- Volume 69, Issue 3, 2019

A novel Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, obligately anaerobic, non-motile, spore-forming and binary fission encapsulated bacterium, designated strain JN500901T, was isolated from a mud cellar which has been continuously used for the fermentation of Chinese strong-flavour baijiu for over 100 years. Growth of JN500901Toccurred at pH 4.5–8.0 (optimum, pH 5.0), 20–40 °C (37 °C), 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl and 0–10 % (v/v) ethanol. The Biolog assay revealed that strain JN500901T metabolized d-fructose, l-fucose, isomaltulose and l-rhamnose among the 95 studied carbon sources. p-Cresol was the predominant volatile metabolite in the fermentation broth of strain JN500901T incubated in liquid reinforced clostridial medium under anaerobic conditions. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JN500901T belongs to Clostridium sensu stricto, and shared the highest sequence similarity to Clostridium carboxidivorans DSM 15243T (94.2 %), followed by Clostridium scatologenes DSM 757T (94.1 %). The dominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were C_16 : 0 FAME (36.6 %), C_19 : 0 cyc 9,10 DMA (19.8 %) and C_16 : 1 cis 9 DMA (11.8 %). The complete genome of strain JN500901T contained a circular chromosome of 2.812 Mb with 2611 genes and 31.0 mol% G+C content. Comparative genome analysis of the strain JN500901T, Clostridium carboxidivorans DSM 15243T and Clostridium scatologenes DSM 757T revealed 74.5 and 74.8 % average nucleotide identity, respectively. Based on the phenotypic, biochemical and phylogenetic analyses presented here, strain JN500901T is considered to be a novel species of the genus Clostridium sensustricto, for which the name Clostridium fermenticellae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JN500901T (=CICC 24501T=JCM 32827T).

A Gram-stain negative, spherical, obligately aerobic bacterium, designated strain WN38T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern on the coast of Weihai, China. Optimal growth occurred at 33 °C, pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 3–4 % (w/v) NaCl. The genome of strain WN38T was found to contain the genes necessary for arsenate reductase and related proteins, indicating that it may have potential in bioremediation of heavy metal polluted environments. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain WN38T represented a member of the genus Coraliomargarita , and was related most closely to Coraliomargarita akajimensis KCTC 12865T (95.7 %). Pairwise sequence similarities to all other type strains of species were below 90 %. Genome-based calculations (average nucleotide identity, genome-to-genome distance and DNA G+C percentage) and results of pairwise amino acid identity (AAI >60 %) and percentage of conserved proteins (POCP >50 %) also indicated clearly that strain WN38T represents a novel species within this genus. Different phenotypic analyses, such as the detection of a quinone system composed of the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and a fatty acid profile with iso-C_14 : 0, C_18 : 0 and C_18 : 1ω9c as major components, supported this finding at the same time as contributing to a comprehensive characterization of strain WN38T. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain WN38T represents a novel species of the genus Coraliomargarita , for which the name Coraliomargarita sinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WN38T (=KCTC 62602T=MCCC 1H00313T).

Mycoplasma species are well known pathogens in avian medicine, especially in poultry. However, several Mycoplasma species have been regularly found in the respiratory tract of birds of prey which seem to be commensals in these bird species. In previous studies, an unknown Mycoplasma species which caused false positive results in a Mycoplasma meleagridis -specific PCR, was isolated from a tracheal swab of a clinically healthy, captive, adult peregrine falcon (Falco peregrinus). The isolate appeared in typical fried-egg-shaped colonies on SP4 agar plates and was dependent on sterol for growth. Acid was produced from glucose, but no arginine or urea was hydrolysed. The temperature range for growth was 28–44 °C, with an optimum at 37 °C. Strain M26T was serologically distinct from all species of the genus Mycoplasma with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity ≥94 %. Biochemical, serological and molecular biological properties demonstrate that this organism represents a novel species of the genus Mycoplasma , for which the name Mycoplasma hafezii sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is M26T (NCTC 13928, DSM 27652).

