- Volume 69, Issue 12, 2019

A recent publication has created the genus name Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018 and the new combinations Hungateiclostridium cellulolyticum (Patel et al. 1980) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium aldrichii (Yang et al. 1990.) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium alkalicellulosi (Zhilina et al. 2006) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium clariflavum (Shiratori et al. 2009) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium straminisolvens (Kato et al. 2004) Zhang et al. 2018 and Hungateiclostridium saccincola (Koeck et al. 2016) Zhang et al. 2018 for names at the rank of species that were previously either included in the genus Clostridium Prazmowski 1880, Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980 or Herbivorax Koeck et al. 2016. Rules 23a, 38, 39b, 41a, 42 and 44 have not been followed and an illegitimate name at the rank of genus or illegitimate combinations at the rank of species as defined in Rule 51b(1) and (2) have been created. Another aspect is recognising the fact that an instance of heterotypic synonym has been created between Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980, Herbivorax Koeck et al. 2016 and Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018, where the earliest validly published genus name is Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980, of which the nomenclatural type is Acetivibrio cellulolyticus Patel et al. 1980. It follows from Rules 23a, 38, 39a, 39b, 41a, 42 and 44 that the genus name to be used is Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980, with new combinations in that genus replacing those published in the genus Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018, which together with the genus name are illegitimate according to Rule 51b of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Additional issues are also addressed with regards to the names Pseudoclostridium thermosuccinogenes (Drent et al. 1995) Zhang et al. 2018, Pseudoclostridium Zhang et al. 2018 Oscillospiraceae Peshkoff 1940 (Approved Lists 1980), Ruminococcaceae Rainey 2010, Eubacteriale s Buchanan 1917 (Approved Lists 1980) and Clostridiales Prévot 1953 (Approved Lists 1980)

Strain TE3T, an endophytic plant growth promoting bacterium, was isolated from wheat (Triticumturgidum subsp. durum) sampled in the Yaqui Valley, Mexico. Biochemical, phenotypic and genotypic approaches were used to clarify the taxonomic affiliation of this strain. Based on analysis of its full-length 16S rRNA gene, strain TE3T was assigned to the genus Bacillus (similarity ≥98.7 %). This finding was supported by morphological and metabolic characteristics, such as rod shape, strictly aerobic metabolism, spore formation, Gram-positive staining, catalase-positive activity, reduction of nitrate to nitrite, starch and casein hydrolysis, growth in presence of lysozyme and 2 % NaCl, citrate utilization, growth pH from 6.0 to 8.0, and acid and indole production from glucose and tryptophan, respectively. The whole-genome phylogenetic relationship showed that TE3T formed an individual clade with Bacillus tequilensis KCTC 13622T, distant from that generated by all Bacillus subtilis subspecies. The maximum values for average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization were 93.85 and 54.30 %, respectively, related to Bacillus subtilis subsp. inaquosorum KCTC 13429T. Analysis of its fatty acid content showed the ability of strain TE3T to bio-synthetize fatty acids that are not present in closely related Bacillus species, such as C12 : 0, C12 : 0 2OH, C12 : 0 3OH, C17 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3OH and C18 : 1ω9c. These results provide evidence that strain TE3T is a novel species of the genus Bacillus , for which the name Bacillus cabrialesii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Bacillus cabrialesii is TE3T (CM-CNRG TB54T=CCStamb A1T).

