- Volume 69, Issue 8, 2019

A facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and straight to slightly curved long rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated XSD2T, was isolated from coastal seawater of Xiaoshi Island, PR China. The cells were catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and non-flagellated. Strain XSD2T was found to grow at 20–40 °C (optimum, 33 °C), at pH 6.0–8.5 (pH 7.0–7.5) and with 1–5 % (w/v) NaCl (3 %). Carotenoid pigments were produced. The major cellular fatty acids (>10.0 %) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH and C17 : 1ω6c and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and three unidentified polar lipids. The sole respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the genomic DNA G+C content was 44.1 mol%. The result of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed the affiliation of this organism to the order Marinilabiliales , family Prolixibacteraceae , with Mariniphaga sediminis SY21T as its closest relative with only 93.6 % sequence similarity. On the basis of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics, we propose that strain XSD2T (=KCTC 62994T=MCCC 1H00347T) represents a novel species of a novel genus in the family Prolixibacteraceae , for which the name Maribellus luteus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

The International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes provides rules that govern the way names are to be selected based on priority of valid publication when two or more alternatives (synonyms) are available. However, these rules are not always followed. In the case of the name Caryophanaceae Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980), when its nomenclatural type Caryophanon Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980) is placed in the same taxon as Planococcus Migula 1894 (Approved Lists 1980), the nomenclatural type of Planococcaceae Krasil'nikov 1949 (Approved Lists 1980), then the two are considered to be heterotypic synonyms and the name which has priority is Caryophanaceae Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980). Similarly in the case of the name Caryophanales Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980) when its nomenclatural type Caryophanon Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980) is placed in the same taxon as Bacillus Cohn 1872 (Approved Lists 1980), the nomenclatural type of Bacillales Prévot 1953 (Approved Lists 1980), then the two are considered to be heterotypic synonyms and the name which has priority is Caryophanales Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980) While the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes are unambiguous in determining the correct names despite the fact that the names Caryophanaceae Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980) and Caryophanales Peshkoff 1939 (Approved Lists 1980) are rarely used.

Strain HBUAS52074T is a Gram-positive staining, aerobic bacterium that was isolated from Zha-Chili, a traditional fermented food made in China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain HBUAS52074T is a member of the genus Lactobacillus and closely related to Lactobacillus nantensis DSM 16982T (98.9 %), Lactobacillus heilongjiangensis DSM 28069T (98.8 %), Lactobacillus formosensis NBRC 1095009T (98.6 %), Lactobacillus futsaii JCM 17355T (98.5 %), Lactobacillus farciminis KCTC 3681T (98.5 %), Lactobacillus musae NBRC 112868T (98.5 %) and Lactobacillus crustorum LMG 23699T (98.4 %). The DNA G+C content is 36.3 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids are C16 : 0 (28.2 %), C18 : 1ω9c (30.5 %) and summed feature 7 (C19 : 1ω6c, and/or C19 : 1ω7c; 14.9 %). Average nucleotide identity and DNA–DNA hybridization (GGDC) values based on genomic comparisons between HBUAS52074T and related type species showed that the bacterium was significantly different from its closest relatives. Using polyphasic taxonomic analysis, we have shown that strain HBUAS52074T is a new species in the genus Lactobacillus , for which we propose the name Lactobacillus zhachilii sp. nov. The type strain is HBUAS52074T (=GDMCC 1.1417T=KCTC 21106T).

Strain S04009T, a Gram-stain-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococcus, was isolated from bovine mastitis in France. 16S rRNA gene analysis revealed it to be closely related to the coagulase-negative species Staphylococcus xylosus , Staphylococcus saprophyticus , Staphylococcus caeli and Staphylococcus edaphicus . At the whole-genome level, strain S04009T had an average nucleotide identity value <95 % and an inferred DNA–DNA hybridization value <70 % when compared to these species. Furthermore, phenotypic characteristics distinguished S04009T from those species. From these related species only strain S04009T and S. xylosus are able to ferment xylose and these two can be distinguished by the inability of strain S04009T to express urease activity. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic results, it is proposed that this isolate is a novel species, with the name Staphylococcus pseudoxylosus sp. nov. The type strain is S04009T (=DSM 107950T=CCUG 72763T=NCTC 14184T).

