- Volume 69, Issue 2, 2019

A novel halophilic actinobacterial strain, designated YIM 96934T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the edge of a saline lake in Xinjiang, north-west China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were aerobic and Gram-stain-positive. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain YIM 96934T was related most closely to type strains of the genus Phytoactinopolyspora , and shared highest sequence similarity with Phytoactinopolyspora endophytica EGI 60009T (94.7 %), Phytoactinopolyspora alkaliphila EGI 80629T (94.5 %) and Phytoactinopolyspora halotolerans YIM 96448T (94.1 %). Optimum growth of the strain was observed at 28–37 °C (range 15–45 °C), pH 7.0–8.0 (6.0–9.0) and 5–8 % (w/v) NaCl (2–24 %). The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9(H₄). The whole-cell sugars were glucose, galactose, mannose and rhamnose. The diagnostic diamino acid was ll-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipid profile was found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified phospholipids, three unidentified phosphoglycolipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two phosphatidylinositol mannosides and an unidentified polar lipid. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_16 : 0, iso-C_17 : 0, anteiso-C_17 : 0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C_17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C_17 : 1 B). The DNA G+C content was 66.6 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, a novel species, Phytoactinopolyspora halophila sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is YIM 96934T (=KCTC 39926T=CCTCC AB 2017057T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated WSJ-1T, was isolated from geopark soil in Gansu province, PR China. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were to those of Nocardioides sediminis MSL-01T (97.10 %), Nocardioides aquiterrae GW-9T (97.08 %) and Nocardioides terrigena DS-17T (96.94 %). Strain WSJ-1T grouped with N. terrigena DS-17T and N. sediminis MSL-01T in 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic trees. The DNA–DNA relatedness of WSJ-1T/ N. sediminis JCM19559T and WSJ-1T/ N. aquiterrae JCM11813T were 44.8 and 29.2 %, respectively. Average nucleotide identity values of whole genome sequences of WSJ-1T/ N. terrigena KCTC19217T and WSJ-1T/ N. sediminis KCTC19271T were 78.83 and 78.83 %, respectively. Its genome size was 4.76 Mb, comprising 4517 predicted genes with a DNA G+C content of 70.9 %. Strain WSJ-1T contained menaquinone-8(H₄) as the major respiratory quinone and ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C_16 : 0, C_18 : 1ω9c and C_17 : 1ω8c. Based on the polyphasic analyses, the isolate is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nocardioides , for which the name Nocardioides gansuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WSJ-1T (=KCTC 49117T=CCTCC AB 2018027T).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile and mycolic-acid-containing strain, designated Y48T, was isolated from soil contaminated by crude oil located in the northern margin of the Qaidam Basin. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain Y48T belongs to the genus Nocardia and is closely related to N. cummidelens DSM 44490T (99.0 % similarity), N. soli DSM 44488T (99.0 %), N. lasii 3C-HV12T (98.9 %), N. salmonicida NBRC 13393T (98.6 %), N. ignorata NBRC 108230T (98.6 %) and N. coubleae NBRC 108252T (98.6 %). The average nucleotide identity and DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain Y48T and the reference strains were 75.9–84.5 and 27.5–29.0 %, respectively, values that were below the thresholds for species delineation. Chemotaxonomic analysis indicated that the major fatty acids of strain Y48T were C_16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω6c/C_16 : 1 ω7c), C_18 : 1 ω9c and C_18 : 0 10-methyl (TBSA). The respiratory quinone was MK-8(H_{4, ω-cycl}). The polar lipid profile was composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, two glycolipids and three unidentified lipids. The cell-wall hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, with ribose, arabinose, glucose and galactose as whole-cell sugars. A combination of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterizations demonstrated that strain Y48T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardia , for which the name Nocardia mangyaensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Y48T (=JCM 32795T=CGMCC 4.7494T).

