- Volume 68, Issue 5, 2018

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped bacterium with a single polar flagellum, designated strain S27-2T, was isolated from surface seawater from the Indian Ocean. Growth was observed in 0–12.0 % (w/v) NaCl with an optimum of 0.5–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl, pH 6.0–9.0 with an optimum of pH 7.0, and growth temperature of 10–41 °C with an optimum of 25–37 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S27-2T belonged to the family Alteromonadaceae and formed a distinct lineage with the type strain of Pseudobowmanella zhangzhouensis . Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain S27-2T and members of related genera included in the trees ranged from 86.7 to 93.8 %. Strain S27-2T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone. The principal fatty acids (>10 %) were C16 : 0 (22.1 %), C16 : 1ω7c/ω6c (22.7 %) and C18 : 1ω7c/ω6c (20.1 %). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and two unknown lipids. The G+C content of strain S27-2T was 43.7 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic evidence presented in this study, strain S27-2T should be classified as a novel species in a new genus within the family Alteromonadaceae , for which the name Neptunicella marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain S27-2T (= KCTC52335T=MCCC 1A02149T).

Strain KF707T was isolated from a biphenyl-contaminated site in Kitakyushu, Japan. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, retrieved from the whole-genome sequence, revealed that the isolate was closely related to members of the genus Pseudomonas , sharing the highest sequence similarities with Pseudomonas balearica strain SP1402T (DSM 6083) (97.8 %). The DNA G+C chromosome and plasmid content of strain KF707T were 65.5 and 60.5 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 :  0 and C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c. Polyphasic analysis indicated that strain KF707T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas furukawaii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KF707T (=DSM 10086T=NBRC 110670T).

A Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, milky-white and rod-shaped bacterium (designated Gsoil 115T) isolated from ginseng field soil was characterized by a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain Gsoil 115T grew optimally at 30 °C and at pH 7.0 on Reasoner’s 2A agar medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain Gsoil 115T belongs to the genus Polaromonas and was most closely related to Polaromonas eurypsychrophila B717-2T (98.6 %), Polaromonas vacuolata 34-PT (98.3 %), Polaromonas jejuensis NBRC 106434T (98.1 %), Polaromonas aquatic CCUG 39402T (97.7 %) and Polaromonas cryoconiti Cr4-35T (97.5 %). The DNA G+C content was 60.9 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness between strain Gsoil 115T and P. eurypsychrophila B717-2T, P. vacuolata 34-PT, P. jejuensis NBRC 106434T, P. aquatic CCUG 39402T and P. cryoconiti Cr4-35T were 31.2, 21.6, 16.9, 8.7 and 10.1 %, respectively. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol (PG), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), which supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 115T to the genus Polaromonas . Moreover, the physiological, biochemical and low level of DNA–DNA relatedness value allowed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain Gsoil 115T from the recognized species of the genus Polaromonas . Therefore, strain Gsoil 115T represents a novel species of the genus Polaromonas , for which the name Polaromonas ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Gsoil 115T (LMG 23393T=KCTC 12577T).

The strain BerOc1T was isolated from brackish sediments contaminated with hydrocarbons and heavy metals. This strain has been used as a model strain of sulfate-reducer to study the biomethylation of mercury. The cells are vibrio-shaped, motile and not sporulated. Phylogeny and physiological traits placed this strain within the genus Pseudodesulfovibrio . Optimal growth was obtained at 30 °C, 1.5 % NaCl and pH 6.0–7.4. The estimated G+C content of the genomic DNA was 62.6 mol%. BerOc1T used lactate, pyruvate, fumarate, ethanol and hydrogen. Terminal electron acceptors used were sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and DMSO. Only pyruvate could be used without a terminal electron acceptor. The major fatty acids were C18 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7. The name Pseudodesulfovibrio hydrargyri sp. nov. is proposed for the type strain BerOc1T (DSM 10384T=JCM 31820T).

