with Phreatobacter oligotrophus DSM 25521T (98.1 % sequence similarity) and was distinctly separate from other taxa of the order Rhizobiales . Cells were motile rods and showed growth at 10–30 °C, pH 6–8 and 2 % NaCl. Colonies were smooth, circular, convex and pale yellow in colour. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10. The predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, 11-methyl-C18 : 1ω7c, summed feature 3 and C16 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two glycolipids and a lipid. The DNA G+C content was 64.4 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain YC6-17T and the closest relative was 15.6±7.9 %. Based on combined data from phenotypic characterization and DNA–DNA hybridization as well as phylogenetic analysis, it was suggested that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Phreatobacter , for which the name Phreatobacter stygius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain YC6-17T (=KCTC 52518T=DSM 103734T).

Tropical ecosystems worldwide host very diverse microbial communities, but are increasingly threatened by deforestation and climate change. Thus, characterization of biodiversity in these environments, and especially of microbial communities that show unique adaptations to their habitats, is a very urgent matter. Information about representatives of the phylum Cyanobacteria in tropical environments is scarce, even though they are fundamental primary producers that help other microbes to thrive in nutrient-depleted habitats, including phyllospheres. In order to increase our knowledge of cyanobacterial diversity, a study was conducted to characterize isolates from Avicennia schaueriana and Merostachys neesii leaves collected at a mangrove and an Atlantic forest reserve located at the littoral of São Paulo state, south-east Brazil. The morphological, ultrastructural, phylogenetic, molecular and ecological features of the strains led to the recognition of the new genus Kryptousia, comprising two new species, Kryptousia macronema gen. nov., sp. nov. and Kryptousia microlepis sp. nov., described here according to the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants. The new genus and species were classified in the nostocalean family Tolypotrichaceae. This finding advances knowledge on the microbial diversity of South American ecosystems and sheds further light on the systematics of cyanobacteria.

The novel Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, short-rod bacterium, strain C7T, was isolated from a seawater sample from Menai Straits (Wales, UK) and characterized. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this strain represented a distinct lineage within the Roseobacter clade of family Rhodobacteracea within Alphaproteobacteria . The members of the genera Pontivivens ( Pontivivens insulae GYSW-23T), Celeribacter ( Celeribacter manganoxidans DY2-5T), Donghicola ( Donghicola eburneus SW-277T), Roseovarius ( Roseovarius halotolerans HJ50T and Roseovarius pacificus 81-2T), Cribrihabitans ( Cribrihabitans marinus CZ-AM5T) and Aestuariihabitans ( Aestuariihabitans beolgyonensis BB-MW15T) were the closest relatives with 16S rRNA gene sequence identities between 93.4 and 95.6 %. Strain C7T could utilize a restricted number of complex substrates with a preference for yeast extract and tryptone, which is consistent with earlier observations that peptides may serve as an important energy and carbon source for bacteria from the Roseobacter clade. Growth occurred in the absence of sodium ions. The isolate C7T is a mesophilic bacterium that optimally grows at 20 °C. The strain can grow under microaerophilic conditions. The major fatty acid was C18 : 1 cis d11. The only detected ubiquinone was Q10. The polar lipids of strain C7T were phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown aminolipids and three unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 60.0 mol%. Based on the results of the morphological, physiological and phylogenetic analyses, the new genus, Monaibacterium gen. nov., to include the new species Monaibacterium marinum sp. nov., is proposed. Strain C7T (=DSM 100241T, =LMG 28800T) is the type and only strain of M. marinum.

A novel Gram-stain-positive actinobacterium, designated HIs16-32T, was isolated from a sand sample collected from a mangrove tidal flat in Japan and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The cells of strain HIs16-32T were Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile and non-endospore-forming. Strain HIs16-32T contained glutamic acid, glycine and lysine in the peptidoglycan; however, alanine was absent. Galactose and mannose were detected as cell-wall sugars. The isoprenoid quinones were identified as MK-11, MK-12 and MK-10, and the major fatty acids as anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 72.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain HIs16-32T was related to members of the family Microbacteriaceae but did not form a reliable cluster with any known members of the family. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values were obtained with species of the genera Herbiconiux (96.1–96.8 %), Plantibacter (96.5–96.7 %) and Schumannella (96.7 %). However, strain HIs16-32T was distinguishable from the phylogenetically related genera in terms of chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic relationship. Therefore, strain HIs16-32T is concluded to represent a novel genus and species of the family Microbacteriaceae , for which the name Arenivirga flava gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. flava is HIs16-32T (=NBRC 112289T=TBRC 7038T).

