- Volume 69, Issue 3, 2019

Whole genome sequence analysis (digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity) was carried out for 81 sequenced full genomes of the genus Gardnerella , including ten determined in this study, and indicated the existence of 13 genomic species, of which five consist of only one strain and of which only five contain more than four sequenced genomes. Furthermore, a collection of ten Gardnerella strains, representing the emended species G. vaginalis and the newly described species Gardnerella leopoldii, Gardnerella piotii and Gardnerella swidsinskii, was studied. Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight MS analysis of the protein signatures identified specific peaks that can be used to differentiate these four species. Only strains of G. vaginalis produce β-galactosidase. We emend the description of G. vaginalis (type strain ATCC 14018T=LMG 7832T=CCUG 3717T) and describe the novel species Gardnerella leopoldii sp. nov. (UGent 06.41T=LMG 30814T=CCUG 72425T), Gardnerella piotii sp. nov. (UGent 18.01T=LMG 30818T=CCUG 72427T) and Gardnerella swidsinskii sp. nov. (GS 9838-1T=LMG 30812T=CCUG 72429T).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-D10T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) collected from Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin, Heilongjiang Province, north-east China. A polyphasic approach was employed to determine the status of strain NEAU-D10T. Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics were consistent with those of members of the genus Streptomyces . The menaquinones detected were MK-9 (H₆), MK-9 (H₈) and MK-9 (H₄). The phospholipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxy-phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and three unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C_16 : 0, C_16 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_14 : 0. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain NEAU-D10T belongs to the genus Streptomyces with high sequence similarity to Streptomyces sioyaensis DSM 40032T (99.0 %) and Streptomyces auratus DSM 41897T (98.8 %). Moreover, multilocus sequence analysis based on five other housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, rpoB, recAand trpB) and the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic differences allowed the novel isolate to be differentiated from its most closely related strains, S. sioyaensis DSM 40032T and S. auratus DSM 41897T. It is concluded that the organism can be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces inhibens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-D10T (=CGMCC 4.7469T=DSM 106197T).

A novel marine actinomycete, designated LHW63014T, isolated from a marine sponge, Craniella species, collected in the South China Sea, was examined using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain LHW63014T showed highest similarities to Jishengella endophytica 202201T (98.9 %), Micromonospora olivasterospora DSM 43868T (98.7 %), Micromonospora maris AB-18-032T (98.6 %) and Micromonospora gifhornensis DSM 44337T (98.6 %). Phylogenetic analyses of the family Micromonosporaceae based on the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences indicated that strain LHW63014T and J. endophytica 202201T located within the genus Micromonospora . Morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics confirmed their affiliation to the genus Micromonospora . Based on phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic data and digital DNA–DNA hybridization results, strain LHW63014T could be distinguished from its closest taxa, representing a novel species of the genus Micromonospora , for which the name Micromonospora craniellae sp. nov., is proposed, with the type strain LHW63014T (=DSM 106193T=CCTCC AA 2018012T). It is also proposed that J. endophytica be transferred to genus Micromonospora as Micromonospora endophytica comb. nov. (type strain 202201T =CGMCC 4.5597T=DSM 45430T).

A novel Gram-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming and aerobic bacterium, designated strain VA37-3T, was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected at 19.2 m water depth from Valparaíso bay, Chile. Strain VA37-3T exhibits 97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Corynebacterium marinum D7015T, 96.4 % to Corynebacterium humireducens MFC-5T and 96 % to Corynebacterium testudinoris M935/96/4T; and a rpoB gene sequence similarity of 85.1 % to Corynebacterium pollutisoli VMS11T, both analyses suggesting that strain VA37-3T represents a novel species of Corynebacterium . Physiological testing indicated that strain VA37-3T requires artificial sea water or sodium-supplemented media for growth, representing the first obligate marine actinomycete of the genus Corynebacterium . The genome of the proposed new species, along with the type strains of its most closely related species were sequenced and characterized. In silico genome-based similarity analyses revealed an ANIb of 72.8 % ( C. marinum D7015T), ANIm of 85.0 % ( Corynebacterium mustelae DSM 45274T), tetra of 0.90 ( Corynebacterium callunae DSM 20147T) and ggdc of 24.7 % ( Corynebacterium kutscheri DSM 20755T) when compared with the closest related strains. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain VA37-3T was 57.0 %. Chemotaxonomic assessment of strain VN6-2T showed the major fatty acids were C_18 : 1ω9c and C_16 : 0. Menaquinones predominantly consisted of MK-8(II-H2). Polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid and phosphatidylinositol. Mycolic acids also were present. Overall, the results from phylogenetic, phenotypic and genomic analyses confirmed that strain VA37-3T represents a novel species of the genus Corynebacterium , for which the name Corynebacterium alimapuense sp. nov. is proposed, with VA37-3T as the type strain (=CCUG 69366T=NCIMB 15118T).