A novel type strain, designated SDB 2975T (=CECT 9737T=DSM 105892T), of the novel species Staphylococcus debuckii sp. nov. isolated from bovine milk is described. The novel species belongs to the genus Staphylococcus and showed resistance to tetracycline and was oxidase- and coagulase-negative, catalase-positive, and Gram-stain-positive. Phylogenetic relationships of Staphylococcus debuckii SDB 2975T to other staphylococcal species were inferred from 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome-based phylogenetic reconstruction. The 16S rRNA gene comparisons showed that the strain is closely related to Staphylococcus condimenti (99.73 %), Staphylococcus piscifermentans (99.66 %), Staphylococcus carnosus (99.59 %) and Staphylococcus simulans (98.03 %). Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between S.taphylococcus debuckii SDB 2975T and its closely related Staphylococcus species were 83.96, 94.5, 84.03 and 78.09 %, respectively, and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 27.70, 58.02, 27.70 and 22.00 %, respectively. The genome of Staphylococcus debuckii SDB 2975T was sequenced with PacBio and Illumina technologies and is 2 691 850 bp long, has a G+C content of 36.6 mol% and contains 2678 genes and 80 RNAs, including six copies of each5S rRNA, 16S rRNA and 23S rRNA genes. Biochemical profiling and a newly developed PCR assay enabled differentiation of Staphylococcus debuckii SDB 2975T and three other SDB strains from its closest staphylococcal species. Differentiation was also achieved by matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF). Genes unique to Staphylococcus debuckii were identified and a PCR-based assay was developed to differentiate Staphylococcus debuckii from other staphylococcal species. In conclusion, the results of phylogenetic analysis along with the ANI values <95 %, and dDDH values <70 % from closely related species along with the phenotypic and biochemical characteristics and specific MALDI-TOF profiles demonstrated that Staphylococcus debuckii SDB 2975T represents a novel species within the genus Staphylococcus , named Staphylococcus debuckii sp. nov. (SDB 2975T=CECT 9737T=DSM 105892T).

Two unusual catalase-negative, Gram-stain-positive, Vagococcus -like isolates that were referred to the CDC Streptococcus Laboratory for identification are described. Strain SS1994T was isolated from ground beef and strain SS1995T was isolated from a human foot wound. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of isolates SS1994T and SS1995T against Vagococcus type strain sequences supported their inclusion in the genus Vagococcus . Strain SS1994T showed high sequence similarity (>97.0 %) to the two most recently proposed species, Vagococcus martis (99.2 %) and Vagococcus teuberi (99.0 %) followed by Vagococcus penaei (98.8 %), strain SS1995T (98.6 %), Vagococcus carniphilus (98.0 %), Vagococcus acidifermentans (98.0 %) and Vagococcus fluvialis (97.9 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SS1995T was most similar to V. penaei (99.1 %), followed by SS1994T (98.6 %), V. martis (98.4 %), V. teuberi (98.1 %), V. acidifermentans (97.8 %), and both V. carniphilus and V. fluvialis (97.5 %). A polyphasic taxonomic study using conventional biochemical and the rapid ID 32 STREP system, MALDI-TOF MS, cell fatty acid analysis, pairwise sequence comparisons of the 16S rRNA, rpoA, rpoB, pheS and groL genes, and comparative core and whole genome sequence analyses revealed that strains SS1994T and SS1995T were two novel Vagococcus species. The novel taxonomic status of the two isolates was confirmed with core genome phylogeny, average nucleotide identity <84 % and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization <28 % to any other Vagococcus species. The names Vagococcus bubulae SS1994T=(CCUG 70831T=LMG 30164T) and Vagococcus vulneris SS1995T=(CCUG 70832T=LMG 30165T) are proposed.

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, motile, endospore-forming strain, SYSU K30001T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a cave in Xingyi county, Guizhou province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SYSU K30001T belonged to the genus Bacillus , with the highest sequence similarity to the type strain of Bacillus panaciterrae (98.1 %). Growth occurred at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0), at 28–55 °C (optimum, 28 °C) and in the presence of 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum in the absence of NaCl). Strain SYSU K30001T contained meso-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan and MK-7 as the only isoprenoid quinone present. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 1 ω10c, anteiso-C14 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0. The genome G+C content was 39.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity values between SYSU K30001T and B. panaciterrae DSM 19096T were 72.1 % (ANIb) and 83.1 % (ANIm), which were below the cut-off level (95–96 %) for species delineation. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular characterizations, strain SYSU K30001T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus , for which the name Bacillus antri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU K30001T (=KCTC 33954T=CGMCC 1.13871T).