A thermophilic poly(L-lactide)-degrading Gram-stain-positive filamentous bacterial strain that develops single spores on the aerial mycelium was isolated from forest soil at Srinagarind Dam, Kanchanaburi Province, Thailand. The results of a polyphasic taxonomic study showed that our isolate had characteristics typical of members of the genus Polycladomyces . The isolate grew aerobically at an optimum temperature of 50–55 °C and optimal pH 6–7. Meso-diaminopimelic acid was present as the diagnostic diamino acid in the peptidoglycan but no characteristic sugars are detected. The predominant menaquinone was MK–7. The diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine. The predominant cellular fatty acid was iso–C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain KSR 13T was 53.4 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis also indicated that strain KSR 13T belonged to the genus Polycladomyces , being most closely related to Polycladomyces abyssicola JIR-001T (99.2 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values that distinguished KSR 13T from P. abyssicola JIR-001T were 17.8–32.1 %, which were significantly below the 70 % cutoff value recommended for species delineation. Following an evaluation of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic studies, the new isolate is proposed as a novel species and named Polycladomyces subterraneus sp. nov. The type strain is KSR 13T (=BCC 50740T=NBRC 109332T).

Nostoc is a complex and tough genus to differentiate, and its morphological plasticity makes it taxonomically complicated. Its cryptic diversity and almost no distinguishable morphological characteristics make this genus incredibly heterogeneous to evaluate on taxonomic scales. The strain NOS, isolated from a eutrophic water body, is being described as a new genus Aliinostoc with the strain showing motile hormogonia with gas vesicles as an atypical feature, which is currently considered as the diacritical feature of the genus but should be subjected to critical evaluation in the near future. The phylogenetic placement of Aliinostoc along with some other related sequences of Nostoc clearly separated this clade from Nostoc sensu stricto with high bootstrap support and robust topology in all the methods tested, thus providing strong proof of the taxa being representative of a new genus which morphologically appears to be Nostoc -like. Subsequent phylogenetic assessment using the rbcL, psbA, rpoC1 and tufA genes was done with the aim of facilitating future multi-locus studies on the proposed genus for better taxonomic clarity and resolution. Folding of the 16S–23S internal transcribed spacer region and subsequent comparisons with members of the genera Nostoc , Anabaena , Aulosira, Cylindrospermum , Sphaerospermopsis, Raphidiopsis, Desmonostoc and Mojavia gave entirely new secondary structures for the D1-D1′ and box-B helix. Clear and separate clustering from Nostoc sensu stricto supports the establishment of Aliinostoc gen. nov. with the type species being Aliinostoc morphoplasticum sp. nov. in accordance with the International Code of Nomenclature for algae, fungi and plants.

A novel halophilic archaeon, designated strain WIIAL99T, was isolated from Lake Meyghan, a hypersaline lake in Iran. Cells of strain WIIAL99T were non-motile, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Strain WIIAL99T required at least 2.5 M NaCl and 0.05 M MgCl2 for growth. Optimal growth was achieved at 3.5 M NaCl and 0.1 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.0 and 37–40 °C; it was able to grow at pH 6.0–8.5 and 20–55 °C. Cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was 8 % (w/v). The major polar lipids of strain WIIAL99T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, disulfated diglycosyl diether and one unidentified glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain WIIAL99T was 66.7 mol%. The closest relative was Natronoarchaeum rubrum JCM 17119T with 98.2 % similarity in the orthologous 16S rRNA gene sequence. Analysis of 16S rRNA and rpoB′ gene sequences indicated that strain WIIAL99T is a member of the genus Natronoarchaeum in the family Halobacteriaceae and forms a distinct cluster. It was concluded that strain WIIAL99T (=IBRC-M 11062T=LMG 29814T) represents a novel species of the genus Natronoarchaeum , for which the name Natronoarchaeum persicum sp. nov. is proposed.

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, JM-222T, isolated from the root tissue of field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) in Auburn, Alabama, USA, was studied for its taxonomic allocation. Cells of the isolate were rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative. A blast analysis using the EzTaxon database showed that strain JM-222T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of Flavobacterium endophyticum (98.9 %) followed by Flavobacterium qiangtangense (96.7 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Flavobacterium species were below 95 %. The fatty acid profile of strain JM-222T consisted of the major fatty acids C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 2-OH/C16 : 1ω7c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. Major compounds in the polar lipid profile were phosphatidylethanolamine and several unidentified lipids. The quinone system consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-6. The polyamine pattern consisted of the major compound sym-homospermidine and only minor amounts of other polyamines. These data and the differential biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties showed that the isolate JM-222T represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium gossypii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JM-222T (LMG 28821T=CCM 8610T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, gliding bacterium, designated strain 001-Na2T, was isolated from coastal sediment of the Yellow Sea in Sindu-ri, Republic of Korea. Cells were aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Colonies were dark salmon-coloured, circular, and pulvinate with entire margins. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain 001-Na2T belonged to the genus Echinicola and these species formed a distinct lineage within the family Cyclobacteriaceae . The closest phylogenetic neighbours were ‘ Echinicola shivajiensis ’ AK12T (98.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Echinicola vietnamensis LMG 23754T (96.4 %), Echinicola jeungdonensis HMD 3054T (96.0 %), Echinicola pacifica KMM 6172T (96.0 %) and Echinicola rosea JL 3085T (95.8 %). The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C17 : 1ω6c and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16 : 0). The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 44.6 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain 001-Na2T and ‘ E. shivajiensis ’ JCM 17847T was 20.8–21.1 %. On the basis of the phenotypic features, and phylogenetic and DNA–DNA hybridization analyses presented, strain 001-Na2T (=KCTC 52495T=JCM 31786T=DSM 103729T) is the type strain of a novel species of the genus Echinicola , for which the name Echinicola sediminis sp. nov. is proposed.