Pandoraea species have been isolated from diverse environmental samples and are emerging important respiratory pathogens, particularly in people with cystic fibrosis (CF). In the present study, two bacterial isolates initially recovered from consecutive sputum samples collected from a CF patient and identified as Pandoraea pnomenusa underwent a polyphasic taxonomic analysis. The isolates were found to be Gram-negative, facultative anaerobic motile bacilli and subsequently designated as strains 6399T (=LMG29626T=DSM103228T) and 7641 (=LMG29627=DSM103229), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences revealed that 6399T and 7641 formed a distinct phylogenetic lineage within the genus Pandoraea . Genome sequence comparison analysis indicated that strains 6399T and 7641 are clonal and share 100 % similarity, however, similarity to other type strains (ANIb 73.2–88.8 %, ANIm 83.5–89.9 % and OrthoANI 83.2–89.3 %) indicates that 6399T and 7641 do not belong to any of the reported type species. The major cellular fatty acids of 6399T were C_16 : 0 (32.1 %) C_17 : 0cyclo (18.7 %) and C_18 : 1ω7c (14.5 %), while Q-8 was the only respiratory quinone detected. The major polar lipids identified were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content of 6399T was 62.9 (mol%). Strain 6399T can be differentiated from other members of Pandoraea by the absence of C_19 : 0ω8c cyclo and by the presence of C_17 : 0ω8c cyclo. Together our data show that the bacterial strains 6399T and 7641 represent a novel species of the genus Pandoraea , for which the name Pandoraea fibrosis sp. nov. is proposed (type strain 6399T).

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated strain HR-AST, was isolated from a water sample of the Han River located in the Republic of Korea. Cells were motile rods with a polar flagellum. Growth was observed at 5–35 °C (optimum of 25 °C) and pH 6–8 (optimum of pH 7) and in the presence of 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum of 0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HR-AST formed a tight phylogenic lineage with Zavarzinia compransoris LMG 5821T. Strain HR-AST was most closely related to Z. compransoris LMG 5821T with a 98.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and had very low similarities (below 91.0 %) to other type strains with validly published names. Average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain HR-AST and Z. compransoris DSM 1231T were 80.4 and 23.1 %, respectively. Strain HR-AST contained ubiquinone-10 as the major quinone and homospermidine and putrescine as the major polyamines. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1  ω6c and/or C_18 : 1  ω7c), C_16 : 0 and C_18 : 1 2-OH. Strain HR-AST contained diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids as major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain HR-AST was 67.2 mol%. Based on the genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses, strain HR-AST represents a novel species of the genus Zavarzinia , for which the name Zavarzinia aquatilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HR-AST (=KACC 19412T=JCM 32263T).

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacteria, MEX20-17T and MEX47-22T, were isolated from the digestive system of Heterorhabditis atacamensis and Heterorhabditis mexicana entomopathogenic nematodes, respectively. Their 16S rRNA gene sequences suggest that strains MEX20-17T and MEX47-22T belong to the γ-Proteobacteria and to the genus Photorhabdus . Deeper analyses using housekeeping-gene-based and whole-genome-based phylogenetic reconstruction suggest that MEX20-17T is closely related to Photorhabdus khanii and that MEX47-22T is closely related to Photorhabdus luminescens . Sequence similarity scores confirm these observations: MEX20-17T and P. khanii DSM 3369T share 98.9 % nucleotide sequence identity (NSI) of concatenated housekeeping genes, 70.4 % in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) and 97 % orthologous average nucleotide identity (orthoANI); and MEX47-22T and P. luminescens ATCC 29999T share 98.9 % NSI, 70.6 % isDDH and 97 % orthoANI. Physiological characterization indicates that both strains differ from all validly described Photorhabdus species and from their more closely related taxa. We therefore propose to classify MEX20-17T and MEXT47-22T as new subspecies within P. khanii and P. luminescens , respectively. Hence, the following names are proposed for these strains: Photorhabdus khanii subsp. guanajuatensis subsp. nov. with the type strain MEX20-17T (=LMG 30372T=CCOS 1191T) and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. mexicana subsp. nov. with the type strain MEX47-22T (=LMG 30528T=CCOS 1199T). These propositions automatically create Photorhabdus khanii subsp. khanii subsp. nov. with DSM 3369T as the type strain (currently classified as P. khanii ), and Photorhabdus luminescens subsp. luminescens subsp. nov. with ATCC 29999T as the type strain (currently classified as P. luminescens ).

A chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing, diazotrophic, facultatively heterotrophic, endosymbiotic bacterium, designated as strain 2141T, was isolated from the gills of the giant shipworm Kuphus polythalamius (Teredinidae: Bivalvia). Based on its 16S rRNA sequence, the endosymbiont falls within a clade that includes the as-yet-uncultivated thioautotrophic symbionts of a marine ciliate and hydrothermal vent gastropods, uncultivated marine sediment bacteria, and a free-living sulfur-oxidizing bacterium ODIII6, all of which belong to the Gammaproteobacteria. The endosymbiont is Gram-negative, rod-shaped and has a single polar flagellum when grown in culture. This bacterium can be grown chemolithoautotrophically on a chemically defined medium supplemented with either hydrogen sulfide, thiosulfate, tetrathionate or elemental sulfur. The closed-circular genome has a DNA G+C content of 60.1 mol% and is 4.79 Mbp in size with a large nitrogenase cluster spanning nearly 40 kbp. The diazotrophic capability was confirmed by growing the strain on chemolithoautotrophic thiosulfate-based medium without a combined source of fixed nitrogen. The bacterium is also capable of heterotrophic growth on organic acids such as acetate and propionate. The pH, temperature and salinity optima for chemolithoautotrophic growth on thiosulfate were found to be 8.5, 34 °C and 0.2 M NaCl, respectively. To our knowledge, this is the first report of pure culture of a thioautotrophic animal symbiont. The type strain of Thiosocius teredinicola is PMS-2141T.STBD.0c.01aT (=DSM 108030T).

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated c27j1T, was isolated from a forest soil sample from the Chebaling National Nature Reserve in Guangdong Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain c27j1T belongs to the genus Microvirga and was most closely related to Microvirga aerophila DSM 21344T (97.7 %) and Microvirga subterranea DSM 14364T (96.7 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values based on whole genome sequences of strain c27j1 T and M. aerophila DSM 21344T were 77.2 and 22.4 %, respectively. It contained ubiquinone 10 as the predominant quinone, and C_19 : 0 cycloω8c and summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1ω7c and/or C_18 : 1ω6c) as the major fatty acids. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified glycolipids. The genomic DNA G+C content based on the whole genome sequence was 62.2 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic analyses suggested that strain c27j1T should represent a novel species of the genus Microvirga , for which the name Microvirga flavescens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is c27j1T (=GDMCC 1.1356T=KCTC 62433T). The description of the genus Microvirga is also emended, including the major fatty acids, genome size and DNA G+C content.

The genus Dickeya is an important group of plant pathogens that currently comprises eight recognized species. Although most Dickeya isolates originated from infected cultivated plants, they have also been repeatedly isolated from water. To better understand the natural diversity of Dickeya , a survey was performed in small lakes surrounded by wetlands in the French region of La Dombes. Several Dickeya isolates were obtained from water or plants from lakes protected from direct agricultural inputs. Sequencing of the gapA gene revealed that five isolates, S12, S15, S24, S29T and S39, belong to a phylogenetic group separated from other Dickeya species. The genomic sequence of strain S29T clearly established its separation from the other known Dickeya species. The in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values (<33 and <88 %, respectively) obtained by comparing strain S29T with strains of characterized Dickeya species supported the delineation of a novel species. The closest species to strain S29T is Dickeya aquatica , previously isolated from rivers, suggesting that these strains have a common ancestor adapted to a water environment. Genomic and phenotypic comparisons enabled the identification of traits distinguishing isolates S12, S15, S24, S29T and S39 from D. aquatica and from other Dickeya species. The name Dickeya lacustris sp. nov. is proposed for this taxon with S29T (=CFBP 8647T=LMG 30899T) as the type strain.