Thirty Gram-stain-positive bacterial strains were isolated from Chinese traditional pickle. The strains were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, including 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, pheS gene sequence analysis, rpoA gene sequence analysis, fatty acid methyl ester analysis, determination of DNA G+C content, determination of average nucleotide identity (ANI), in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH), determination of average amino acid identity (AAI) and an analysis of phenotypic features. The data demonstrated that the 30 strains represented 11 novel species belonging to the genus Lactobacillus , strains 159-4T, 47-3T, 257-1T, 187-3T, 220-4T, 151-2BT, 137-3T, 244-4T, 218-10T, 218-6T and 112-3T were designated as the type strains. Strains 159-4T and 47-3T were related to the type strains of Lactobacillus porcinae , Lactobacillus manihotivorans , Lactobacillus nasuensis , Lactobacillus camelliae , Lactobacillus pantheris , Lactobacillus thailandensis , Lactobacillus sharpeae and Lactobacillus songhuajiangensis , having 92.0–98.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, 58.1–84.7 % pheS gene sequence similarities and 61.4–90.3 % rpoA gene sequence similarities. Strains 257-1T and 187-3T were related to the type strains of Lactobacillus coryniformis , Lactobacillus iwatensis , Lactobacillus backii , Lactobacillus rennini and Lactobacillus bifermentans , having 93.5–99.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, 67.7–81.8 % pheS gene sequence similarities and 77.0–96.2 % rpoA gene sequence similarities. Strains 220-4T, 151-2BT, 137-3T, 244-4T, 218-10T, 218-6T and 112-3T were closely related to the type strains of Lactobacillus paucivorans , Lactobacillus brevis , Lactobacillus hammesii , Lactobacillus senmaizukei , Lactobacillus parabrevis , Lactobacillus yonginensis , Lactobacillus koreensis and Lactobacillus cerevisiae , having 95.6–99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, less than 93.9 % pheS gene sequence similarities and 87.0–99.7 % rpoA gene sequence similarities. ANI, isDDH and AAI values between strains 159-4T, 47-3T, 257-1T, 187-3T, 220-4T, 151-2BT, 137-3T, 244-4T, 218-10T, 218-6T, 112-3T and type strains of phylogenetically related species were less than 92.7, 48.4 and 96.6 %, respectively, confirming that they represent 11 novel species within the genus Lactobacillus . Based upon the data of polyphasic characterization obtained in the present study, eleven novel species, Lactobacillus jixianensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus baoqingensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus jiayinensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus zhaoyuanensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus lindianensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus huananensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus tangyuanensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus fuyuanensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus tongjiangensis sp. nov., Lactobacillus fujinensis sp. nov. and Lactobacillus mulengensis sp. nov., are proposed and the type strains are 159-4T (=NCIMB 15175T=CCM 8911T), 47-3T (=NCIMB 15165T=CCM 8903T=LMG 31064T), 257-1T (=NCIMB 15166T=CCM 8904T=LMG 31065T), 187-3T (=NCIMB 15172T =CCM 8910T), 220-4T (=NCIMB 15163T =CCM 8902T=KCTC 21136T), 151-2BT (=NCIMB 15164T=CCM 8913T=KCTC 21129T=LMG 31063T), 137-3T (=NCIMB 15170T=CCM 8907T=KCTC 21125T=LMG 31053T), 244-4T (=NCIMB 15168T=CCM 8906T=KCTC 21137T=LMG 31052T), 218-10T (=NCIMB 15167T=CCM 8905T=KCTC 21135T =LMG 31055T), 218-6T (=NCIMB 15171T=CCM 8908T=KCTC 21134T =LMG 31067T) and 112-3T (=NCIMB 15174T=CCM 8909T=KCTC 21123T=LMG 31049T), respectively.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, motile, spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated R-3T, was isolated from a soil sample obtained from the shore of Lake Panyang, Sichuan Province, PR China. Strain R-3T hydrolysed starch and casein. It could not assimilate d-glucose as a carbon source, or produce acid from d-glucose and l-arabinose. Phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular studies were performed on the new isolate. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain R-3T was a member of the genus Paenibacillus , exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Paenibacillus sinopodophylli TEGR-3T (98.4 %). The organism grew at 4–38 °C (optimum, 28–30 °C), at pH 6.0–10.0 (pH 7.0–7.5) and with 0–2.5 % (w/v) NaCl (1 %). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. Anteiso-C15 : 0 (60.7 %) and C16 : 0 (15.5 %) were the major fatty acids. The cellular polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain R-3T was determined to be 47.0 mol%. The DNA–DNA relatedness between strain R-3T and P. sinopodophylli TEGR-3T was 21.2 %. Based on the results obtained in this study, strain R-3T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R-3T (=CGMCC 1.16135T=KCTC 33912T).

