- Volume 68, Issue 8, 2018

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain CFH 30205T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Luoyang, Henan Province, China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and rod-shaped. The strain was found to be catalase- and oxidase-positive. Strain CFH 30205T grew optimally at 28 °C, pH 9.0 and in the presence of up to 1.5 % NaCl (w/v). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain CFH 30205T was most closely related to the type strains of Nocardioides terrigena DS-17T (97.6 % sequence similarity) and Nocardioides sediminis MSL-01T (97.0 %). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 69.9 mol%. ll-2,6-Diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell sugars were mannose, xylose and galactose. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8 (H₄), and the major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C_16 : 0 and anteiso-C_14 : 0. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified phospholipid. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain CFH 30205T merits representation of a novel species of the genus Nocardioides , for which the name Nocardioides allogilvus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH 30205T (=KCTC 49020T=CGMCC 4.7457T).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic actinomycete, designated strain BMP B8152T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Glycyrrhiza inflata collected ashore, in Kashi, Xinjiang province, northwest PR China. A polyphasic approach was used to establish the taxonomic position of this strain. BMP B8152T was observed to form non-fragmented substrate mycelium, and relatively scanty aerial mycelium with rod-shaped spores. Cell-wall hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, arabinose, glucose and rhamnose (trace). Mycolic acids were not detected. The diagnostic phospholipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipid and phosphatidylinositol. The predominant menaquinone and fatty acid were MK-9(H₄) and iso-branched hexadecanoate (iso-C_16 : 0), respectively. The phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that BMP B8152T formed a distinct monophyletic clade clustered with Actinophytocola timorensis ID05-A0653T (98.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Actinophytocola oryzae GMKU 367T (98.6 %), Actinophytocola corallina ID06-A0464T (98.2 %) and Actinophytocola burenkhanensis MN08-A0203T (97.5 %). In addition, DNA–DNA hybridization values between BMP B8152T and A. timorensis ID05-A0653T(44.2±3.6 %) and A. oryzae GMKU 367T(36.7±2.3 %) were well below the 70 % limit for species identification. The combined phenotypic and genotypic data indicate that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Actinophytocola , for which the name Actinophytocola glycyrrhizae sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain BMP B8152T (=KCTC 49002T=CGMCC 4.7433T).

Two aerobic and obligately acidophilic bacteria, designated HZ411T and 4MSH08T, were isolated from the forest soil of Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China (23° 10′ N, 112° 31′ E). These two strains were Gram-stain-negative short rods that multiplied by binary division. HZ411T was motile, with a single polar flagellum, but 4MSH08T was non-motile. The results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that these two strains formed a common clade with members of the genus Edaphobacter in subdivision 1 of the phylum Acidobacteria but they each occupied a unique position in the genus. HZ411T and 4MSH08T had a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.2 % between each other and the highest sequence similarity of 97.7 and 96.9 % to Edaphobacter modestus Jbg-1T and Edaphobacter aggregans Wbg-1T, respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization rate between HZ411T and E. modestus Jbg-1T was 22.7 %. The DNA G+C contents of HZ411T and 4MSH08T were 57.7 and 59.3 %, respectively. HZ411T and 4MSH08T had similar major (>10 %) fatty acids with very high percentages of iso-C_15 : 0 and C_16 : 1ω7c, and similar major polar lipid profiles (both contained a phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine and glycolipid and several unidentified aminolipids and polar lipids). On the basis of these physiological, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, we suggest that HZ411T and 4MSH08T represent two novel species of the genus Edaphobacter , for which the names Edaphobacter flagellatus HZ411T (=GDMCC 1.1193=LMG 30085) and Edaphobacter bradus 4MSH08T (=GDMCC 1.1317=KCTC 62475) are proposed.