A halophilic organism, SWO25T, was isolated from water sampled in Algeria at the salt lake (sebkha) of Ouargla. The novel strain stained Gram-negative, and cells were pleomorphic with a red pigmentation. Strain SWO25T grew optimally at 35–45 °C, at pH 6.0–8.0 and 0.05–0.25 M MgCl₂ concentrations. Cells were extremely halophilic, with optimal growth at 4.3–5.1 M NaCl. The predominant membrane polar lipids were C20C20 glycerol diether derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate, triglycosyl diether and diglycosyl diether. The major respiratory menaquinone component was MK-8. Cells were highly tolerant to the presence of decane and isooctane in the growth medium. Chemotaxonomic properties supported the assignment of strain SWO25T to the genus Haloarcula . The DNA G+C content was 61.1mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization and phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and rpoB′ genes showed that strain SWO25T is distinct from known Haloarcula species. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, we describe a novel species of the genus Haloarcula , for which the name Haloarcula sebkhae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SWO25T (=CIP 110583T=JCM 19018T).

A halophilic archaeal strain, designated HD8-51T, was isolated from the salted brown alga Laminaria. Cells of strain HD8-51T were motile, pleomorphic coccoid or ovoid, and formed red-pigmented colonies on agar plates. Strain HD8-51T grew optimally at 3.1 M NaCl, 0.03 M MgCl₂, 30 °C and pH 7.0. Cells lysed in distilled water and the minimal NaCl concentration to prevent cell lysis was 0.85 M. Based on phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and rpoB′ genes, strain HD8-51T was most closely related to members of the genus Halorussus (92.3–95.6 % and 89.2–91.7% similarities, respectively). The average nucleotide identity values and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain HD8-51T and Halorussus rarus TBN4T were 81.69 and 24.5 %, respectively. The major polar lipids of strain HD8-51T were phosphatidic acid (PA), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me), phosphatidylglycerol sulfate (PGS) and five glycolipids, sulfated galactosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-TGD-1), galactosyl mannosyl glucosyl diether (TGD-1), sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether (S-DGD-1), mannosyl glucosyl diether (DGD-1) and diglycosyl diether (DGD-2). The DNA G+C content was 65.9 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, strain HD8-51T represents a novel species of the genus Halorussus, for which the name Halorussus litoreus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HD8-51T (=CGMCC 1.15333T=JCM 31109T).

Two Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, yellow-pigmented bacterial strains, designated IMCC34758T and IMCC34759T, were isolated from freshwater. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the two strains formed a distinct clade within the genus Flavobacterium and they shared 97.9 % sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values (dDDH) between the two strains were 85.5 and 30.2 %, respectively, indicating that they are separate species. The two strains showed ≤98.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, 80.6–81.3 % of ANI and 24.7–25.1 % of dDDH values to closely related species of the genus Flavobacterium , indicating that the two strains each represent novel Flavobacterium species. The respiratory quinone detected in both strains was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids of the two strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified polar lipid. The DNA G+C contents of strains IMCC34758T and IMCC34759T were 34.0 and 34.1 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids of the two strains were very similar to each other, comprising iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_15 : 1 G, anteiso-C_15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1  ω6c and/or C_16 : 1  ω7c). Phenotypic characteristics including enzyme activities and carbon source utilization differentiated the two strains from other Flavobacterium species. Based on these results, strains IMCC34758T and IMCC34759T were considered to represent novel species in the genus Flavobacterium , for which the names Flavobacterium hydrophilum (IMCC34758T=KACC 19591T=NBRC 113423T) and Flavobacterium cheongpyeongense (IMCC34759T=KACC 19592T=NBRC 113424T) are proposed, respectively.