Seven strains representing two novel yeast species were isolated from rotting wood in Henan and Yunnan Provinces, PR China. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) rRNA gene revealed that these two species are members of the genus Kodamaea, although the formation of ascospores was not observed. Kodamaea neixiangensis f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 167139T=CICC 33170T=CBS 14699T) formed a clade with Candida kaohsiungensis and Candida hsintzibuensis, from which it differed by 10–16 substitutions in the D1/D2 domain. The ITS sequences of K. neixiangensis sp. nov. differed by 27 substitutions from those of the type strain of C. kaohsiungensis. The most closely related species with a validly published name to Kodamaea jinghongensis f.a., sp. nov. (type strain NYNU 167162T=CICC 33171T=CBS 14700T) was Candida fukazawae, but this differed by 14 substitutions in the D1/D2 domain and by 15 substitutions in the ITS region.

Two strains (pika_113T and pika_114) of a previously undescribed Actinomyces -like bacterium were recovered from the intestinal contents of plateau pika (Ochotona curzoniae) on the Tibet-Qinghai Plateau, China. Results from biochemical characterization indicated that the two strains were phenotypically homogeneous and distinct from other previously described species of the genus Actinomyces . Based on the comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome analysis, the bacteria were determined to be a hitherto unknown subline within the genus Actinomyces , being most closely related to type strains of Actinomyces denticolens and Actinomyces timonensis with a respective 97.2 and 97.1 % similarity in their 16S rRNA gene sequences. Phylogenetic analyses confirmed that pika_113T was well separated from any other recognized species of the genus Actinomyces and within the cluster with A. denticolens and A. timonensis. The genome of strain pika_113T displayed less than 42 % relatedness in DNA–DNA hybridization with all the available genomes of existing species of the genus Actinomyces in the NCBI database. Collectively, based on the phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analyses results, we propose the novel isolates as representatives of Actinomyces gaoshouyii sp. nov. The type strain of Actinomyces gaoshouyii is pika_113T (=CGMCC 4.7372T=DSM 104049T), with a genomic DNA G+C content of 71 mol%.

A strain of anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria isolated from paddy soil (designated strain TUT3615T) was studied taxonomically in comparison with Rhodopseudomonas strain ATCC 17005 as its nearest phylogenetic relative. Strains TUT3615T and ATCC 17005 had budding rod-shaped cells and showed in vivo absorption maxima at 804 and 860 nm in the near infrared region, indicating the presence of bacteriochlorophyll a. The intracytoplasmic membrane system was of the lamellar type parallel to the cytoplasmic membrane. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strains TUT3615T and ATCC 17005 had a 99.7 % level of similarity to one another and were closest to Rhodopseudomonas palustris ATCC 17001T (98.6 % similarity) among the established species of the genus Rhodopseudomonas . Genomic DNA–DNA hybridization studies revealed that strains TUT3615T and ATCC 17005 had an average similarity level of 65 % to one another and of less than 40 % to the available type strains of Rhodopseudomonas species. Results of phenotypic studies showed that strains TUT3615T and ATCC 17005 could be differentiated from one another and from any previously described species of Rhodopseudomonas . The G+C contents of the genomic DNA of strain TUT3615T and ATCC 17005 were 66.3 and 66.5 mol%, respectively. Based on these data, we propose the name Rhodopseudomonas telluris sp. nov. for strain TUT3615T. The type strain is TUT3615T (=KCTC 23279T=NBRC 107609T). We suspend a proposal to reclassify strain ATCC 17005 as a novel species or subspecies until a genome-wide analysis provides more definite information on its taxonomic position.

Bacterial strain YP382-1-AT was isolated from marine sediment at Gimnyeong Beach, Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. This strain was found to be aerobic and Gram-stain-negative, with red to purple pigmentation. Cells of strain YP382-1-AT were motile, had a single polar flagellum and were short rod-shaped. The predominant quinone in strain YP382-1-AT was Q-10. The major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c and the DNA G+C content was 60.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on comparisons of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YP382-1-AT belonged to the order Rhizobiales in the class Alphaproteobacteria . This strain exhibited very low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (no higher than 94.5 %) to the type strains of recognized bacterial species of the order Rhizobiales . Strain YP382-1-AT appeared as a distinct branch within Rhizobiales in the phylogenetic tree generated. On the basis of the data presented, strain YP382-1-AT is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, classified within a new family. The name Mabikibacter ruber gen. nov., sp. nov., of the new family Mabikibacteraceae fam. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Mabikibacter ruber is YP382-1-AT (=JCM 31727T=KCCM 90265T).