A novel α-proteobacterium, designated strain S-54T, was isolated from forest soil sampled at Kyonggi University and subjected to polyphasic study. Cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Strain S-54T assimilated lactic acid, d-glucose and 4-hydroxybenzoic acid. Strain S-54T tolerated 4 % NaCl (w/v), and grew optimally at 45 °C and pH 10.5. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence data revealed that strain S-54T formed a lineage within the class Alphaproteobacteria of the phylum Proteobacteria that was distinct from various members of the genus Altererythrobacter , including Altererythrobacter troitsensis JCM 17037T (96.8 % sequence similarity), Altererythrobacter xinjiangensis S3-63T (96.6 %), Altererythrobacter dongtanensis KCTC 22672T (96.5 %) and Altererythrobacter mangrovi C9-11T (96.5 %). Q-10 was the sole isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and sphingoglycolipid. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl. The DNA G+C content of strain S-54T was 64.2 mol%. On the basis of the results of phenotypic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, strain S-54T represents a novel species in the genus Altererythrobacter , for which the name Altererythrobacter fulvus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Altererythrobacter fulvus is S-54T (=KEMB 9005-542T=KACC 19119T=NBRC 112676T).

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain KSS165-70T) was isolated from a coolant lubricant emulsion. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain KSS165-70T showed high sequence similarity to the type strains of Novosphingobium subterraneum (98.1 %), Novosphingobium lentum (97.9 %) and Novosphingobium taihuense (97.8 %). Sequence similarities to type strains of all other Novosphingobium species were below 97.5 %. Ubiquinone Q-10 was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The predominant fatty acid C18 : 1ω7c and the typical 2-hydroxy fatty acid C14 : 0 2-OH were detected. The polar lipid profile contained the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatedylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine and two unidentified phospholipids. The polyamine pattern contained the major compound spermidine. Characterization by 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, physiological parameters, pigment analysis, and ubiquinone, polar lipid and fatty acid composition revealed that strain KSS165-70T represents a new species of the genus Novosphingobium . For this reason, we propose the name Novosphingobium lubricantis sp. nov. with the type strain KSS165-70T (=CIP 111490T=CCM 8814T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile, catalase-positive and cytochrome c oxidase-positive bacterial strain, designated AM20-91T, was isolated from alpine forest soil. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain AM20-91T was related to the genus Lysobacter and had highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to the type strains of Lysobacter novalis THG-PC7T (97.8 %), Luteimonas tolerans UM1T (97.7 %) and Lysobacter ximonensis XM415T (97.0 %). The strain contained ubiquinone 8 as the predominant respiratory quinone; its polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C11 : 0 3-OH and iso-C11 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 63.35 % (draft genome sequence). The combined results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, DNA–DNA relatedness and chemotaxonomic analyses demonstrated that strain AM20-91T represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter , for which the name Lysobacter silvestris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AM20-91T (=DSM 104734T=LMG 30011). In this study, it is also proposed that Luteimonas tolerans be reclassified as member of the genus Lysobacter.

A halophilic bacterial strain, HL-109T, was isolated from the unicyanobacterial consortium UCC-O, which was obtained from the photosynthetic mat of Hot Lake (Washington, USA). A polyphasic approach using phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic data was used to classify the strain within the order Rhizobiales . The organism stained Gram-negative and was a moderate thermophile with a growth optimum of 45 °C. It was obligately aerobic, heterotrophic and halophilic, growing in both NaCl and MgSO4 brines. The novel isolate had a polymorphic cellular morphology of short rods with occasional branching, and cells were monotrichous. The major fatty acids detected were C18 : 1, C18 : 0, C16 : 0 and C18 : cyc. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain in the order Rhizobiales and it shared 94 % identity with the type strain of its nearest relative, Salinarimonas ramus . Morphological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic results did not affiliate the novel organism with any of the families in the Rhizobiales ; therefore, HL-109T is representative of a new lineage, for which the name Salinivirga fredricksonii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain HL-109T (=JCM 31876T=DSM 102886T). In addition, examination of the phylogenetics of strain HL-109T and its nearest relatives, Salinarimonas ramus and Salinarimonas rosea , demonstrates that these halophiles form a clade distinct from the described families of the Rhizobiales . We further propose the establishment of a new family, Salinarimonadaceae fam. nov., to accommodate the genera Salinivirga and Salinarimonas (the type genus of the family).