A recent publication has documented the fact that when the nomenclatural types of the genera Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018 [ Hungateiclostridium thermocellum (Viljoen et al. 1926) Zhang et al. 2018], Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980 ( Acetivibrio cellulolyticus Patel et al. 1980) and Herbivorax Koeck et al. 2016 ( Herbivorax saccincola Koeck et al. 2016) are treated as being members of the same genus, i.e. Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018, Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980 and Herbivorax Koeck et al. 2016 are treated as heterotypic synonyms, the name at the rank of genus to be used is Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980 and Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018 is an illegitimate name. In a previous publication this led to the replacement of the genus name Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018 in the combinations Hungateiclostridium aldrichii (Yang et al. 1990) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium alkalicellulosi (Zhilina et al. 2006) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium clariflavum (Shiratori et al. 2009) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium straminisolvens (Kato et al. 2004) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium saccincola (Koeck et al. 2016) Zhang et al. 2018, Hungateiclostridium cellulolyticus (Patel et al. 1980) Zhang et al. 2018 and Hungateiclostridium thermocellum (Viljoen et al. 1926) Zhang et al. 2018. Given the fact that the name Hungateiclostridium Zhang et al. 2018 is illegitimate, Hungateiclostridium mesophilum Rettenmaier et al. 2019 must follow the same fate as other members of the genus and the illegitimate genus name replaced by the genus name Acetivibrio Patel et al. 1980, creating the combination Acetivibrio mesophilus (Rettenmaier et al. 2019).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic, coccus-shaped bacterium, designated S14-83T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the South Shetland Islands of Antarctica. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain is a novel member of the genus Deinococcus , with Deinococcus alpinitundrae as its closest relative (96.1 % similarity). The DNA G+C content of the strain was 61.1 mol% and the major respiratory quinone was MK-8. Major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. As well as containing glycophospholipid, aminophospholipids and glycolipid as major polar lipids, there were also some unknown polar lipids. The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was ornithine, corroborating the assignment of the strain to the genus Deinococcus . Strain S14-83T was shown to be extremely resistant to gamma radiation (>10 kGy) and UV light (460 Jm−2). On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data presented here, strain S14-83T represents a novel species of the genus Deinococcus , for which the name Deinococcus psychrotolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S14-83T (=CCTCC AB 2015449T= DSM 105285 T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, gray-pigmented bacterial strain, designated L-25–5 w-1T, was isolated from the water at Baiyang Lake, PR China. Cells of strain L-25–5 w-1T were motile, with a single polar flagellum. L-25–5 w-1T was able to grow at 15–37 °C (optimum 37 °C) and pH 5–8 (optimum pH 6) in R2A medium. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and phylogenetic analysis of L-25–5 w-1T showed the highest relationship to Azospirillum doebereinerae GSF71T (97.9 %), Azospirillum thiophilum DSM 21654T (97.9 %) and Azospirillum agricola CC-HIH038T (97.0 %), with other species of the genus Azospirillum showing less than 97 % sequence similarity. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified aminolipids; the major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH, C18 : 1 2-OH, iso-C18 : 0, summed feature 2 (C12 : 0 aldehyde and/or unknown 10.9525 and/or iso-C16 : 1I and/or C14 : 0 3-OH), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c); and the major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10. The draft genome size of L-25–5 w-1T was 5.8 Mbp, and the DNA G+C content was 66.6 %. The average nucleotide identity value and digital DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness value between L-25–5 w-1T and related type strains were 80.2 and 24.7 % with A. doebereinerae GSF71T and 78.8 and 23.6 % with A. thiophilum DSM 21654T, respectively. According to the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties, strain L-25–5 w-1T represents a novel species in the genus Azospirillum , for which the name Azospirillum griseum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L-25–5 w-1T (=CGMCC 1.13672T=KCTC 62777T).