Enterobacter strains 090008T and 090028T were recovered from the blood of two different patients at West China Hospital, Chengdu, PR China in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and multi-locus sequence analysis of the rpoB, gyrB, infB and atpD housekeeping genes revealed that the two strains were distinct from any previously known species of the genus Enterobacter . Both average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) values between strains 090008T, 090028T and type strains of all known Enterobacter species were lower than the cut-off (≥95–96 % for ANI and ≥70 % for isDDH) to define a bacterial species. The major cellular fatty acids of strains 090008T and 090028T are C_16 : 0, C_17 : 0cyclo and C_18 : 1ω7c, which are similar to other Enterobacter species, and the genomic DNA G+C content was 55.73 and 55.68 mol%, respectively. Strain 090008T can be differentiated from other Enterobacter species by its ability to ferment sucrose, melibiose and d-arabitol, but with a negative methyl α-d-mannopyranoside reaction. Strain 090028T can ferment potassium gluconate, but is negative for l-fucose, mdecarboxylase, deaminase aelibiose and d-sorbitol, which distinguishes it from all other Enterobacter species. Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics indicate that strains 090008T and 090028T represent two novel species of the genus Enterobacter , for which the names Enterobacter huaxiensis sp. nov. and Enterobacter chuandaensis sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strain of Enterobacter huaxiensis sp. nov. is 090008T (=GDMCC1.1426T=CCTCC AB 2018174T=CNCTC 7648T) and the type strain of Enterobacter chuandaensis sp. nov. is 090028T (=GDMCC1.1427T=CCTCC AB 2018173T=CNCTC 7649T).

An arsenic-resistant strain, CB3T, was isolated from arsenic-rich aquifers at the Jianghan Plain in Hubei, China. Phylogenetic and biochemical analysis suggested that it should represent a new species of the genus Pseudaminobacter in the family Phyllobacteriaceae. The 16S rRNA gene of CB3T shared the highest sequence similarities to those of the type strains Pseudaminobacter defluvii THI 051T (97.8 % identity) and Pseudaminobacter salicylatoxidans BN12T (97.4 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values of CB3T with respect to strains belonging to the genus Pseudaminobacter were less than 70 %. The fatty acid profile of CB3T consisted of C_16 : 0, cyclo-C_19 : 0 ω8c and summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1 ω7c and/or C_18 : 1 ω6c) as major components. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine and diphosphatidylglycerol. The DNA G+C content was 61.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain CB3T was distinct from previously described Pseudaminobacter species. Therefore, we propose that strain CB3T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudaminobacter, Pseudaminobacter arsenicus sp. nov., strain CB3T (=CCTCC AB2016116T=KCTC 52625T) is designated as the type strain.

A bacterial strain, designated HHTR 118T, was isolated from a culture of the green alga Ulvaprolifera obtained from offshore seawater of Qingdao, Shandong Province, China. Cells of strain HHTR 118T were rod-shaped and motile with a single flagellum, and approximately 0.3–0.4 µm wide and 0.8–1.4 µm long. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. Optimal growth was observed at 30 °C, at pH 8.0 and with 1 % (w/v) NaCl. Nitrate was not reduced. Sucrose, sodium citrate and l-leucine stimulated growth, but not lactose, fructose, xylose, d-mannose, glucose, raffinose, rhamnose, ornithine or lysine. The DNA G+C content of strain HHTR 118T calculated on the basis of the genome sequence was 64.9 mol% and the genome size is 4.6 Mbp. The major quinone was ubiquinone 10 and the predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) were summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1ω6c and/or C_18 : 1ω7c). The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, demonstrated that strain HHTR 118T was affiliated with the family Rhodospirillaceae . On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence data as well as physiological and biochemical characteristics, we concluded that strain HHTR 118T represents a novel species of a novel genus. We propose the name of Algihabitans albus gen. nov., sp. nov. for this novel species. The type strain of the novel species is strain HHTR 118T (=KCTC 62395T=MCCC 1K03486T).

A Gram-stain-negative, motile with single polar flagellum, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain DSL-35T, was isolated from the location where the ocean and Dishui lake meet at Shanghai on the East China Sea and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. Optimal growth occurred at 35 °C (range, 4–40 °C), pH 8 pH 5–11) and with 3–4 % (w/v) NaCl (0–12 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain DSL-35T was related to members of the genus Marinomonas and shared the highest sequence identities with Marinomonas arctica 328T (98.0 %), Marinomonas hwangdonensis HDW-15T (97.5 %) and Marinomonas rhizomae IVIA-Po-145T (97.2 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence identities between strain DSL-35T and other members of the genus Marinomonas were below 96.8 %. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain DSL-35T and the three type strains, Marinomonas . arctica 328T, M. rhizomae HDW-15T and M. rhizomae IVIA-Po-145T, were 30.9±2.4 %, 21.7±2.2% and 22±2.3 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between strain DSL-35T and the three type strains were 87.6 %, 84.6 and 84.2 %, respectively. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain DSL-35T were summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or C_16 : 1ω6c; 40.0 %), C_16 : 0 (22.5 %), summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1ω7c and/or C_18 : 1ω6c; 11.2 %), summed feature 2 (C_14 : 0 3-OH and/or iso I C_16 : 1; 7.2 %), C_14 : 0 (6.8 %) and C_12 : 0 (5.2 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 44.5 mol%. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicated that strain DSL-35T represents a novel species of the genus Marinomonas , for which the name Marinomonas shanghaiensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain DSL-35T (=KCTC 62646T=MCCC 1K03535T).