A bacterial strain, designated as ISE14T, with Gram-stain-negative and non-motile rod-shaped cells, was isolated from the root of a cucumber plant collected in a field in Iksan, Republic of Korea and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ISE14T represented a member of the genus Chryseobacterium and was closely related to Chryseobacterium viscerum 687B-08T (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.50 %), Chryseobacterium lactis NCTC 11390T (98.49 %), Chryseobacterium ureilyticum F-Fue-04IIIaaaaT (98.49 %) and Chryseobacterium oncorhynchi 701B-08T (98.04 %). Average nucleotide identity values between genome sequences of strain ISE14T and the closely related species ranged from 81.44 to 83.15 %, which were lower than the threshold of 95 % (corresponding to a DNA–DNA hybridization value of 70 %). The DNA G+C content of strain ISE14T was 36.3 mol%. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C_15 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C_17 : 1 ω9c and/or C_16 : 0 10-methyl), summed feature 3 (iso-C_15 : 0 2-OH and/or C_16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and eight unidentified lipids; the predominant respiratory quinone was MK-6. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain ISE14T can be distinguished from closely related species belonging to the genus Chryseobacterium . Thus, strain ISE14T is a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium , for which the name Chryseobacterium phosphatilyticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ISE14T (=KACC 19820T=JCM 32876T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile strain, K3CV102501T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the monsoon evergreen broad-leaved forest of Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve located in Guangdong Province, PR China. The primal colony of strain K3CV102501T was very similar to the fruiting body of myxobacteria on the original isolation plates. Young cultures of strain K3CV102501T contained long (2–4×0.4–0.5 µm) filamentous cells and divided into rod shapes (0.7–1.0×0.6–0.8 µm) after 4 days of incubation at 28 °C. Strain K3CV102501T grew at pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum, pH 6.5–7.5) and 7–42 °C (optimum, 28–35 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain K3CV102501T belonged to the genus Chitinophaga and showed the highest similarity to C.hitinophaga jiangningensis JCM 19354T (96.9 %). The DNA G+C content of the type strain was 46.6 mol%. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C_15 : 0, C_16 : 1ω5c and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminolipid. Menaquinone-7 was the predominant quinone. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data clearly showed that strain K3CV102501T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K3CV102501T (=KCTC 62435T=GDMCC 1.1325T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated H-1T, was isolated from the interfacial sediment of Taihu Lake in China and characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the organism was most closely related to Rufibacter immobilis MCC P1T and Rufibacter tibetensis 1351T, with sequence similarities of 98.0 and 97.6 %, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain H-1T and R. immobilis MCC P1T and R. tibetensis 1351T was 48.8 and 36.6 %, respectively. The major (>5 %) cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or C_16 : 1ω6c), C_16 : 1ω5c, iso-C_15 : 0, summed feature 4 (iso-C_17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C_17 : 1 B) and anteiso-C_15 : 0. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminophospholipids, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified lipids. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). Genomic DNA G+C content was 49.0 mol%. Based on its physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Rufibacter , for which the name Rufibacter sediminis sp. nov. (type strain H-1T=CGMCC 1.16289T=NBRC 113030T) is proposed.