Strain YZ-8T, isolated from soil sampled at Fildes Peninsula, Antarctica, was found to be a Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterium. Strain YZ-8T grewoptimally at pH 7.0 and 20 °C. Tolerance to NaCl was up to 0.3 % (w/v) with optimum growth in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YZ-8T belonged to the family Sphingomonas . Strain YZ-8T showed the highest sequence similarities to Sphingomonas molluscorum KMM 3882T (94.4 %), Sphingomonas oligophenolica JCM 12082T (94.4 %), Sphingomonas gotjawalisoli SN6-9T (94.3 %) and Sphingomonas aquatica W1-2-1T (94.3 %). The predominant respiratory isoprenoid quinone and polyamine components were identified as ubiquinone Q-10 and sym-homospermidine, respectively. In addition, carotenoid were also found. The polar lipid profile of the strain YZ-8T was found to contain one phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, one diphosphatidylglycerol, one phosphatidylglycerol, two sphingophosphonolipids, one phosphatidylcholine and two unidentified alkali-stable lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 58.8 mol%. The main fatty acids were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 35.4 %), summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 32.6 %) and C14 : 0 2-OH (7.7 %). On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas , Sphingomonas paeninsulae sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain YZ-8T (=CCTCC AB 2017137T=LMG 31027T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, aerobic, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated strain Sn-9-2T, was isolated from a cave soil sample collected from Tiandong cave, Guizhou Province, south-west PR China. Growth occurred at 15–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0–8.0) and with 0–1 % NaCl (w/v). The predominant respiration quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c or C18 : 1ω6c; 83.9 %) and C16 : 0 (5.8 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified polar lipids and one unidentified aminolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain Sn-9-2T was 67.5 mol%. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain Sn-9-2T (MF958452) were identified as Aquabacter spiritensis (FR733686) DSM 9035T (97.5 %), Xanthobacter autorophicus (jgi.1053054) DSM 432T (97.2 %) and Xanthobacter tagetidis ATCC 700314T RCTF01000015 (96.9 %). The average nucleotide identity values were 78.0, 77.4 and 77.6 % and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were 21.8, 22.0 and 18.8 % between strain Sn-9-2T and A. spiritensis DSM 9035T, X. autotrophicus DSM 432T and X. tagetidis DSM 11105T, respectively. The DNA–DNA hybridization data indicated that strain Sn-9-2T represented a novel genomic species. On the basis of the results of phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain Sn-9-2T should represent a novel species of the genus Aquabacter , for which the name Aquabacter cavernae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Sn-9-2T (=KCTC 62308T=CCTCC AB 2018270T).

A novel aerobic, Gram-negative bacterial strain, RR3-28T, was isolated from a seawater recirculating aquaculture system in Busan, Republic of Korea. Cells were rod-shaped, non-motile, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative and grew optimally at 25–30 °C, pH 8.5 and 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Based on the results of phylogenetic analysis, strain RR3-28T was most closely related to Zhengella mangrovi X9-2-2T within the family Phyllobacteriaceae with 95.97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c, 71.1 %) and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c (14.4 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and unidentified aminolipids. The predominant quinone was ubiquinone Q-10 and the DNA G+C content was 58.6 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain RR3-28T represents a novel genus and species belonging to the family Phyllobacteriaceae , for which the name Salaquimonas pukyongi gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is RR3-28T (=KCTC 52649T=DSM 107947T).

Two Francisella -like bacteria, designated strains SYSU SYW-5T and SYSU SYW-6T, were isolated from coastal seawater sampled at Huizhou Double-Moon Bay, Guangdong Province, PR China. Cells were found to be Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming and of pleomorphic shape (coccobacilli or rod). Chemotaxonomic analysis of the plasma membrane revealed ubiquinone-8 as the respiratory quinone, and saturated branched-chain (anteiso-C15 : 0) and saturated straight-chain (C18 : 0) fatty acids as major components (>8 % of total fatty acid). The major polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol (cardiolipin), phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine, as well as an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified phospholipid in SYSU SYW-5T, and two unknown polar lipids in SYSU SYW-6T. Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that SYSU SYW-5T had maximum similarity to Fastidiosibacter lacustris SYSU HZH-2T (93.4 %), while SYSU SYW-6Thad maximum similarity to Cysteiniphilum litorale SYSU D3-2T (97.5 %). Phylogenetic dendrograms based on 16S rRNA genes and 31 concatenated protein markers revealed that the two novel strains represent a distinct lineage within the family Fastidiosibacteraceae . The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between the two isolates and their related species were well below the threshold limit for species delineation (<89.2 and <35 %, respectively). Based on the above results, strain SYSU SYW-5T is proposed to be a novel species of a new genus with the name Facilibium subflavum gen. nov., sp. nov. (SYSU SYW-5T = DSM 103991T= KCTC 52556T), and strain SYSU SYW-6T is proposed to be a novel species of genus Cysteiniphilum with the name Cysteiniphilum halobium sp. nov. (SYSU SYW-6T=DSM 103992T=KCTC 52558T).