A sulfur-oxidizing, filamentous, gliding micro-organism, strain D3T, was isolated from a sulfidic spring in Goryachy Klyuch, Krasnodar, Russia. The cell walls were Gram-negative. The new isolate was a microaerophilic facultative anaerobe and an obligate chemolithoautotroph. The pH range for growth was pH 6.8–7.6, with an optimum at pH 7.2. The temperature range for growth was 10–46 °C, with an optimum at 32 °C. The G+C content of DNA was 42.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain D3T belongs to the family Beggiatoaceae , order Thiotrichales and was distantly related to the genera of the family Beggiatoaceae (86–88 % sequence similarity). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-6. Major fatty acids were C_18:1 ω7 (37.6 %), C_16 : 0 (34.7 %) and C_{16: 1} ω7 (27.7 %). On the basis of its physiological properties and the results of phylogenetic analysis, strain D3T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Thioflexithrix psekupsensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D3T (=KCTC 62399=UNIQEM U981).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped strain, YLB-05T, was isolated from a sample of deep-sea sediment (depth, 6796 m) from the Yap Trench. It was motile, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive. Growth was observed at salinities of 1–12 % (NaCl, w/v), with the optimum at 5 %. The strain was able to thrive at low (4 °C) temperatures, with the optimum at 37 °C, but did not grow at 50 °C. The optimum pressure for growth was 0.1 MPa with tolerance up to 50 MPa. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that YLB-05T was most closely related to Marinomonas communis LMG 2864T (97.8 %). Phylogenetic analysis placed strain YLB-05T within the genus Marinomonas . The average nucleotide identity and the DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain YLB-05T and closely related type strains were below the respective thresholds for species differentiation. The principal fatty acids were C_16 : 0, summed feature 8 (C_18 : 1  ω7c and/or C_18 : 1  ω6c) and summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c/_C16 : 1  ω6c). The DNA G+C content was 45.7 mol%. The respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-8. The polar lipids were an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain YLB-05T represents a novel species within the genus Marinomonas , for which the name Marinomonas piezotolerans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YLB-05T (=MCCC 1A12712T=KCTC 62812T).

This work aimed to establish the taxonomic status of six strains (A212-S19-A16T, A127-S21-F16, A105-S21-F16, A104-S21-F16, A101-S19-F16 and A35-S23-M15) isolated from three different waterways in 2015 and 2016 in south-east France. Amplification and sequencing of the gapA housekeeping gene clustered these six strains together inside the genus Pectobacterium outside of already described or proposed Pectobacterium species and supspecies. Phenotypic analysis, using GENIII Biolog plates performed with strains A212-S19-A16T, A105-S21-F16, A101-S19-F16 and the closely related Pectobacterium polaris (CFBP 1403), Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. odoriferum (CFBP 1878T), ‘ Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. actinidiae’ (CFBP 7370), Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. carotovorum (CFBP 2046T), ‘ Pectobacterium carotovorum subsp. brasiliense ’ (CFBP 6617) or the most distantly related Pectobacterium aroidearum (CFBP 8168T) failed to identify specific compounds metabolized by these three strains, but weak activity was specifically observed at pH 5 with these three strains. Illumina sequencing was used to sequence these six strains. Based on phylogenetic data, average nucleotide identity values and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization results, strains A212-S19-A16T, A127-S21-F16, A105-S21-F16, A101-S19-F16, A35-S23-M15 and A104-S21-F16 are suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Pectobacterium , for which the name Pectobacterium aquaticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A212-S19-A16 T (=CFBP 8637T=NCPPB 4640T).

