- Volume 69, Issue 4, 2019

The World Federation of Culture Collections and the World Data Center for Microorganisms (wdcm) initiated an international community-led project to sequence and annotate newly described prokaryotic taxa. This sequencing project aims to cooperate with international culture collections and the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology and contribute to the expansion of whole genome sequencing databases for type strains. It will provide global microbial taxonomists with free standard genome sequencing and annotation services. Taxonomists are encouraged to contact the wdcm and participant culture collections to submit a type strain sequencing proposal.

A strictly anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non motile and non-spore-forming rod-shaped bacterium, strain Marseille-P2666T, was isolated using the culturomics approach from a vaginal sample of a French patient suffering from bacterial vaginosis. Cells were saccharolytic and were negative for catalase, oxidase, urease, nitrate reduction, indole production, hydrolysis of aesculin and gelatin. Strain Marseille-P2666T exhibited 97.04 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity to   Collinsella tanakaei   type strain YIT 12063T, the phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature. The major fatty acids were C18:1ω9 (38 %), C16 : 0 (24 %) and C18 : 0 (19 %). The G+C content of the genome sequence of strain Marseille-P2666T is 64.6 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic features, strain Marseille-P2666T (=CSUR 2666T=DSM103342T) was classified as type strain of a novel species within the genus   Collinsella   for which the name Collinsella vaginalis sp. nov. is proposed.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-TCZ24T, was isolated from soil and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the organism should be assigned to the genus Cellulomonas and formed a stable clade with its closest relatives Cellulomonas terrae JCM 14899T (98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Cellulomonas xylanilytica JCM 14281T (97.9 %) and Cellulomonas humilata JCM 11945T (97.7 %). The major menaquinones were identified as MK-9(H4) and MK-8(H4). The phospholipid profile was found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositolmannoside, a ninhydrin-positiveglycolipid, an unidentified phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C15 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Moreover, morphological and chemotaxonomic properties of NEAU-TCZ24T also confirmed the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Cellulomonas . However, multilocus sequence analysis based on five other house-keeping genes (gyrB, rpoB, recA, relA and atpD), DNA–DNA relatedness, physiological and biochemical data indicated that NEAU-TCZ24T could be distinguished from its closest relatives. Therefore, it is proposed that NEAU-TCZ24T represents a novel species of the genus Cellulomonas , for which the name Cellulomonas rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-TCZ24T (=CCTCC AA 2018042T=JCM 32383T).

A novel Streptomyces strain, ZFG47T, isolated from a cadmium-contaminated soil sample, was taxonomically studied in detail. Strain ZFG47T formed long, flexuous spiral spore chains consisting of elliptoid spores with spiny surfaces. The cell-wall hydrolysates contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The major menaquinones consisted of MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H8). The major polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol mannosides. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis indicated that this strain belongs to the genus Streptomyces , showing the highest sequence similarity to Streptomyces koyangensis VK-A60T (98.7 %). However, the digital DNA–DNA hybridization value, the average nucleotide identity value and the MLSA evolutionary distance between this strain and S. koyangensis VK-A60T showed that it belonged to a distinct species. Furthermore, the novel isolate could be distinctly differentiated from S. koyangensis VK-A60T by morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics. On the basis of the evidence from this polyphasic study, it is concluded that strain ZFG47T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces cadmiisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with strain ZFG47T (CICC 11050T=JCM 32897T) as the type strain.

The taxonomic position of strain 15-057AT, an acidophilic actinobacterium isolated from the bronchial lavage of an 80-year-old male, was determined using a polyphasic approach incorporating morphological, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic analyses. Pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities calculated using the GGDC web server between strain 15-057AT and its closest phylogenetic neighbours, Streptomyces griseoplanus NBRC 12779T and Streptacidiphilus oryzae TH49T, were 99.7 and 97.6 %, respectively. The G+C content of isolate 15-057AT was determined to be 72.6 mol%. DNA–DNA relatedness and average nucleotide identity between isolate 15-057AT and Streptomyces griseoplanus DSM 40009T were 29.2±2.5 % and 85.97 %, respectively. Chemotaxonomic features of isolate 15-057AT were consistent with its assignment within the genus Streptacidiphilus : the whole-cell hydrolysate contained ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid and glucose, mannose and ribose as cell-wall sugars; the major menaquinone was MK9(H8); the polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, glycophospholipid, aminoglycophospholipid and an unknown lipid; the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. Phenotypic and morphological traits distinguished isolate 15-057AT from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. The results of our taxonomic analyses showed that strain 15-057AT represents a novel species within the evolutionary radiation of the genus Streptacidiphilus , for which the name Streptacidiphilus bronchialis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 15-057AT (=DSM 106435T=ATCC BAA-2934T).