A novel endophytic actinomycete, designated A301T, was isolated from the root of Geranium carolinianum Linn collected from Mount Emei in China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Growth occurred at 10–37 °C, pH 6–11 and in the presence of 0–5 % NaCl (w/v). Strain A301T contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The whole-cell hydrolysates included galactose and ribose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H₆) and MK-9(H₈). The major cellular fatty acids were C_15 : 0, C_{16 :  0,} anteiso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_16 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, two unidentified phospholipids, three unidentified lipids and two unidentified aminophospholipids. Strain A301T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Streptomyces cinereoruber subsp. fructofermentans NBRC 15396T (98.1 %) and Streptomyces turgidiscabies ATCC 700248T (98.1 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain A301T and the two above-mentioned members of the genus Streptomyces were 42.6 % and 47.2 %, respectively. The G+C content of the DNA was 70.5 mol%. On the basis of the polyphasic approach and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain A301T represents a novel species within the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces geranii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A301T (=CGMCC 4.7422T=JCM 32177T).

A novel endophytic actinobacterium strain, designated A249T, was isolated from the stem of Populus adenopoda collected at Mount Qingcheng in south-west China. Its taxonomic position was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The cultural and morphological characteristics of isolate A249T were consistent with members of the genus Streptomyces. Growth occurred at 10–37 °C, pH 6.0–12.0 and in the presence of 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenetic trees showed the closest phylogenetic relatives to strain A249T were Streptomyces shaanxiensis JCM 16925T (98.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Streptomyces lanatus JCM 4332T (97.9 %). The DNA–DNA hybridization values between the strain A249T and the two reference strains ranged from 41.4 to 49.4 %. The DNA G+C content was 71.7 mol%. The range of average nucleotide identity values was 81.5–86.7 %. Chemical analysis of cellular components indicated that strain A249T contained ll-diaminopimelic acid, xylose and galactose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H₆) and MK-9(H₈). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified lipids, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The major fatty acids comprised C_16 : 0, iso-C_14 : 0, iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_16 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0 and C_16 : 1ω7c. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of the three tested strains, isolate A249T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, named Streptomyces populi sp. nov. The type strain is A249T (=CGMCC 4.7417T=JCM 32175T).

An electrogenic bacterium was isolated from a marine coral, designated as strain JC435T and its taxonomic status examined by using a polyphasic approach. Results from the 16S rRNA gene sequence study showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Rhodococcus and formed a cluster with Rhodococcus ruber KCTC 9806T (99.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Rhodococcus aetherivorans JCM 14343T (99.3 %), respectively. Genome relatedness based on DNA–DNA hybridization to the type strains of closest-related species was less than 30 % and the ΔT_m of >7 °C, suggesting that strain represents a new species of the genus Rhodococcus . The major fatty acids were C_16 : 0, C_18 : 1ω9c, C_18 : 010-methyl and C_16 : 1ω6c and/or C_16 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids of strain JC435T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphatidylinositol, three unknown phospholipids and an unknown amino lipid. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H₂), with 8 % of MK-7(H₂) and 2 % of MK-9(H₂) as minor components. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose as the diagnostic diamino acid and sugars. Mycolic acids were detected. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JC435T was 69.8 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic genotypic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analysis, strain JC435T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus for which the name Rhodococcus electrodiphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC435T (=KCTC 39856T=LMG 29881T=MCC 3659T).