Assessment of the bacterial diversity associated with a decaying fern, Athyrium wallichianum Ching, revealed the presence of a novel bacterial strain named M46T. It was Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and aerobic with cellulose and xylan degradation abilities. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain M46T was affiliated to the genus Sphingobacterium , exhibiting the highest sequence similarity of 97.9 % to Sphingobacterium ginsenosidimutans THG 07T, Sphingobacterium canadense CR11T and Sphingobacterium detergens 6.2 ST. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on concatenated sequences of the rpoB, cpn60 and 16S rRNA genes showed that strain M46T clustered together with S. canadense CR11T. The genome of strain M46T had a G+C content of 40.6 mol% and chromosome of 6 853 865 bp. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) between strain M46T and S. detergens 6.2 ST and S. siyangense SY1T was 85.1 and 78.1 %, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness values among strain M46T and other closely related Sphingobacterium species were <70 %. ANI and DNA–DNA relatedness findings strongly supported M46T as a putative novel strain of Sphingobacterium . The predominant fatty acids of strain M46T were iso-C_15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or C_16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH, and MK-7 was the dominant isoprenoid quinone. The polar lipid profile of strain M46T contained phosphatidylethanolamine as the dominant component, while minor amounts of phosphoglycolipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified phospholipids and four unidentified lipids were also detected. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, MLSA results, genomic characteristics, and phenotypic and biochemotaxonomic analyses, strain M46T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Sphingobacterium , for which the name Sphingobacterium athyrii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M46T (=CGMCC 1.13466T=JCM 32543T).

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was applied to characterize an anaerobic bacterial strain, 426-9T, that was isolated from human faeces. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, non-pigmented and rod-shaped. Strain 426-9T grew anaerobically at 20–45 °C (optimally at 37–40 °C) and at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimally at pH 6.0–8.0). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, seven amino phospholipids and three phospholipids. The major fatty acids of strain 426-9T were anteiso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH, and the predominant respiratory quinones were menaquinones MK-9 and MK-10. End-products of glucose fermentation were acetate, propionate, iso-butyrate and iso-pentanoate. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 426-9T was a member of the genus Parabacteroides . The level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain 426-9T to the type species of the genus, Parabacteroides distasonis ATCC 8503T, was 91.0 %. Within the genus Parabacteroides , strain 426-9T was phylogenetically closely related to Parabacteroides johnsonii M-165T (96.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The draft genome of strain 426-9T comprised 5.15 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 45.9 mol%. A total of 4088 genes were predicted and, of those, 3744 were annotated. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characterization, strain 426-9T represents a novel species within the genus Parabacteroides , for which the name Parabacteroides acidifaciens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 426-9T (=CGMCC 1.13558T=NBRC 113433T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped (0.2–0.4 µm×1.2–1.7 µm), endophytic bacterium, designated HBUM179779T, was isolated from the stem of a medicinal plant,Gynura bicolor, collected from Pixian county in Sichuan province, China. The strain did not produce endospores and its cells could secrete mucus. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositolmannosides, two unknown aminolipids, two unknown glycolipids and an unknown phospholipid. Branched fatty acids (iso-) and hydroxy fatty acids were the main fatty acids, which mainly included iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_15 : 1 G and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HBUM179779T fell within the family Chitinophagaceae, and its closest neighbour was Pseudoflavitalea rhizosphaerae T16R-265T (94.46 %). However, strain HBUM179779T did not make a coherent clade with members of the recognized organisms. The average nucleotide identity value between strain HBUM179779T and Pseudoflavitalea rhizosphaerae T16R-265T was 67.1 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics of this bacterium, a novel genus and species, Gynurincola endophyticus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is HBUM179779T (=CGMCC 1.15525T=NBRC 112424T).

Strain SYSU D60016T, a rod-shaped bacterium that tends to form clusters, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Gurbantunggut desert, China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SYSU D60016T shared less than 94 % sequence identity with members of the family Hymenobacteraceae . The strain exhibited growth at 15–50 °C, pH 6–8 and in the presence of up to 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Its chemotaxonomic features included MK-7 as the respiratory menaquinone, iso-C_15 : 0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C_17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C_17 : 1 B) as major cellular fatty acids and phosphatidylethanolamine as the main polar lipid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 50.1 % (genome). Analyses of the phylogenetic data and differences in the chemotaxonomic and biochemical features from related genera in the family Hymenobacteraceae indicated that strain SYSU D60016T merits representation of a novel species of a novel genus in the family Hymenobacteraceae . The name Botryobacter ruber gen. nov., sp. nov. is, therefore, proposed to represent the phylogenetic position of strain SYSU D60016T in the family Hymenobacteraceae . The type strain of the proposed new taxon is SYSU D60016T (=KCTC 52794T=NBRC 112957T).