The species Arthrobacter endophyticus is phylogenetically placed within the Glutamicibacter clade and shares 97.3–98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the species of this genus. The quinone system with the major menaquinone MK-9 and the peptidoglycan amino acids alanine, glutamic acid and lysine are consistent with the characteristics of the members of the genus Glutamicibacter but the polar lipid profile with phosphatidylinositol distinguishes A. endophyticus from species of the genus Glutamicibacter . Re-analysis of both peptidoglycan structure and polar lipid profile revealed peptidoglycan type l-Lys–l-Ala–l-Glu (A11.35) and a polar lipid profile lacking phosphatidylinositol. These traits are consistent with those of representatives of the genus Glutamicibacter and distinguish A. endophyticus from members of the genus Arthrobacter sensu stricto. Due to its phylogenetic position and congruence with the key characteristics of members of the genus Glutamicibacter we here propose the reclassification of Arthrobacter endophyticus as a species of the genus Glutamicibacter , Glutamicibacter endophyticus comb. nov. (EGI 6500322T=DSM 28750T=KCTC 29490T=JCM 30091T).

In 2016, division of the genus Propionibacterium into four distinct genera was proposed. As a consequence, the species Propionibacterium acnes was transferred to Cutibacterium gen. nov. as Cutibacterium acnes comb. nov. The three recently proposed subspecies of P. acnes were not, however, accommodated in this proposal. Following a very recent validation of a new combination for C. acnes subsp. defendens and an automatically created C. acnes subsp. acnes , we now propose the new combination, C. acnes subsp. elongatum comb. nov. The type strain of Cutibacterium acnes subsp. elongatum is JCM 18919T (=NCTC 13655T). On the basis of further genomic and phenotypic (haemolysis and MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry) analyses of these subspecies, we also provide emended descriptions of the genus Cutibacterium Scholz and Kilian 2016, C. acnes subsp. acnes (Gilchrist 1900) Nouioui et al. 2018, and C. acnes subsp. defendens (McDowell et al. 2016) Nouioui et al. 2018.

Two novel aerobic, Gram-staining-positive and non-spore-forming bacterial strains, 194T and S1194, were isolated from faeces of Tibetan antelopes sampled at the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau of China. The strains were able to grow in medium up to 10 % NaCl, similar to the NaCl-resistant property of the genus Salinibacterium members. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strains showed the highest similarity to Salinibacterium xinjiangense(98.1–98.2 %), and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains 194T and S1194 represent a new lineage. The DNA G+C contents of strain 194T and S1194 are 64.1 and 64.2 mol%. Their genomes exhibit less than 96 % average nucleotide identity and 70 % DNA–DNA relatedness to known species of Salinibacterium . Strains 194T and S1194 are unable to utilize d-mannose or produce naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase. The two strains had anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 as major fatty acids, and their cell walls contained lysine, alanine, glycine and glutamic acid. The predominant menaquinones identified were MK-11 and MK-10, with diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids. Overall, the major cellular content profiles of 194T agreed with those of Salinibacterium xinjiangense and Salinibacterium amurskyense, though the proportions were distinct. Based on genotypic, phenotypic and biochemical analyses, the novel species Salinibacterium hongtaonis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 194T (=CGMCC 1.16371T=DSM 106171T).

Strains 449T and 622 are both aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, short, rod-shaped bacilli that were recently isolated from the faeces of Tibetan antelopes on the Qinghai–Tibet Plateau in China. Their 16S rRNA gene sequences were most similar to those of Mycetocola zhadangensis ZD1-4T(97.9–98.0 %) and Mycetocola miduiensis CGMCC 1.11101T(97.3–97.4 %). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences further suggested that strains 449T and 622 represent a new lineage within the genus Mycetocola . The G+C content of strain 449T is 64.9 mol%. Optimal growth was achieved at pH 7.0 and 28 °C. Cells contained anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acid, MK-10 and MK-11 as predominant menaquinones, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids, and lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The DNA–DNA hybridization values of strains 449T and 622 were below the 70 % cut-off with respect to known strains of the genus Mycetocola . Based on these genotypic, phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, it seems rational to conclude that strains 449T and 622 belong to the genus Mycetocola and thus represent a novel species, for which the name Mycetocola zhujimingii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 449T (=CGMCC 1.16372T=DSM 106173T).