Two bacterial strains, YZYP 306T and YZGP 509, were isolated from the halophyte Suaeda aralocaspica collected from the southern edge of the Gurbantunggut desert, north-west China. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile, short rods. Strain YZYP 306T grew at 4–40 °C, while strain YZGP 509 grew at 4–42 °C, with optimum growth at 28 °C, and they both grew at pH 6.0–12.0 and 0–15 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences placed the two strains within the genus Microbacterium with the highest similarities to Microbacterium indicum BBH6T (97.8 %) and Microbacterium sorbitolivorans SZDIS-1-1T (97.2 %). The average nucleotide identity value between YZYP 306T and M. indicum BBH6T was 78.3 %. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains YZYP 306T and YZGP 509 were 68.49 and 68.53 mol%, respectively. The characteristic cell-wall amino acid was ornithine. Whole-cell sugars were galactose, mannose and ribose. The acyl type of the peptidoglycan was glycolyl. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_17 : 0 and iso-C_16 : 0. The major menaquinones were MK-10 and MK-11. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. These results are consistent with the classification of the two strains into the genus Microbacterium. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strains YZYP 306T and YZGP 509 are representatives of a novel species in the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium suaedae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YZYP 306T (=CGMCC 1.16261T=KCTC 49101T).

A novel aerobic, spore-forming, marine actinomycete, designated strain LHW63015T, was isolated from a Craniella marine sponge collected in the South China Sea. The strain formed extensively branched substrate and aerial mycelia which carried long and crooked spore chains composed of ridged spores and spherical pseudosporangia. Strain LHW63015T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. Glucose, ribose, mannose, galactose and madurose occured in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant polar lipids were hydroxyl-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoglycolipid and ninhydrin-positive phosphoglycolipid. MK-10(H₄) and MK-10(H₆) were the predominant menaquinones. The major fatty acids were 10-methyl C_17 : 0 and C_17 : 1 ω8c. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.8 mol%. In phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain LHW63015T fell within the family Streptosporangiaceae and formed a distinct monophyletic lineage adjacent to the genus Sphaerisporangium , and shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96.2 % with Sphaerisporangium album YIM 48782T. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence, a novel genus and species of the family Streptosporangiaceae , for which the name Spongiactinospora rosea gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain LHW63015T (=DSM 106635T=CCTCC AA 2018019T).

Avian uropygial glands have received increasing attention in recent years, but little is known about micro-organisms in uropygial glands. In this study, we isolated a strain of Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming cocci, designated 442T, from the uropygial gland of an American barn owl (Tyto furcata) and characterized it using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the isolate in the genus Kocuria . The G+C content was 70.8 mol%, the major menaquinone was MK-7(H₂) and the predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_17 : 0 and iso-C_15 : 0. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene identified Kocuria rhizophila DSM 11926T (99.6 % similarity), Kocuria salsicia DSM 24776T (98.7 %), Kocuria varians DSM 20033T (98.3 %) and Kocuria marina DSM 16420T (98.3 %) as the most closely related species. However, average nucleotide identity values below 86 % indicated that the isolate differed from all species hitherto described. Chemotaxonomic analyses and whole-cell protein profiles corroborated these findings. Accordingly, the isolate is considered to be a member of a novel species, for which the name Kocuria tytonis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 442T (=DSM 104130T=LMG 29944T).

An endophytic actinobacterium, designated strain KE2-3T, was isolated from surface-sterilised rhizome of Kaempferia elegans. The polyphasic approach was used for evaluating the taxonomic position of this strain. The taxonomic affiliation of this strain at genus level could be confirmed by its chemotaxonomic characteristic, i.e. the presence of ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell peptidoglycan, MK-9(H₄) as the major menaquinone, iso-C_16 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_14 : 0 and iso-C_15 : 0 as the predominant fatty acids in cells, and the presence of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside in its membranes. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain KE2-3T was identified as a member of the genus Jiangella and showed the highest similarities to Jiangella muralis DSM 45357T (99.3 %) followed by Jiangella alba DSM 45237T (99.2 %), Jiangella alkaliphilia DSM 45079T (99.0 %), Jiangella gansuensis DSM 44835T (98.8 %) and Jiangella mangrovi 3SM4-07T (98.6 %). However, the draft genome sequence of strain KE2-3T exhibited low average nucleotide identity values to the reference strains (85.5–90.2 %), which were well below the 95–96 % species circumscription threshold. The DNA G+C content of genomic DNA was 72.3 mol%. With the differences of physiological, biochemical and genotypic data, strain KE2-3T could be discriminated from its closest neighbour. Thus, strain KE2-3T should be recognised as a novel species of genus Jiangella , for which the name Jiangella endophytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KE2-3T (=BCC 66359T=NBRC 110004T).