We carried out a comparative taxonomic study of Salinivibrio proteolyticus and Salinivibrio costicola subsp. vallismortis, as well as of five halophilic strains (IB574, IB872, PR5, PR919 and PR932), isolated from salterns in Spain and Puerto Rico that were closely related to these bacteria. Multilocus sequence analysis of concatenated gyrB, recA, rpoA and rpoD housekeeping genes showed that they constituted a single cluster separate from the other species and subspecies of Salinivibrio . Experimental and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization studies indicated that they are members of the same species, with relatedness of 100–74 % and 97.8–70.0 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) determined for these strains was 99.7–95.6 % for ANIb and 99.7–95.7 % for OrthoANI. However, the ANI values for S. costicola subsp. vallismortis DSM 8285T with respect to S. costicola subsp. costicola DSM 11403T and S. costicola subsp. alcaliphilus DSM 16359T were 78.7 and 78.9 % (ANIb) and 79.4 and 79.4 % (OrthoANI), respectively. The phylogenomic tree based on 1072 concatenated orthologous single-copy core genes confirmed that S. proteolyticus , S. costicola subsp. vallismortis and the five new isolates constitute a coherent single phylogroup, separated from the other species and subspecies of Salinivibrio . All these data indicate that S. costicola subsp. vallismortis is a heterotypic synonym of S. proteolyticus and we propose an emended description of this species.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated MC28T, was isolated from storage liquid collected from the stems of Populus euphratica in the Xinjiang province of China. The growth range of NaCl concentration was 0.5–6.0 % (w/v), with an optimum at 3.0 % (w/v), the temperature range for growth was 10–45 °C, with an optimum at 40 °C, and the pH range for growth was 6.0–9.0, with an optimum around pH 8.5. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain MC28T formed a distinct lineage in the clade of genus Halomonas and is closely related to Halomonas desiderata DSM 9502T (96.4 %), Halomonas heilongjiangensis DSM 26881T (96.2 %) and Halomonas urumqiensis JCM 30202T (95.2 %). The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain MC28T and the references strains were 77.2–80.3, 65.8–76.8 and 21.6–25.6 %, respectively. Chemotaxonomic analysis indicated that the main respiratory quinones were Q-9 and Q-8, the predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 1 ω9c, C16 : 0 and C17 : 1 ω9c, the major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, an aminophospholipid, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain MC28T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Halomonas endophytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MC28T (=KCTC 52999T=MCCC 1K03343T).

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain MT13131T, which was isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Indian Ocean during the screening of oil-degrading bacteria. The chain length range of n-alkanes (C8 to C32) oxidized by strain MT13131T was determined in this study. The bacterium was Gram-negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, single rod shaped, and motile by peritrichous flagella. Growth was observed at salinities of 1–12 % and at temperatures of 10–42 °C. The isolate was capable of Tween 20, 40 and 80 hydrolysis, but incapable of gelatin, cellulose or starch hydrolysis. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MT13131T belonged to the genus Alcanivorax , with highest sequence similarity to Alcanivorax marinus R8-12T (96.92 %), other species of genus Alcanivorax shared 92.96–96.69 % sequence similarity. The principal fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c/ω7c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/ω6c), C16 : 0 and C12 : 0 3OH. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 64.2 mol%. Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three aminolipids and three phospholipids were present. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain MT13131T represents a novel species within the genus Alcanivorax , for which the name Alcanivorax mobilis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain MT13131T (=MCCC 1A11581T=KCTC 52985T).

Gram-negative strains Tri-36, Tri-38, Tri-48T and Tri-53 were isolated from root nodules of the relict legume Oxytropis triphylla (Pall.) Pers. originating from Zunduk Cape (Baikal Lake region, Russia). 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the novel isolates were phylogenetically closest to the type strains Phyllobacterium sophorae LMG 27899T, Phyllobacterium brassicacearum LMG 22836T, Phyllobacterium endophyticum LMG 26470T and Phyllobacterium bourgognense LMG 22837 T while similarity levels between the isolates and the most closely related strain P. endophyticum LMG 26470T were 98.8–99.5 %. The recA and glnII genes of the isolates showed highest sequence similarities with P. sophorae LMG 27899T (95.4 and 89.5 %, respectively) and P. brassicacearum LMG 22836T (91.4 and 85.1 %, respectively). Comparative analysis of phenotypic properties between the novel isolates and the closest reference strains P. sophorae LMG 27899T, P. brassicacearum LMG 22836T and P. endophyticum LMG 26470T was performed using a microassay system. Average nucleotide identities between the whole genome sequences of the isolates Tri-38 and Tri-48T and P. sophorae LMG 27899T, P. brassicacearum LMG 22836T and P. endophyticum LMG 26470T ranged from 79.23 % for P. endophyticum LMG 26470T to 85.74 % for P. sophorae LMG 27899T. The common nodABC genes required for legume nodulation were absent from strains Tri-38 and Tri-48T, although some other symbiotic nod and fix genes were detected. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic analysis, a novel species, Phyllobacterium zundukense sp. nov. (type strain Tri-48T=LMG 30371T=RCAM 03910T), is proposed.