Previous analyses based on 16S rRNA and hsp60 genes indicated that Parolsenella catena and Libanicoccus massiliensis were closely related to each other and formed a monophyletic cluster independent of the related Olsenella species. To clarify the relationship of these two species, we determined the genome sequence of P. catena JCM 31932T and compared it with that already sequenced for L. massiliensis Marseille-P3237T. Phylogenetic trees based on the concatenated 37 single-copy ribosomal proteins or RpoB robustly supported the relationship observed in the previous studies. Digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between P. catena JCM 31932T and L. massiliensis Marseille-P3237T were 32.6 and 87.8 %, respectively, indicating that P. catena JCM 31932T and L. massiliensis Marseille-P3237T are independent species. Alignment fraction and ANI values between the two genomes were 0.75 and 88.84 %, respectively, thus indicating that the two species should be classified into the same genus. The number of putative orthologous genes shared between the two genomes was 1321, which was significantly larger than those (482–928) reported between L. massiliensis Marseille-P3237T and other closely related species. In addition, the genome of P. catena JCM 31932T had a high degree of synteny conservation with that of L. massiliensis Marseille-P3237T. On the basis of these findings, we propose that L. massiliensis should be reclassified as Parolsenella massiliensis comb. nov.; the type strain is Marseille-P3237T (=JCM 33000T=CCUG 71182T).

A novel actinobacterium, designated HIsM16-52T, was isolated from beach sand collected from Ishigaki Island in Japan and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic approach. Strain HIsM16-52T contained both lysine and ornithine as the diagnostic diamino acids of the peptidoglycan. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H4) and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and C14 : 0. The detected polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 73.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain HIsM16-52T fell within the cluster of the family Beutenbergiaceae and formed a reliable cluster with the members of the genus Serinibacter . The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were obtained to species of the genus Serinibacter (97.8–97.9 %), followed by the genera Miniimonas (97.0 %), Beutenbergia (96.4 %) and Salana (95.9 %). However, strain HIsM16-52T differed from the members of the genus Serinibacter and the other genera within the family Beutenbergiaceae in terms of chemotaxonomic characteristics. Therefore, strain HIsM16-52T is concluded to represent a novel genus and species of the family Beutenbergiaceae , for which the name Litorihabitans aurantiacus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of L. aurantiacus is HIsM16-52T (=NBRC 112290T=TBRC 7759T).

A novel marine actinomycete, designated LHW63021T, was isolated from a marine sponge, genus Craniella, collected in the South China Sea. A polyphasic approach was applied to characterize the taxonomic position of this strain. The strain was found to have scarce aerial mycelia that differentiated into spore chains. The cell-wall hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. Glucose, galactose, mannose and madurose were found in the whole-cell hydrolysates. The dominant polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol and diphosphatidylglycerol. MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8) were the predominant menaquinones. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C18 : 0, 10-methyl C17 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9c. The DNA G+C content based on the draft genome sequence was 72.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain LHW63021T was a member of the genus Actinomadura and had the highest similarity to Actinomadura echinospora DSM 43163T (97.3 %). Phylogenetic trees supported their close relationship. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between the whole genome sequences of strain LHW63021T and A. echinospora DSM 43163T were 79.13 and 23.20 %, respectively. The evidence from the polyphasic study shows that strain LHW63021T represents a novel species of the genus Actinomadura , for which the name Actinomadura craniellae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LHW63021T (=DSM 106125T=CCTCC AA 2018015T).