A non-spore-forming, motile, Gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped strain, designated HN4T, was isolated from a paddy soil sample collected in Shanghai, China. A comparative analysis o-f 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HN4T fell within the genus Falsochrobactrum , forming a clear cluster with the type strain of Falsochrobactrum ovis , with which it exhibited a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity value of 98.2 %. Strain HN4T grew optimally at pH 7.0, 30–35 °C and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl. It was positive for oxidase activity. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that strain HN4T contained ubiquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone and possessed summed feature 8(C_18 : 1ω7c and/or C_18 : 1ω6c) and C_19 : 0cyclo ω8c as predominant fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The DNA G+C content was 56.9 mol%. Strain HN4T exhibited a DNA–DNA relatedness level of 18±1 % with Falsochrobactrum ovis CCM 8460T. Based on the data obtained in this study, strain HN4T represents a novel species of the genus Falsochrobactrum , for which the name Falsochrobactrum shanghaiense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HN4T (=JCM 32785T=CCTCC AB 2018063T).

A facultatively anaerobic and Gram-negative bacterium, designated strain PLHSC7-2T, was isolated from the gut of sea cucumber Apostichopusjaponicus that had been collected from the coastal area of Yantai, China. The cells were rod-shaped and motile by means of polar flagella. The novel isolate grew optimally at 28–30 °C, in the presence of 2.0–3.0 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0–7.5. The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8 and the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or C_16 : 1ω6c), C_16 : 0 and C_17 : 0. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PLHSC7-2T was phylogenetically affiliated with the genus Motilimonas , and exhibited sequence similarity of 96.2 % to Motilimonas eburnea YH6T. The DNA G+C content was 45.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic , phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, strain PLHSC7-2T (=MCCC 1K03522T=KCTC 62589T) was classified as a novel species within the genus Motilimonas , for which the name Motilimonas pumila sp. nov. is proposed.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, coccus-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated M2BS4Y-1T, was isolated from a surface-sterilized leaf of Acrostichum aureum collected from Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, China and investigated by a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. Strain M2BS4Y-1T grew optimally with 1 % (w/v) NaCl, at 30 °C and at pH 7.0–8.0. Substrate mycelia and aerial mycelia were not formed, and no diffusible pigments were observed on the media tested. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain M2BS4Y-1T was most closely related to species of the genus Aureimonas , and shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.79 % to Aureimonas phyllosphaerae DSM 25026T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) values between strain M2BS4Y-1T and A. phyllosphaerae DSM 25026T were 83.7 % and 26.5 %, respectively. The ANI and DDH values were below the recommended thresholds. The DNA G+C content of strain M2BS4Y-1T was 70.0 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminobutyric acid and ubiquinone Q-10 was the respiratory lipoquinone. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol, two unknown aminolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified lipids, while the major fatty acids were C_18 : 1ω7c and C_16 : 0. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotyptic data, strain M2BS4Y-1T can be characterized to represent a novel species of the genus Aureimonas , for which the name Aureimonas flava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M2BS4Y-1T (=KCTC 62837T=CGMCC 1.13747T).

Eight swarming motile bacteria were isolated from food and clinical samples in China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped (0.5-0.8×1.0-3.0 μm) with hairlike pili and flagella. The 16S rRNA and partial rpoB housekeeping gene sequence analyses indicated that the strains belong to the genus Proteus in the family Enterobacteriaceae . Of the eight strains studied, seven and a single isolate formed two separate clades in the phylogeny of Proteus species, indicating two separate species. Both the in silico DNA–DNA hybridization and the average nucleotide identity values between these two groups and to the type strains of the genus Proteus were below the recommended threshold for signifying their candidature as two separate species. The DNA G+C contents of strains TJ1636T and FJ2001126-3T were 37.8 and 38.1 mol%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of the two novel type strains were C_16:0, cyclo C_17:0, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. The results supported that the strains belong to different taxonomic positions in the genus Proteus . The isolates were named Proteus faecis sp. nov., with type strain TJ1636T (=DSM 106180T=GDMCC 1.1245T), and Proteus cibi sp. nov., with type strain FJ2001126-3T (=DSM 106178T =GDMCC 1.1244T).