A Gram-stain-positive and catalase negative coccus, designated strain Gos25-1T, isolated from a cotton flower (Gossypium hirsutum L.) collected from Khao Wong district, Kalasin province, Thailand. The taxonomic position of this strain was systematically studied based upon polyphasic taxonomic methods. The strain was facultatively anaerobic and produced l-lactic acid from glucose. The predominant cellular fatty acids were the straight-chain fatty acids C18 : 1ω9c and C16 : 0. According to 16S rRNA and phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase alpha subunit (pheS) gene sequence similarity, this strain was closely related to Enterococcus pallens NBRC 100697T, E. hermanniensis CIP 108559T, E. avium NBRC 100477T and E. raffinosus NBRC 100492T with 98.9–99.1 % and 77.0–82.0 % sequence similarities, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain Gos25-1T was clearly distinguished from closely related species of the genus Enterococcus . Draft genome of Gos25-1T had a size of 3.99 Mb which was contained 3788 coding sequences with in silico G+C content of 42.4 mol%. The ANIb and a digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values between strain Gos25-1T and the closest related species, E. pallens NBRC 100697T were 73.65 and 21.10 %, respectively. According to polyphasic characterisation, this strain represents a novel species of the genus Enterococcus , for which the name Enterococcus florum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gos25-1T (=CIP 110956T=LMG 29007T=NBRC 111461T=TISTR 2382T).

A taxonomic study was carried out on strain YPA3-1-1T, which was isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Pacific Ocean. The bacterium was Gram-stain-positive, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative, rod-shaped and spore-forming. Growth was observed at salinities of 1.0–6.0 % and at temperatures of 10–40 °C. The isolate could degrade gelatin and aesculin. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YPA3-1-1T belonged to the genus Chengkuizengella , with the highest sequence similarity to the only typespecies, Chengkuizengella sediminis J15A17T (98.5 %). The estimated average nucleotide identity and DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain YPA3-1-1T and C. sediminis J15A17T were 88.1 and 35.0 %, respectively. The cell wall of strain YPA3-1-1T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The principal fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C16 : 0 (35.5 %) and anteiso-C15 : 0 (17.5 %). The G+C content of the chromosomal DNA was 33.1 mol%. The respiratory quinone was determined to be MK-7 (100 %). The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid and three unidentified phospholipids. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data show that strain YPA3-1-1T represents a novel species within the genus Chengkuizengella , for which the name Chengkuizengella marina sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YPA3-1-1T (=MCCC 1A14042T=KCTC 43019T).

A pink-pigmented, Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, coccoid-shaped bacterial strain, designated as S5-TSA-19T, was isolated from an explosives contaminated site in Panchkula, Haryana, India. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing blast analysis indicated that the strain is a member of the family Planococcaceae with the highest sequence similarity to Planomicrobium soli XN13T (96.1 %), followed by Planococcus maitriensis S1T (95.6 %), Planococcus plakortidis DSM 23997T (95.6 %), Planomicrobium flavidum ISL-41T (95.6 %), Planococcus rifietoensis M8T (95.5 %), Planococcus salinus LCB217T (95.5 %) and Planococcus maritimus DSM 17275T (95.5 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences (based on a conserved set of 400 proteins) retrieved the strain in a distinct branch indicating a separate lineage within the family Planococcaceae . Strain S5-TSA-19T had a distinctive chemotaxonomic pattern comprising A4α type peptidoglycan based on l-Lys-d-Asp, iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acid, absence of phosphatidylethanolamine as a major lipid and MK-7 and MK-6 as the major menaquinones, differentiating it from the genera Planococcus and Planomicrobium , thus supporting the findings of molecular phylogeny. Further, strain S5-TSA-19T was able to biotransform hexahydro-1,3,5,-trinitro-1,2,5-triazine (RDX) into nitrite derivatives under aerobic conditions in 2–4 days, whereas the closest reference strains did not possess this property. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic characterization and a phylogenomics approach, strain S5-TSA-19T is proposed as the type strain of a novel species in a novel genus for which the name Indiicoccus explosivorum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed (=JCM 31737T=KCTC 33871T=MTCC 12608T).