A Gram-positive and non-motile actinobacterium, designated strain EGI 60016T, was isolated from healthy roots of Glycyrrhiza uralensis F. collected from Xinyuan County, Xinjiang Province, China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain EGI 60016T was found to show 97.5 and 97.3 % sequence similarities to Nesterenkonia rhizosphaerae EGI 80099T and Nesternkonia massiliensis NP1T, respectively. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain EGI 60016T formed a distinct clade with N. rhizosphaerae EGI 80099T and N. massiliensis NP1T. The polar lipids detected for strain EGI 60016T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified glycolipid, an unidentified lipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 64.1 mol%. Other chemotaxonomic features of strain EGI 60016T included MK-7, MK-8 and MK-9 as the respiratory quinones, and anteiso-C_15 : 0 and anteiso-C_17 : 0 as the major fatty acids. Based on the results of the phylogenetic analysis supported by morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and other differentiating phenotypic characteristics, strain EGI 60016T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nesterenkonia , for which the name Nesterenkonia endophytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is EGI 60016T (=CCTCC AB 2017176T=NBRC 112398T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, motile by gliding and straight rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated HMF3635T, was isolated from seawater of the East Sea, Republic of Korea. Strain HMF3635T grew optimally on marine agar at 30 °C, pH 7.0–8.0 and 2.0 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HMF3635T belonged to the genus Maribacter and was most closely related to Maribacter arenosus CAU 1321T (96.4 % sequence similarity) and Maribacter polysiphoniae KMM 6151T (96.0 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_15 : 1 G and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 38.7 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain HMF3635T represents a novel species of the genus Maribacter , for which the name Maribacter maritimus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is strain HMF3635T (=KCTC 52399T=NBRC 112671T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped, bacterium designated as strain BS18T, was isolated from compost and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, BS18T represents a member of the genus Olivibacter of the family Sphingobacteriaceae and is most closely related to Olivibacter oleidegradans TBF2/20.2T (93.7 %), Olivibacter jilunii 14-2AT (93.6 %), Olivibacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 060T (93.6 %), Pseudosphingobacterium domesticum DC186T (93.0 %) and shared ≤93.1 % sequence similarity with the other members of the genus Olivibacter . BS18T contained MK-7 as the predominant quinone, iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 4 (iso-C_15 : 0 2-OH and/or C_16 : 1ω7c), as the major fatty acids and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) as main polar lipid. BS18T could be distinguished from the other members of the genus Olivibacter by a number of chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of the results of polyphasic taxonomic analysis, BS18T represents a novel species within the genus, for which the name Olivibacter ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Olivibacter ginsenosidimutans is BS18T (=KACC 16612T=JCM 18200T). It is also proposed to transfer Pseudosphingobacterium domesticum to the genus Olivibacter , as Olivibacter domesticus comb. nov. (type strain DC186T=CCUG 54353T=LMG 23837T)

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, orange bacterium, which was designated strain YL28-9T, was isolated from sandy soil in the district of Yulin, Shaanxi province, PR China, and was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The optimal growth conditions of the strain were 30 °C, pH 7.0, 0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, revealed that YL28-9T represented a member of the genus Pedobacter and showed the highest sequence similarity to Pedobacter rhizosphaerae KACC 14938T (95.1 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of this strain was 50.4 mol%, which was out of the range reported for the other strains of members of the genus Pedobacter . The only respiratory quinone detected in YL28-9T was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The predominant cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C_15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or C_16 : 1ω6c) and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. On the basis of the results of phenotypic, genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analysis, YL28-9T could be distinguished from the most closely related species of the genus Pedobacter . It is evident from the derived data that YL28-9T represents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter , for which the name Pedobacter yulinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YL28-9T (=CGMCC 1.16050T=KCTC 62104T). An emended description of the genus Pedobacter is proposed.

In this study, we reported a novel yellow-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative bacterium with appendages, designated as strain L2T, isolated from the South China Sea. Growth of strain L2T occurred at 22–40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), pH 6.0–10.0 (pH 7.0) and with 0–8 % (w/v) NaCl (2 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain L2T belonged to the genus Muricauda . The close phylogenetic neighbours of strain L2T were Muricauda marina H19-56T, Muricauda ruestringensis B1T, Muricauda antarctica Ar-22T, Muricauda taeanensis 105T and Muricauda flavescens SW-62T (96.4 %, 95.9 %, 95.9 %, 95.8 % and 94.5 % identities, respectively). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain L2T was 51.3±4.6 mol%. Theg major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6 (100.0 %). The polar lipids contained phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) were iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH (30.3 %), iso-C_15 : 1 G (20.6 %) and iso-C_15 : 0 (17.6 %). Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and morphological analysis suggested that this strain represents a novel species of genus Muricauda , and the name Muricauda iocasae sp. nov. is proposed with the type species L2T (=CCTCC AB 2017193 T=KCTC 62196T).