An actinobacterial strain, designated CPCC 204604T, was isolated from a water sample collected from Sancha Lake, a drinking-water reservoir in Sichuan Province, south-west China. Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming and non-motile. Polyphasic taxonomic analysis indicated that galactose and ribose were detected as the diagnostic sugars in the whole-cell hydrolysates, and ll-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid in cell-wall peptidoglycan. MK-9(H₄) was the predominant menaquinone. The phospholipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified phospholipid. The major fatty acids were C_16 : 0, C_16 : 0 2-OH, C_18 : 1ω9c, C_18 : 0 and 10-methyl C_18:0. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol%. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 204604T formed a distinct clade with Aeromicrobium ponti DSM 19178T within the lineage of the genus Aeromicrobium , with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.3 % to its closest neighbour. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data, we conclude that strain CPCC 204604T represents a novel species of the genus Aeromicrobium , for which the name Aeromicrobium lacus sp. nov. is proposed with strain CPCC 204604T (=NBRC 112936T=DSM 105424T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain positive, aerobic, non-motile and short-rod-shaped strain, CFH S00084T, was isolated from a sediment sample of the Yellow River in Henan Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain CFH S00084T clustered within members of Microbacterium and was most closely related to the type strains Microbacterium yannicii JCM 18959T and Microbacterium arthrosphaerae DSM 22421T (98.97 % and 98.36 % similarity, respectively). The strain grew optimally at 25–37 °C, at pH 7.0 and in 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl. The major whole-cell sugars were rhamnose and glucose. The cell-wall peptidoglycan mainly contained glycine, alanine and ornithine. The menaquinones of strain CFH S00084T were MK-13, MK-12 and MK-11. The major fatty acids detected were anteiso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_17 : 0 and iso-C_16 : 0. The genome of strain CFH S00084T was 4.03 Mbp with a G+C content of 70.5 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between CFH S00084T and the other species of the genus Microbacterium were found to be low (ANIm <85 %, ANIb <75 % and dDDH <24 %). The phylogenomic analysis provided evidence for clear phylogenetic divergence between strain CFH S00084T and its closely related type strains. On the basis of the differential physiological properties, chemotaxonomic characteristics and low ANI and dDDH results, strain CFH S00084T is considered to represent a novel species for which the name Microbacterium ureisolvens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH S00084T (=KCTC 39802T=DSM 103157T).

A novel Gram-positive bacterium, designated strain YIM PH21725T, was isolated from a sample of rhizospheric soil of Panaxnotoginseng cultivated in Anning, Yunnan. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The main fatty acids identified were C_17 : 0, iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_16 : 0 and C_16 : 0. The main menaquinone was MK-9 (H₄). The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, phosphatidylinositol, phospholipids and phospholipids of an unidentified structure containing glucosamine. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 69.43 mol%. On the basis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain YIM PH21725T should belong to the genus Amycolatopsis , and was closely related to Amycolatopsis sulphurea DSM 46092T (98.57 %), Amycolatopsis jejuensis JCM13280T (97.27 %), Amycolatopsis jiangsuensis KCTC 19885T (96.88 %) and Amycolatopsis ultiminotia JCM 16989T (96.8 %). The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and digital DNA–DNA hybridization results clearly indicated that strain YIM PH21725T represents a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis , for which the name Amycolatopsis panacis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM PH21725T (=CCTCC AA 2017044T=KCTC 49031T=DSM 105902T).