A taxonomic and physiologic characterization was carried out on Thioclava strain ElOx9T, which was isolated from a bacterial consortium enriched on electrodes poised at electron donating potentials. The isolate is Gram-negative, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive; the cells are motile short rods. The bacterium is facultatively anaerobic with the ability to utilize nitrate as an electron acceptor. Autotrophic growth with H2 and S0 (oxidized to sulfate) was observed. The isolate also grows heterotrophically with organic acids and sugars. Growth was observed at salinities from 0 to 10% NaCl and at temperatures from 15 to 41 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain belongs in the genus Thioclava ; it had the highest sequence similarity of 98.8 % to Thioclava atlantica 13D2W-2T, followed by Thioclava dalianensis DLFJ1-1T with 98.5 % similarity, Thioclava pacifica TL 2T with 97.7 % similarity, and then Thioclava indica DT23-4T with 96.9 %. All other sequence similarities were below 97 % to characterized strains. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization estimated when compared to T. atlantica 13D2W-2T, T. dalianensis DLFJ1-1T, T. pacifica TL 2T and T. indica DT23-4T were 15.8±2.1, 16.7+2.1, 14.3±1.9 and 18.3±2.1 %. The corresponding average nucleotide identity values between these strains were determined to be 65.1, 67.8, 68.4 and 64.4 %, respectively. The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA is 63.4 mol%. Based on these results, a novel species Thioclava electrotropha sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain ElOx9T (=DSM 103712T=ATCC TSD-100T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain CY02T, was isolated from sediment of the Yellow Sea. Cells of CY02T were aerobic, coccus or short rods. Growth occurred at 5–42 °C (optimum, 35 °C), pH 6–10 (optimum, 8.0) and 0.5–9.0 % NaCl (optimum, 1.5–3.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that CY02T was a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae and exhibited less than 95 % sequence similarities with the closely related type strains of the family Rhodobacteraceae . The genomic DNA G+C content of CY02T was 57.5 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified lipids, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c (57.6 %), 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c (22.8 %) and C16 : 0 (10.6 %). Based on the results of morphological, physiological, biochemical, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain CY02T represents a novel species of a novel genus of the family Rhodobacteraceae , for which the name Neptunicoccus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Neptunicoccus sediminis is CY02T (=CCTCC AB 2015430T=KCTC 42985T=NBRC 111872T=MCCC 1K03518).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, straw yellow, motile strain, designated KNDSW-TSA6T, belonging to the genus Acidovorax , was isolated from a water sample of the river Ganges, downstream of the city of Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh, India. Cells were aerobic, non-endospore-forming and motile with single polar flagella. It differed from its phylogenetically related strains by phenotypic characteristics such as hydrolysis of urea, gelatin, casein and DNA, and the catalase reaction. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and housekeeping genes (gyrb, recA and rpoB gene sequences), confirmed its placement within the genus Acidovorax as a novel species. Strain KNDSW-TSA6T showed highest 16S rRNA sequence similarity to Acidovorax soli BL21T (98.9 %), Acidovorax delafieldii ATCC 17505T (98.8 %), Acidovorax temperans CCUG 11779T (98.2 %), Acidovorax caeni R-24608T (97.9 %) and Acidovorax radicis N35T (97.6 %). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values calculated from whole genome sequences between strain KNDSW-TSA6T and the two most closely related strains A. soli BL21T and A. delafieldii ATCC 17505T were below the threshold values of 70 and 95 % respectively. Thus, the data from the polyphasic taxonomic analysis clearly indicates that strain KNDSW-TSA6T represents a novel species, for which the name Acidovorax kalamii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Acidovorax kalamii (=MTCC 12652T=KCTC 52819T=VTCC-B-910010T).