A comparative analysis of the two type strains of Pseudidiomarina maritima 908087T and Pseudidiomarina tainanensis PIN1T was performed to examine their taxonomic relationship. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of P. maritima 908087T shared a high similarity (99.8 %) with that of P. tainanensis PIN1T. The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains formed a tight cluster within the genus Pseudidiomarina . Whole genomic comparison between the two strains revealed a digital DNA–DNA hybridization estimate of 75.8 % and an average nucleotide identity value of 97.3 %, strongly indicating that they represented a single species. In addition, the strains did not display any striking differences in their metabolic, physiological or chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, we propose that Pseudidiomarina maritima is a later heterotypic synonym of Pseudidiomarina tainanensis .

Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, white-pigmented and rod-shaped bacterial strains, 7MH5T and 4 M-K11T, were isolated from forest soil of Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China. Strain 7MH5T grew at 4–37 °C (optimum, 28–33 °C), pH 3.5–9.0 (pH 4.0–5.5) and in the presence of 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl (0–1.5 w/v); while strain 4 M-K11T grew at 4–42 °C (20–33 °C), pH 3.5–8.5 (pH 4.5–6.0) and in the presence of 0–2.5 % (w/v) NaCl (0–1.5 w/v). Strains 7MH5T and 4 M-K11T have the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 98.6 and 98.7 % to Paraburkholderia peleae PP52-1T, and 98.4 % between themselves. In the 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogram, strains 4 M-K11T and Paraburkholderia ferrariae NBRC 106233T formed a clade while 7MH5T were relatively distinct from other Paraburkholderia species. Based on the UBCG phylogenomic analysis, strains 7MH5T and 4 M-K11T formed a clade with Paraburkholderia oxyphila NBRC 105797T and Paraburkholderia sacchari LMG 19450T in the genus of Paraburkholderia . The DNA G+C contents of strains 7MH5T and 4 M-K11T were 64.2 and 64.3 %, respectively. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization and the average nucleotide identity values of strains 7MH5T, 4 M-K11T and closely related strains were in the ranges of 25.2–63.6 % and 81.0–95.5 %, respectively. The two strains had the same major respiratory quinone: ubiquinone-8. Strain 7MH5T had C16 : 0, C17 : 0cyclo, C19 : 0cyclo ω8c and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1  ω7c/C18 : 1  ω6c) as its major fatty acids, while strain 4 M-K11T had major fatty acids of C16 : 0, C17 : 0cyclo and summed feature 2 (iso-C16 : 1 I/C14 : 0−3OH). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses based on both 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequences, as well as chemotaxonomic data, strains 7MH5T and 4 M-K11T represent two novel species of the genus Paraburkholderia , for which the names Paraburkholderia pallida sp. nov. (type strain 7MH5T=GDMCC 1.1450T=KACC 19962T) and Paraburkholderia silviterrae sp. nov. (type strain 4 M-K11T=GDMCC 1.1284T=CGMCC 1.15450T=KACC 19961T=LMG 29217T) are proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated D20T, was isolated from the saline Lake Dai in Inner Mongolia, PR China. Growth of strain D20T occurred at 25–45 °C (optimum, 40 °C), pH 4.0–12.0 (optimum, 8.0) and with 0–3 % NaCl (w/v); (optimum, 0–1 %). The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain D20T was most closely related to three Thauera species, Thaueraselenatis AXT, Thaueraaminoaromatica S2T and Thaueraaromatica K172T, with a similarity value of 96.2 %. The major respiratory quinone of strain D20T was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8), and the dominant fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c; 39.8 %), C16 : 0 (30.9 %) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c; 13.5 %). The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one aminophospholipid and five unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 67.2 mol% (data from the genome sequence). The estimated genome size was 3.7 Mb. The phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic differences between strain D20T and its phylogenetic relatives indicated that strain D20T should be regarded as a novel species in the genus Thauera , for which the name Thauera lacus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D20T (=MCCC 1H00305T=KCTC 62586T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, non-motile, short-rod-shaped and aerobic bacterial strain (designated lm1T) was isolated from propylene oxide saponification wastewater activated sludge obtained from a wastewater treatment facility in Binzhou (Shandong province, PR China). Strain lm1T grew between 15 and 45 °C (optimum, 40 °C). The pH range for growth was at pH 4.0–10.0 (optimum growth at pH 8.0). The range of NaCl concentration for the growth of strain lm1T was 0–4.0 % (w/v), with optimum growth at 1.0–2.0 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain lm1T belonged to the genus Rhodoligotrophos and was closely related to Rhodoligotrophos appendicifer JCM 16873T (96.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Rhodoligotrophos jinshengii CCTCC AB2013083T (96.2 %). The average nucleotide identity value and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain lm1T and R. appendicifer JCM 16873T were 73.4 and 14.3 %, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of strain lm1T were C19 : 0cyclo ω8c, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. Strain lm1T contained Q-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone. The polar lipid profile was composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified glycolipid and five unknown lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 64.4 mol%. Based on polyphasic taxonomic data, strain lm1T could be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Rhodoligotrophos , for which the name Rhodoligotrophos defluvii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is lm1T (=CCTCC AB2019071T=KCTC 72156T).