As part of a study investigating the rhizosphere and endosphere of the Eastern cottonwood tree, Populus deltoides, a number of isolates were subjected to genome sequencing. The genome-derived 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain CF314T was 97.0 % similar to those of the Chryseobacterium daecheongense and Chryseobacterium polytrichastri type strains, but was essentially equidistant from many other Chryseobacterium type strains. Overall genome similarity metrics (average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization, average amino acid identity) revealed greatest similarity to the Chryseobacterium daecheongense , Chryseobacterium piperi and Chryseobacterium soldanellicola type strains, but were well below the species thresholds. Strain CF314T had a typical fatty acid composition for Chryseobacterium species and produced flexirubin pigments, but not carotenoids. The genome encodes a number of proteins such as a C-type lectin and terpene synthases that are also found in other plant-associated Bacteroidetes . Based on phenotypic and genomic characteristics of the strain, we propose the new species Chryseobacterium populi. The type strain is CF314T=KCTC 62722T=LMG 30786T.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterial strain, designated T17T was isolated from a sample of sewage sediment from a Busan park (Republic of Korea). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain T17T had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Dyadobacter soli KCTC 22481T (97.3 %), D.yadobacter fermentans DSM 18053T (97.1 %) and D.yadobacter sediminis CGMCC 1.12895T (97.1 %). The isolate exhibited relatively low levels of DNA–DNA relatedness with respect to D. soli KCTC 22481T (28.2±3.6 %). The DNA G+C content was 49.1 mol%. The unique respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, five unidentified lipids, four aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and one glycophospholipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>5 % of total) were summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C_15 : 0 2-OH; 44.3 %), iso-C_15 : 0 (15.7 %), C_16 : 1 ω5c (9.6 %), iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH (9.3 %) and C_16 : 0 (5.6 %). Moreover, physiological and biochemical characteristics distinguished strain T17T from its related species, including temperature and pH ranges for growth, being positive for acetate hydrolysis, and being negative for acid produced from melibiose and rhamnose. The genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data revealed that strain T17T represents a novel species of the genus Dyadobacter , for which the name Dyadobacter luticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T17T (=KCTC 52981T=CCTCC AB 2017091T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, light-pink, short rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterial strain was isolated from biological soil crust sampled in the Hopq Desert, Inner Mongolia, China, designated MIMBbqt21T. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 55.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain MIMBbqt21T belonged to the genus Hymenobacter and had the highest sequence similarity to Hymenobacter cavernae K1E01-27T (94.35 %). Cell growth could be observed at 4–29 °C (optimum, 24 °C), pH of 6.0–8.6 (optimum, 6.0) and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %). The major fatty acids of strain MIMBbqt21T were iso-C_15 : 0, C_16 : 1 ω5c and summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω7c/C_16 : 1 ω6c). The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, five unidentified aminophospholipids, an unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified polar lipids. The sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7. Based on the results of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic studies, strain MIMBbqt21T could be distinguished from all known Hymenobacter species and represents a novel species, for which the name Hymenobacter crusticola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MIMBbqt21T (=MCCC 1K01312T=KCTC 42804T).