Strain PFL01T was isolated from traditional Korean fermented clam, jogae-jeotgal, and characterized. The strain was a facultative anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative bacterium that was rod-shaped, motile and beige-pigmented. The phylogenetic sequence analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene from PFL01T revealed that it was closely related to Lelliottia nimipressuralis LMG 10245T and Lelliottia amnigena LMG 2784T with 99.3 and 99.3 % sequence identities, respectively. Multilocus sequence type analysis of concatenated partial aptD, gyrB, infB and rpoB gene sequences showed a clear distinction of strain PFL01T from its closest related type strains. The discrimination was also supported by unique repetitive extragenic palindromic PCR (Rep-PCR, ERIC-PCR) fingerprint patterns. In addition, results from average nucleotide identity analyses with other species were less than 85 %. vitek and API analyses revealed distinct characteristics from other species of Lelliottia . The cellular fatty acid profile of the strain consisted of C16 : 0, cyclo-C17 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c as major components. The whole genome of PFL01T was 4.6 Mb with a G+C content of 55.3 mol%. Based on these results, strain PFL01T was classified as a novel species of the genus Lelliottia , for which the name Lelliottia jeotgali sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain in PFL01T (=KCCM 43247T=JCM 31901T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, translucent-white, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped strain, designated N18T, was isolated from a coastal sediment sample collected in Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China. 16S rRNA gene similarity analysis revealed that strain N18T demonstrated highest similarity to the genus Kordiimonas (95.3–97.2 %). Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain N18T represented a distinct lineage in the clade consisting of the genus Kordiimonas . Strain N18T was found to grow at 10–37 °C (optimum 28 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum 7.0) and with 1.0–4.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2.5 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 55.3 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C15 : 0 2-OH/C16 : 1 ω7c), iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and iso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile of N18T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, an unidentified aminoglycolipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid and five unidentified lipids. The respiratory quinone was Q-10. Based on chemotaxonomic, morphological and physiological properties, strain N18T could be distinguished from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, we propose Kordiimonas pumila sp. nov., the type strain is N18T (=MCCC 1K03436T=KCTC 62164T).

The gut microbiota of honeybees (Apis) and bumblebees (Bombus) include the symbiotic bacterial genus Gilliamella . This genus shows a high degree of functional and genomic diversity and separates into distinct lineages. Gilliamella apicola wkB1T, which was isolated from Apis, was the first species to be described. Recently four new species, isolated from Bombus, were identified. In this paper, we compare several genomes/strains from previous studies spanning this diversity, which gives insight into the phylogenetic relationship among different Gilliamella species. We show that one lineage, isolated only from Apis, is different from other gilliamellas described, based on average nucleotide identity calculation (about 80 %) and phenotypic characterizations. We propose the new species name for this lineage: Gilliamella apis sp. nov. We present the characterization of the type strain NO3T (=DSM 105629T=LMG 30293T), a strain isolated from the Western honeybee Apis mellifera, which clusters within this lineage. Cells of strain NO3T grow best in a microaerophilic atmosphere with enhanced CO2 levels at 36 °C and pH 7.0–7.5. Cells also grow well in anaerobic conditions, but not in aerobic conditions. Cells are approximately 1 µm in length and rod-shaped, and the genomic G+C content is 34.7 mol%. Differential characteristics between strain NO3T and the different type strains of Gilliamella were revealed based on API kit tests and genomic content comparisons. The main respiratory quinone of strain NO3T was ubiquinone-8, and the predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0, consistent with the genus Gilliamella .

A novel bacterial strain, designated hydD52T, was isolated from a sample of tidal flat sediment of the Yellow Sea in the Republic of Korea. The cells were motile, rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain hydD52T was a member of the genus Sulfitobacter and most closely related to Sulfitobacter dubius DSM 16472T (98.0 %), Sulfitobacter indolifex HEL-45T (97.8 %) and Sulfitobacter delicatus DSM 28223T (97.6 %). The major fatty acids (>5 %) of hydD52T were C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c, C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl and C19 : 0 ω8c. The respiratory quinone of strain hydD52T was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified amino lipid. The G+C content of this strain was 64.0 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness values of hydD52T with the type strains of S. dubius , S. indolifex and S. delicatus were 18.8, 13.1 and 15.7 %, respectively. Based on the results of morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characterization, DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness, and 16S rRNA genes analysis, we concluded that strain hydD52T represents a novel species, for which the name Sulfitobacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is hydD52T (=KCTC 32982T=TISTR 2562T).