Two Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic chemoheterotrophic, pink-coloured, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strains, PAMC 29128 and PAMC 29148T, were isolated from lichen. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains PAMC 29128 and PAMC 29148T belong to lichen-associated Rhizobiales -1 (LAR1), an uncultured phylogenetic lineage of the order Rhizobiales and the most closely related genera were Methylocapsa (<93.9 %) and Methylosinus (<93.8 %). The results of phylogenomic and genomic relatedness analyses also showed that strains PAMC 29128 and PAMC 29148T were clearly distinguished from other species in the order Rhizobiales with average nucleotide identity values of <71.4 % and genome-to-genome distance values of <22.7 %. Genomic analysis revealed that strains PAMC 29128 and PAMC 29148T did not contain genes involved in atmospheric nitrogen fixation or utilization of carbon compounds such as methane and methanol. Strains PAMC 29128 and PAMC 29148T were able to utilize certain monosaccharides, disaccharides, sugar alcohols and other organic compounds as a sole carbon source. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c; 33.7–39.7 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C 16:1 ω6c; 25.2–25.4 %) and C19 :0 cyclo ω8c (11.9–15.4 %). The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The genomic DNA G+C contents of PAMC 29128 and PAMC 29148T were 63.0 and 63.1 mol%, respectively. Their distinct phylogenetic position and some physiological characteristics support the proposal of Lichenihabitans gen. nov., with the type species Lichenihabitans psoromatis sp. nov. (type strain, PAMC 29148T=KCCM 43293T=JCM 33311T). Lichenihabitantaceae fam. nov. is also proposed.

Strain TER-1T was isolated from water sampled from a rice paddy field in Taiwan. Cells were Gram-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped and formed pink-coloured colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 25–30 °C, pH 6–7 and in the presence of 0.5 % NaCl. Strain TER-1T could grow on C1 compounds such as methanol, formic acid, methylamine and dimethylamine as sole carbon source, and carry methanol dehydrogenase gene, which supports its methylotrophic metabolism. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, methanol dehydrogenase gene sequence and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that strain TER-1T formed a phylogenetic lineage in the genus Methylobacterium . Strain TER-1T was most closely related to Methylobacterium isbiliense AR24T with 96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain TER-1T showed 77.1–82.8 % average nucleotide identity and 16.4–20.2 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization identity with the strains of other Methylobacterium species. The major fatty acid of strain TER-1T was C18 : 1ω7c. The predominant hydroxy fatty acid was C18 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile consisted of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and two uncharacterized lipids. The only isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain TER-1T was 71.9 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference, strain TER-1T should be classified in a novel species of the genus Methylobacterium , for which the name Methylobacterium oryzihabitans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TER-1T (=BCRC 81157T=LMG 30931T=KCTC 62864T).