Five Mycoplasma strains have been isolated from the oropharynx of southern sea otters (Enhydra lutris nereis) from the Central California Coast, USA. These strains were phenotypically and genetically characterized and compared to other established Mycoplasma species. All five strains hydrolysed arginine but not urea, but did not produce acid from glucose, and all were isolated and propagated under anaerobic and aerobic atmospheric conditions at +35–37 ˚C using either SP4 or PPLO medium supplemented with arginine. Colonies on solid medium showed a typical fried-egg appearance and transmission electron microscopy revealed a typical mycoplasma cellular morphology. Molecular characterization included assessment of the following genetic loci: 16S rRNA, 16S–23S rRNA ITS, rpoB, rpoC, polC, topIIA, tufB, arcA and smc. Complete 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that these strains were most closely related to M.ycoplasma phocicerebrale, and to M.ycoplasma arginini, M.ycoplasma gateae and M.ycoplasma canadense with nucleotide similarities of 99 and 98 %, respectively. Nucleotide analysis of other genetic loci revealed 73–91 % nucleotide similarity to the corresponding genes of the above closely related species. All five strains clustered into a distinct group on the 16S rRNA and rpoB phylogenetic trees. Serological testing via growth inhibition and metabolic inhibition tests employing antiserum to type strains of M. phocicerebrale , M. arginini , M. gateae and M. canadense failed to recognize these novel strains. Our results suggest that the strains isolated from southern sea otters represent a novel species of the genus Mycoplasma , for which the name Mycoplasma enhydrae sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 6243-11T (=DSM 106704T=ATCC TSD-140T).

A polyphasic study was conducted to characterize an obligately anaerobic bacterial strain, S15T, that was isolated from Okinawa Trough sediment. Strain S15T was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and rod-shaped. Spores were not observed. Strain S15T grew anaerobically at 20–35 °C (optimum at 25–30 °C) and at pH range of 6.0–8.5 (optimum at 7.5). Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S15T was phylogenetically related to Vallitalea guaymasensis Ra1766G1T (94.0 %) and Vallitalea pronyensis FatNI3T (93.1 %). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids. The predominant fatty acids of strain S15T were iso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_16 : 0 and C_16 : 0. The draft genome was 5.86 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 33.9 mol%. A total of 5285 genes were predicted and, of those, 4669 genes were annotated. The genome data supported the result that strain S15T assimilated various carbon sources. On the basis of unique phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic comparisons, strain S15T is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Vallitalea , and the name Vallitalea okinawensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S15T=CGMCC 1.5231T=KCTC 15675T.

The taxonomic status of Paenibacillus thermophilus was analyzed using genomic and phenotypic approaches. The results of RNA polymerase beta subunit gene sequence comparisons indicated that two type strains of P. thermophilus (DSM 24746T and JCM 17693T) and Paenibacillus macerans ATCC 8244T shared 100 % sequence similarity. By whole-genome sequence comparison, their average nucleotide identity values were over 99.3 %. Investigation of substrate utilization, enzyme activities and cellular fatty acid patterns displayed no striking differences between P. thermophilus JCM 17693T and P. macerans JCM 2500T. On the basis of these results, we propose that the name Paenibacillus thermophilus is a later heterotypic synonym of Paenibacillus macerans .

Descriptions of the genus Caecibacterium and its proposed type species Caecibacterium sporoformans were published in the IJSEM by Onrust et al. (Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2017;67:4589–4594). The type strain was deposited as LMG 27730 and DSM 26959. DSM 26959 is a patent strain, and therefore the names were effectively, but not validly, published based on Rule 30(4) of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. The type strain of C. sporoformans is now available from the Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen as DSM 103070 and no restrictions have been placed on its distribution. We here present new descriptions of the genus and its type species so that the names can be validly published.

The name Desulfofundulus australicus Wantanabe et al. 2018 has appeared in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology and is based on the name Desulfotomaculum australicum Love et al. 1993. Consequently, both names are based on the nomenclatural type, strain AB33. At the time of valid publication of the name Desulfotomaculum australicum Love et al. 1993, the strain was also deposited in the Australian Collection of Microorganisms as ACM 3917 and was subsequently accessed to the DSMZ as DSM 11792. The publication of a new combination, Desulfofundulus australicus Wantanabe et al. 2018, under Rule 27, and 30 (3b) of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes requires that the nomenclatural type be deposited in at least two publicly accessible culture collections in different countries from which subcultures must be available in order that the new combination is validly published. The Australian Collection of Microorganisms no longer appears to operate and therefore the new combination, Desulfofundulus australicus Wantanabe et al. 2018 is based on a single deposit in the DSMZ.