A novel aerobic bacterium, designated as strain GM2012T, was isolated from a microbial mat proliferating under the flow of thermal water dissipating from the wall of a 4000 m deep mine in South Africa. The cells were non-motile cocci, capable of budding, occurred in single or gathered in aggregates. The organism is a strictly aerobic chemoorganoheterotroph, preferring simple sugars and polysaccharides as growth substrates. The optimal growth occurred at 42 °C and pH 7.5–7.7. The predominant fatty acids were palmitate, stearate and oleate. The G+C content of the DNA was 70.1 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed strain GM2012T within the family Isosphaeraceae of the order Planctomycetales with 88–89 % sequence identity to Isosphaera pallida , Aquisphaera giovannonii, Singulisphaera acidiphila , Paludisphaera borealis and Tundrisphaera lichenicola type strains. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic distinctive features of the new strain, we propose a novel genus and species Tautonia sociabilis gen. nov., sp. nov. with the type strain GM2012T (=VKM B-2860,=KCTC 72013).

Two Gram-stain-negative bacterial strains, DS48-3T and CH68-4T, were isolated from freshwater sediment taken from the Daechung Reservoir, Republic of Korea. Cells of strains DS48-3T and CH68-4T were aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Strain DS48-3T was isolated from a sediment surface sample at a depth of 48 m from the Daechung Reservoir and was most closely related to the genus Sphingopyxis according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (94.5–95.9 % similarity). Strain CH68-4T was isolated from the very bottom of a 67-cm-long sediment core collected from Daechung Reservoir at a water depth of 17 m and was most closely related to the genus Sphingopyxis (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 93.7–95.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that the two strains formed a separate lineage within the order Sphingomonadales showing similarity values below 95.9 % with their closest phylogenetic neighbours, and sharing 97.3 % similarity with each other. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strains DS48-3T and CH68-4T could be distinguished from all genera within the family Sphingomonadaceae and represented two distinct species of a novel genus, Aquisediminimonas profunda gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain DS48-3T=KCTC 52068T=CCTCC AB 2018061T) and Aquisediminimonas sediminicola sp. nov. (type strain CH68-4T=KCTC 62205T=CCTCC AB 2018062T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic Vibrio strain, designated NFH.MB010T, was isolated from an epidermal lesion on the test (hard shell skeleton) of a green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) collected from northern Norway. Cells of strain NFH.MB010T were rod shaped and motile by means of a single, long polar flagellum. Growth was observed at 1–5% NaCl (w/v) and at 4 °C, but not above 28 °C. Phylogenetic analyses based on eight-gene multilocus sequence analysis (16S rRNA, atpA, gyrB, mreB, pyrH, recA, rpoA and rpoD) suggested novelty at the species level. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization and orthologous average nucleotide identity estimates showed percentage genomic resemblances to its closest relative, Vibrio splendidus , that were well below the established same species threshold values. Phenotypically, utilization of glycogen and gentiobiose, inability of acetoin production, and undetectable valine arylamidase and trypsin activity discriminated strain NFH.MB010T from the closely related reference strains. Protein spectra generated by maldi-tof mass spectrometry further consolidated the species level uniqueness of strain NFH.MB010T. Based on the described polyphasic approach, strain NFH.MB010T therefore appears as a novel species within the Splendidus clade of the genus Vibrio , and the name Vibrio echinoideorum sp. nov. is proposed, with NFH.MB010T (=DSM 107264T=LMG 30656T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, Soil36-7T, was isolated from an in situ enriched hydrocarbon-degrading consortium in South China Sea sediment. Strain Soil36-7T grew at 4–40 °C (optimum 28–32 °C), at pH 5–10 (pH 7–8) and in the presence of 1–12 % (w/v) NaCl (3–6 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and a genome-based approach using UBCGs (up-to-date bacterial core genes) showed Soil36-7T formed a distinct branching lineage within the family Alteromonadaceae . 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity was 92.9, 92.1 and >88.3 % between strain Soil36-7T and the type species of the genera Marinobacter , Tamilnaduibacter and the other genera of the family Alteromonadaceae , respectively. The major fatty acids in Soil36-7T were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω6/7c, C16 : 0 10-methyl, C18 : 1ω7c, C12 : 0 and C18 : 0. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-9, with a minor amount of Q-10 (3.5 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, and various unidentified glycolipids, phospholipids, aminophospholipids and other polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 57.9 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and chemotaxanomic characteristics, strain Soil36-7T could be classified as representing a novel species of a new genus within the family Alteromonadaceae , for which the name Hydrocarboniclastica marina gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is Soil36-7T (=MCCC 1A12105T=KCTC 62334T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, oxidase-positive, motile, dimorphic rod bacterium, with a polar flagellum or a polar prostheca, designated as strain WD6-1T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a marine solar saltern located in Weihai, PR China. Growth of strain WD6-1T was observed at 15–45 °C (optimum, 37–40 °C). The pH range for growth was pH 6.0–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0–7.5) while the NaCl concentration was 1.0–16.0 % (w/v; optimum, 5.0 %). The most closely related species was Marinicauda algicola (97.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain WD6-1T was 69.5 mol% and the sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) of strain WD6-1T included summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C18 : 0 and C17 : 0, and the major polar lipids were glucuronopyranosyldiglyceride, monoglycosyldiglyceride and sulfo-quinovosyl diacylglycerol. Based on the results of phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic analyses, the isolate is representative of a new member of the genus Marinicauda , for which the name Marinicauda salina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WD6-1T (=KCTC 62348T=MCCC 1H00282T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, flagellated, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NAU-10T, was isolated from an oil-contaminated soil collected in PR China. Strain NAU-10T could grow at 10–42 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0–9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–2.5 % (w/v) NaCl (0.5 % in Luria–Bertani broth). The major fatty acids were C18 : 1   ω 7c (38.6 %), C17 : 1   ω 6c (9.8 %), C18 : 1 2-OH (9.1 %), summed feature 3 (8.7 %), C16 : 0 3-OH (7.2 %) and C16 : 0 (6.7 %). The major respiratory quinones were Q9 and Q10. The total polar lipids were lipid, aminolipid, phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Strain NAU-10T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Rhodocista pekingensis 3-pT (95.9 %), Niveispirillum cyanobacteriorum TH16T (95.3 %) and Niveispirillum fermenti CC-LY736T (95.3 %), and constituted a sub-cluster within the family Rhodospirillaceae . The DNA G+C content of strain NAU-10T was 68.2 mol% based on its draft genome sequence. Genome annotation of strain NAU-10T predicted the presence of 4309 genes, of which 4237 are coding proteins and 72 are RNA genes. Based on its phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, as well as the analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, it was concluded that strain NAU-10T represents a novel genus, for which the name Oleisolibacter gen. nov., is proposed. The type species of this genus is Oleisolibacter albus with the type strain NAU-10T (=KCTC 62417T=CCTCC AB 2018015T).

A novel slowly growing member of the genus Sphingomonas , designated 1PNM-20T, was isolated from an abandoned lead–zinc mine in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, PR China. A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed to characterize the novel strain. Growth occurred on Reasoner’s 2A (R2A) agar and peptone–yeast extract (PYE) agar, but not in liquid R2A or PYE media. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and motile with a polar flagellum (monotrichous). 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that it shared the highest similarity with Sphingomonas carri PR0302T (97.2 %), followed by Sp hingomonas spermidinifaciens 9NM-10T (97.0 %), Sphingomonas floccifaciens FQM01T (97.0 %) and other species of Sphingomonas (<97 %). Phylogenetic analyses clearly showed that strain 1PNM-20T fell into the cluster of Sphingomonas , and was most closely related to S. carri . The draft genome sequence was 3.76 Mb in length with a DNA G+C content of 69.8 mol%. Major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c, with C14 : 0 2-OH as the main hydroxy fatty acid. Ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) was the predominant respiratory quinone, and sym-homospermidine was displayed as the major polyamine. The polar lipids were composed of sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results supported the hypothesis that strain 1PNM-20T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas , for which the name Sphingomonas lenta sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1PNM-20T (=GDMCC 1.660T=DSM 27572T).