This study describes the biochemical and phylogenetic characteristics of a Gram-negative strain, SNU WT1T, isolated from rainbow trout kidney. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain SNU WT1T was highly similar to Pseudomonas wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T and closely related to other Pseudomonas putida -related strains. Multilocus sequence analysis of concatenated partial gyrB, rpoB and rpoD sequences revealed that strain SNU WT1T was distinct from P. putida -related strains and formed a separate clade. The average nucleotide identity and Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator values were 90.19 and 41.7 %with its closest relative P. wadenswilerensis CCOS 864T; however, it was phenotypically distinct from CCOS 864T with respect to arginine dihydrolase, glucose fermentation, aesculin hydrolysis and N-acetyl-glucosamine assimilation. The major polar lipid of the strain was phosphatidylethanolamine and the major quinone was Q-9. The genome of strain SNU WT1T had 5 685 196 bp with a G+C content of 61.83 mol%. We describe a novel species of genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas tructae has been proposed, with SNU WT1T (=KCTC 72265=JCM 33436) as the type strain.

A novel bacterial strain, C3212T, was isolated from a marine alga collected from the sea shore of Yantai, China. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, and oxidase- and catalase-positive. Growth was observed at 8–37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 1.0–7.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 4.0 %). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The polar lipids of strain C3212T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (cardiolipin), phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified polar lipid. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c, and C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c. The DNA G+C content of strain C3212T was 44.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the novel strain was related most closely to Leucothrix pacifica XH122T, Leucothrix arctica IMCC 9719T and Leucothrix mucor DSM 2157T with similarities of 98.0, 97.5 and 94.3 %, respectively. Estimated DNA–DNA hybridization values were 14.2, 20.7 and 13.9 % between strain C3212T and L. pacifica XH122T, L. arctica IMCC 9719T and L. mucor DSM 2157T, respectively. Phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic analyses revealed that strain C3212T represents a novel species of the genus Leucothrix , for which the name Leucothrix sargassi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C3212T (=MCCC 1K03600T=KCTC 72121T).

The symbioses between legumes and nitrogen-fixing rhizobia make the greatest contribution to the global nitrogen input via the process of biological nitrogen fixation (BNF). Bradyrhizobium stands out as the main genus nodulating basal Caesalpinioideae. We performed a polyphasic study with 11 strains isolated from root nodules of Chamaecristafasciculata, an annual multi-functional native legume of the USA. In the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny the strains were clustered in the Bradyrhizobium japonicum superclade. The results of analysis of the intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) indicated less than 89.9 % similarity to other Bradyrhizobium species. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) with four housekeeping genes (glnII, gyrB, recA and rpoB) confirmed the new group, sharing less than 95.2 % nucleotide identity with other species. The MLSA with 10 housekeeping genes (atpD, dnaK, gap, glnII, gltA, gyrB, pnp, recA, rpoB and thrC) indicated Bradyrhizobium daqingense as the closest species. Noteworthy, high genetic diversity among the strains was confirmed in the analyses of ITS, MLSA and BOX-PCR. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were below the threshold of described Bradyrhizobium species, of 89.7 and 40 %, respectively. In the nifH and nodC phylogenies, the strains were grouped together, but with an indication of horizontal gene transfer, showing higher similarity to Bradyrhizobium arachidis and Bradyrhizobium forestalis. Other phenotypic, genotypic and symbiotic properties were evaluated, and the results altogether support the description of the CNPSo strains as representatives of the new species Bradyrhizobium frederickii sp. nov., with CNPSo 3426T (=USDA 10052T=U686T=CL 20T) as the type strain.

A Gram-reaction-negative, peach-brown-pigmented, slightly curved-rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile bacterium, designated GSA243-2T, was isolated from fresh water samples collected from the Chishui River flowing through Maotai, Guizhou, south-west PR China. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic traits were investigated. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Rhodoferax . The closest phylogenetic relative was Rhodoferax saidenbachensis ATCC BAA-1852T (98.35 %). The major fatty acids were C16: 0 and C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-8 and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 3.67 Mbp and a G+C content of 61.17 mol%. Pairwise-determined whole genome average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values suggested that strain GSA243-2T represents a new species, for which we propose the name Rhodoferax bucti sp. nov. with the type strain GSA243-2T (=CGMCC 1.16288T=KCTC 62564T).