A description of an outbreak of necrotizing enterocolitis among neonates, linked to the putative novel species Clostridium neonatale and assignable to the genus Clostridium , was previously reported in brief but that name had never been validly published (Alfa et al. Clin Inf Dis 2002;35:S101–S105). Features of this taxon group and its phylogenetic position with respect to contemporary species in the genus Clostridium were recently reviewed and still found to be unique. Therefore, we provide here a description based on biochemical, chemotaxonomic and antimicrobial susceptibility testing (AST), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight (MALDI-TOF) MS, 16S rRNA gene sequencing as well as information obtained by whole genome sequencing (WGS) for strains 99A005T and 99A006. Those two C. neonatale strains were essentially identical to each other, with genome sizes of 4 658 596–4 705 520 bp and G+C content of 28.4–28.5 mol% (WGS). AST inferred susceptibility to 14 antibiotics. MALDI-TOF spectra were unique and could potentially be used for identification. The type strain is (NML) LCDC 99A005T [=ATCC BAA-265T =CCUG 46077T=St. Boniface Hospital 30686T]. While performing this review, we found that the names of 24 validly published species assignable to the genus Clostridium had been omitted from the emended description of the genus (Lawson and Rainey Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2016;66 :1009–1016). Those species are listed in brief here. Lastly, based on this review, we also propose that Eubacterium budayi , Eubacterium nitritogenes and Eubacterium combesii be transferred to the emended genus Clostridium , as Clostridium budayi comb. nov., Clostridium nitritogenes comb. nov. and Clostridium combesii comb. nov., respectively.

A Gram-stain-positive strain, BS-W1T, was isolated from a traditional fermented ma bamboo shoots (Dendrocalamus latiflorus Munro) product of Taiwan. It was rod-shaped, non-motile, non-haemolytic, asporogenous, facultatively anaerobic, heterofermentative and did not exhibit catalase or oxidase activities. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA, pheS, rpoA and gyrB gene sequences demonstrated that the novel strain BS-W1T was a member of the genus Lactobacillus . On the basis of 16S RNA gene sequence similarity, the type strains of Lactobacillus oryzae (94.4 % similarity), Lactobacillus acidifarinae (93.8 %), Lactobacillus namurensis (93.7 %) and Lactobacillus zymae (93.7 %) were the closest neighbours to strain BS-W1T. The pheS, rpoA and gyrB gene sequence similarities of strain BS-W1T to closely related these species were less than 80.2 %. DNA–DNA reassociation values with these type strains were 21.0–33.8 %. The DNA G+C content was 46.6 mol%. The average nucleotide identity values between BS-W1T and the closest relatives were lower than 70 %. Phenotypic and genotypic features demonstrated that the strain represents a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus , for which the name Lactobacillus bambusae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BS-W1T (=BCRC 80970T=NBRC 112377T).

Strain KUDC6143T was isolated from the rhizosphere of Elymus tsukushiensis, a plant native to the Dokdo Islands, Republic of Korea. Cells of this bacterial strain were Gram-positive, endospore-forming, motile and rod-shaped. The strain was capable of growth at a temperature of 25–45 °C and at a pH of 6.0–12.0; it showed an optimal growth at a temperature of 30 °C and at a pH of 7.0. In addition, it grew on a tryptic soy agar and in a tryptic soy broth containing less than 4.0 % NaCl (w/v). The cell length ranged from 2.0 to 2.7 µm. KUDC6143T was catalase-negative and oxidase-positive, and it hydrolysed starch but not casein. Its genomic G+C content was 50.3 mol%. Its major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15 : 0, C_16 : 0, and iso-C_16 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that KUDC6143T belonged to the genus Paenibacillus , with the most closely related type strain being Paenibacillus pinihumi S23T (97.8 %). Based on its phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic data and genetic data, strain KUDC6143T should be considered as representing a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which we propose the name Paenibacillus elymi sp. nov. The type strain is KUDC6143T (=KCTC 33853T=DSM 106581T).