A novel hydrogenotrophic methanogen, strain HHBT, was isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent chimney sample collected from Beebe Vent Field at the Mid-Cayman Spreading Center, Caribbean Sea. The cells were non-motile regular to irregular cocci possessing several flagella. The novel isolate grew at 60–80 °C, pH 5.0–7.4 and with 1–4 % of NaCl (w/v). The isolate utilized H2/CO2 as the only substrates for growth and methane production. The results of phylogenetic analyses of both 16S rRNA and mcrA gene sequences and comparative genome analysis indicated that HHBT represented a member of the order Methanococcales , and was closely related to the members of the genera Methanothermococcus and Methanotorris . The most closely related species were Methanothermococcus okinawensis IH1T and Methanotorris igneus Kol 5T in comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences (each with 93 % identity), and Methanotorris formicicus Mc-S-70T in the case of deduced amino acid sequence similarity of mcrA genes (92 % similarity). The ANI and AAI values between HHBT and the members of the genera Methanothermococcus and Methanotorris were 69–72 % and 66–70 %, respectively. Although many of the morphological and physiological characteristics were quite similar between HHBT and the species of the genera Methanothermococcus and Methanotorris , they were distinguishable by the differences in susceptibility to antibiotics, formate utilization, growth temperature and NaCl ranges. On the basis of these phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic properties, we propose that strain HHBT represents a novel species, of a novel genus, Methanofervidicoccus abyssi gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is HHBT (=JCM 32161T=DSM 105918T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterium, designated K20C18050901T, was isolated from forest soil collected on 11 September 2017 from Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China (23° 10′ 24′′ N; 112° 32′ 10′′ E). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain K20C18050901T belongs to the genus Chitinophaga , and showed the highest similarities to Chitinophaga sancti NBRC 15057T (98.6 %) and Chitinophaga oryziterrae JCM 16595T (96.9 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The draft genome size of strain K20C18050901T was 8.36 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 44.7 mol%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain K20C18050901T and C. sancti NBRC 15057T were 31.40 and 85.82 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analysis, strain K20C18050901T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga silvisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K20C18050901T (=GDMCC 1.1411T=KCTC 62860T).

A novel cherry-red-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, gliding, facultatively anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain WTE16T, was isolated from a sediment sample taken from a marine solar saltern of Wendeng, China (36° 59′ 56.49′′ N 122° 1′ 38.84′′ E). The novel isolate was able to grow at 20–40 °C (optimum 33 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 1.0–12.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0–5.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the most closely related validly published species is Marinilabilia salmonicolor JCM 21150T (96.0 % similarity). Average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity, percentage of conserved proteins and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain WTE16T and Marinilabilia salmonicolor JCM 21150T were 73.8 %, 73.5 %, 63.4 % and 19.5–24.2 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain WTE16T was 40.8 mol%. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the sole respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7), and the major fatty acids included iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile of strain WTE16T included phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified lipids. On the basis of its phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and genomic characteristics, strain WTE16T is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Marinilabilia , for which the name Marinilabilia rubra sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WTE16T (=KCTC 62599T=MCCC 1H00311T).

A bacterial strain, designated N-1-3-6T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the arctic regions. The cells were short rods, Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive. Growth was observed with 0–12 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth at 0.5–2 %, and at pH 6.0–9.0, with optimum of pH 7.0, and a growth temperature of 10–45 °C, with an optimum of 28–37 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene placed N-1-3-6T in the genus Sinomicrobium with the closest relative being Sinomicrobium pectinilyticum 5DNS001T, exhibiting 95.3 % 16S rRNA pairwise similarity. A polyphasic taxonomic study, including phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular analyses, was performed to clarify its taxonomic position. N-1-3-6T contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone. Polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and several unidentified aminolipids, phospholipids and lipids. The principal fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0 (26.9 %), summed feature 3 [C16 : ω7c/ω6c (17.2 %)] and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (14.7 %). The DNA G+C content of N-1-3-6T was 47.7 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain N-1-3-6T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Sinomicrobium , for which the name Sinomicrobium soli sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain N-1-3-6T (=MCCC 1A06047T=KCTC 52339T).

A yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated F-4T, was isolated from a farmland soil sample from Qianshan, Anhui province, China. Strain F-4T was Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, oval-shaped, motile (by gliding) and non-spore-forming. Growth occurred at 20–35 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0–8.0 (pH 7.0) and with 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl (0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain F-4T belonged to the genus Taibaiella . 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values between strain F-4T and the type strains of the three recognized species of the genus Taibaiella , Taibaiella koreensis KACC 17171T, Taibaiella soli KCTC 42277T and Taibaiella chishuiensis JCM 19637T, were 98.1, 96.4 and 95.9 %, respectively. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7, with MK-8 as a minor component. The major polar lipids of strain F-4T were three unidentified lipids, two unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA based on total genome calculations was 51.3 mol%. The major polyamine of strain F-4T was homospermidine. The average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values for draft genomes between strain F-4T and strain THG-DT86T were 79.8 and 22.6 %, respectively. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data presented here, strain F-4T represents a novel species of the genus Taibaiella , for which the name Taibaiella helva sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is F-4T (=KCTC 62442T=CGMCC 1.13562T).