A Gram-negative, strictly anaerobic, non-spore forming, non-motile, non-pigmented bacterial strain, designated H184T, was isolated from human faeces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain H184T represents a member of the genus Butyricimonas . Strain H184T is related to but distinct from Butyricimonas virosa JCM 15149T and Butyricimonas paravirosa JCM 18677T, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 96.32 and 96.24 %, respectively. Strain H184T shared 90.50 % hsp60 gene sequence similarity to B. virosa JCM 15149T and B. paravirosa JCM 18677T. Growth occurs between 25 and 42 °C with an optimum at 37 °C. Bile and NaCl concentration range allowing growth are 0–3.75 % and 0–1.8 %, respectively. pH range for growth is 5.5–8. The strain produced propionate as the major end product from glucose. The major cellular fatty acids of strain H184T were iso-C_15 : 0 (63.5 %) and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH (12.8%). The major menaquinone of the strain was MK-10 (86 %). DNA G+C content of the isolate H184T was 44.2 mol%. The genome-based comparison between strain H184T and B. virosa JCM 15149T by pairwise average nucleotide identity indicated a clear distinction with a score of 87.22. On the basis of these data, strain H184T represents a novel species of the genus Butyricimonas , for which the name Butyricimonas faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of B. faecalis is H184T (DSM 106867T, LMG 30602T).

Two alkaliphilic and moderately halophilic bacterial strains B16-10T and Z23-18 characterized by optimal growth at pH 9.0–10.0 and 5 % (w/v) NaCl, were isolated from the rhizosphere soil of the bayonet grass (Bolboschoenus maritimus) in the Kiskunság National Park, Hungary. Cells of both strains stained Gram-positive, were motile straight rods, and formed terminal, ellipsoidal endospores with swollen sporangia. The isolates were facultative anaerobic, catalase positive, oxidase negative. Both strains contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diaminoacid of the peptidoglycan. Menaquinone-7 (MK-7) was the predominant isoprenoid quinone. Anteiso-C_15 : 0, C_16 : 1ω11c and iso-C_14 : 0 were the major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of both strains was 35.8 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the facultative anaerobic strains B16-10T and Z23-18 showed the highest similarities to the type strains of anaerobic Anaerobacillus isosaccharinicus NB2006T (98.7 and 99.1 %), A. macyae JMM-4T (98.2 and 98.4 %), A. alkalidiazotrophicus MS 6T (97.7 and 98.4 %), A. alkalilacustris Z-0521T (97.5 and 98.3 %) and A. arseniciselenatis DSM 15340T (97.5 and 98.2 %). However, the distinctive phenotypic and genetic results of this study confirmed that strains B16-10T and Z23-18 represent a novel species, for which the name Anaerobacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B16-10T (=DSM 29790T=NCAIM B 02608T).

A strictly anaerobic bacterial strain, designated as PI-S10-A1B, was isolated from a sludge sample collected from an industrial effluent dump site at Hyderabad, India. Cells stained Gram-positive and contained terminal endospores. Optimal growth was observed at 30 °C and pH 7.0. It showed negative reactions to catalase and oxidase activities. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene led to strain PI-S10-A1BT being assigned to the genus Clostridium . It displayed high sequence similarity to species of cluster XIVa including Clostridium amygdalinum BR-10T (99.84 %), Clostridium saccharolyticum WM1T (98.93 %) and Clostridium indolis DSM 755T (98.31 %). It formed a coherent cluster with members of cluster XIVa. Despite high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain PI-S10-A1BT displayed only 25.3 % identity in DNA–DNA hybridization tests with C. amygdalinum BR-10T. A draft genome exhibited low values for average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization with strains of cluster XIVa. The DNA G+C content was 42.3 mol%. Major lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol, with an abundance of phosphoglycolipids. Further, analysis of the draft genome revealed genomic insights against functional aspects. Considering the phenotypic differences and low genomic identity with phylogenetic relatives, strain PI-S10-A1BT is concluded to represent a new species of the genus Clostridium , for which the name Clostridium indicum sp. nov. is proposed with type strain PI-S10-A1BT (=MTCC 12282T=DSM 24996T=JCM 32788T).