A gamma radiation-resistant, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SJW1-2T, was isolated from freshwater samples collected from the Seomjin River, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that strain SJW1-2T was most closely related to Deinococcus metalli 1PNM-19T (94.3 % sequence similarity) and formed a robust phylogenetic clade with other species of the genus Deinococcus . The optimum growth pH and temperature for the isolate were pH 7.0–7.5 and 25 °C, respectively. Strain SJW1-2T exhibited high resistance to gamma radiation. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-8. The polar lipid profile consisted of different unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified lipids, two unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified phosphoglycolipid. The major peptidoglycan amino acids were alanine, d-glutamic acid, glycine and l-ornithine. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω7c and/or C_16 : 1 ω6c) (25.2 %) and C_16 : 0 (21.2 %), and the DNA G+C content was 69.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain SJW1-2T (=KACC 19332T=NBRC 112908T) represents a novel species of the genus Deinococcus , for which the name Deinococcus koreensis sp. nov. is proposed.

A bacterial strain, designated 17Sr1-1T, was isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil. Cells of this strain were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile and non-spore-forming rods. Growth occurred at 18–42 ˚C and pH 6.0–8.0, but no growth occurred at 2 % NaCl concentration. The major fatty acids of strain 17Sr1-1T were summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1 ω7c and/or C_18 : 1 ω6c), iso-C_17 : 1 ω5c and C_16 : 0. The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of 17Sr1-1T was 71.9 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 17Sr1-1T was phylogenetically related to Roseomonas pecuniae N75T and Roseomonas rosea 173-96T (96.6 and 96.3 % sequence similarity, respectively). The genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain 17Sr1-1T could be distinguished from its phylogenetically related species, and that this strain represented a novel species within the genus Roseomonas , for which the name Roseomonas radiodurans sp. nov. (type strain 17Sr1-1T=KCTC 52899T=NBRC 112872T) is proposed as the first reported gamma ray-resistant Roseomonas species.

A novel bacterium, designated strain C3-17T, was isolated from a natural cave in Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of the organism were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-sporulating, non-motile rods. The polar lipids present were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. The sole isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The predominant fatty acids were C_16 : 0 and summed feature 3, and the DNA G+C content was 54.5 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain C3-17T belonged to the family Oxalobacteraceae and was most closely related to the type strains of the genus Collimonas . 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between the novel isolate and the closest neighbours, Collimonas pratensis Ter91T, Collimonas fungivorans Ter6T and Collimonas arenae NCCB 100031T were 98.7, 98.5 and 98.1 %, respectively. On the basis of data obtained by polyphasic analyses and DNA–DNA hybridization, strain C3-17T (=KACC 19055T=DSM 104040T) represents a novel species of the genus Collimonas , for which the name Collimonasantrihumi sp. nov. is proposed.

Five beige-pigmented, oxidase-negative bacterial isolates, 6331-17T, 6332-17, 6333-17, 6334-17 and 9827-07, isolated either from a drinking water storage reservoir or drinking water in 2006 and 2017 in Germany, were examined in detail applying by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of the isolates were rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of these five isolates showed highest sequence similarities to Lelliottia amnigena (99.98 %) and Lelliottia nimipressuralis (99.99 %). Multilocus sequence analyses based on concatenated partial rpoB, gyrB, infB and atpD sequences confirmed the clustering of these isolates with Lelliottia species, but also revealed a clear distinction to the closest related type strains. Analysis of the genome sequences of these isolates indicated >70 % in silico DNA–DNA hybridization and high average nucleotide identities between strains. Nevertheless, they showed only <70 and <95 % similarity to the type strains of these two Lelliottia species. The fatty acid profiles of these isolates were very similar and consisted of the major fatty acids C_16:0, C_17 : 0cyclo, C_15 : 0iso 2-OH/C_16 : 1ω7c and C_18 : 1 ω7c. In addition, physiological/biochemical tests revealed high phenotypic similarity to each other. These cumulative data indicate that these isolates represent a novel Lelliottia species, for which the name Lelliottia aquatilis sp. nov. is proposed, with strain 6331-17T (=CCM 8846T=CIP 111609T=LMG 30560T) as the type strain.