- Volume 71, Issue 12, 2021

A novel thermophilic bacterium, designated SCSIO 07484T, was isolated from marine sediment sampled in the South China Sea. Growth occurred at 30–60 °C, pH 6.0–8.0 and in the presence of 0–3 % (w/v) NaCl. Cells of strain SCSIO 07484T were rod-shaped and flagellum-forming. No soluble pigment was observed. The phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that SCSIO 07484T belonged to the family Paenibacillaceae and clustered with members of the genus Brevibacillus in the phylogenetic trees with less than 96.2 % similarities. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained arabinose, glucose and ribose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. Major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine were its diagnostic polar lipids. The whole genome size of strain SCSIO 07484T was 4 079 826 bp with a DNA G+C content of 56.2 mol%, including one circular chromosome of 3 978392 bp and one plasmid of 101434 bp. Based on the polyphasic analysis of strain SCSIO 07484T, it is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Brevibacillus , for which the name Brevibacillus marinus sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain SCSIO 07484T (=DSM 106769T=CGMCC 1.15814T).

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, endospore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium, occurring singly or in pairs, designated TB2019T, was isolated from environmental monitoring samples of corridor air collected at the Tianjin Institute for Drug Control, Tianjin Province (PR China). The isolate was able to grow at 15–40 °C (optimum growth at 37 °C), pH 6.0–8.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–2% (w/v) NaCl (0% NaCl). Comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that TB2019T was most closely related to Paenibacillus typhae CGMCC 1.11012T (98.63%), Paenibacillus albidus Q4-3T (98.19%), Paenibacillus borealis DSM 13188T (97.55%), Paenibacillus helianthi P26ET (97.33%) and Paenibacillus odorifer DSM 15391T (97.19%). The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and the average nucleotide identity values between TB2019T and the five type strains mentioned above ranged from 20.7 to 25.0% and 75.2 to 81.3%, respectively, and the genomic DNA G+C content was 49.52 mol%. The diagnostic cell-wall sugar was ribose, and the diagnostic amino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipids of TB2019T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified phospholipid. MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone, and anteiso-C15:0 (30.6%) was the major fatty acid. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, strain TB2019T represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus , for which the name Paenibacillus tianjinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TB2019T (=CICC 25065T=JCM 34610T).

Four bacterial strains were isolated from two different colony sources of the wax moth Galleria mellonella. They were characterized by a polyphasic approach including 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, core-genome analysis, average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH), determination of G+C content, screening of antibiotic resistance genes, and various phenotypic analyses. Initial analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence identities indicated that strain GAL7T was potentially very closely related to Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus gallinarum , having 99.5–99.9 % sequence similarity. However, further analysis of whole genome sequences revealed a genome size of 3.69 Mb, DNA G+C content of 42.35 mol%, and low dDDH and ANI values between the genomes of strain GAL7T and closest phylogenetic relative E. casseliflavus NBRC 100478T of 59.0 and 94.5 %, respectively, indicating identification of a putative new Enterococcus species. In addition, all novel strains encoded the atypical vancomycin-resistance gene vanC-4. Results of phylogenomic, physiological and phenotypic characterization confirmed that strain GAL7T represented a novel species within the genus Enterococcus , for which the name Enterococcus innesii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GAL7T (=DSM 112306T=NCTC 14608T).

A novel anaerobic chemoorganotrophic, facultatively alkaliphilic bacterium (strain M17 DMBT) was isolated from a coastal lake (Golubitsckoe, Taman Peninsula, Russia). Cells were motile rods, 1.6–2.1 µm long and 0.45 µm in diameter. The temperature range for growth was 14–42 °C, with an optimum at 30 °C. The pH range for growth was pH 5.5–10.0, with an optimum at pH 8.0–8.5. Growth of strain M17 DMBT was observed at NaCl concentrations of 1–12 % (w/v) with optimum growth at 1.5–2.0 %. Strain M17 MBTutilized glucose, fructose, sucrose, ribose, mannose, raffinose, arabinose, dextrin, yeast extract, peptone, carbon monoxide, vanillic acid and 3,4-dimethoxybenzoic acid. The end products from glucose fermentation were acetate and ethanol. The DNA G+C content of strain M17 DMBT was 39.1 mol%. The closest phylogenetic relative of strain M17 DMBT was Alkalibacter saccharofermentans with 97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The OrthoANI value between M17 DMBT and A. saccharofermentans was 70.4 %. Based on the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics of the isolate, strain M17 DMBT is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Alkalibacter for which the name Alkalibacter mobilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Alkalibacter mobilis is M17 DMBT (=KCTC 15920T=VKM B-3408T).

In Japan, during a screening of lactic acid bacteria in spent mushroom substrates, an unknown bacterium was isolated and could not be assigned to any known species. Strain YK48GT is Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming and catalase-negative. The isolate grew in 0–4 % (w/v) NaCl, at 15–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and at pH 4.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.0). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YK48GT was 42.5 mol%. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain YK48GT represented a member of the genus Lentilactobacillus and showed the highest pairwise similarity to Lentilactobacillus rapi DSM 19907T (97.86 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on amino acid sequences of 466 shared protein-encoding genes also revealed that the strain was phylogenetically positioned in the genus Lentilactobacillus but did not suggest an affiliation with previously described species. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain YK48GT and the type strains of phylogenetically related species were 72.2–76.6% and 19.0–21.2 %, respectively, indicating that strain YK48GT represents a novel species within the genus Lentilactobacillus . Phenotypic data further confirmed the differentiation of strain YK48GT from other members of the genus Lentilactobacillus . According to the results of the polyphasic characterization presented in this study, strain YK48GT represents a novel species of the genus Lentilactobacillus , for which the name Lentilactobacillus fungorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YK48GT (=JCM 32598T=DSM 107968T).

Leptospira strains were isolated from freshwater sampled at four sites in Algeria and characterized by whole-genome sequencing and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). The cells were spiral-shaped and motile. Phylogenetic and MALDI-TOF MS analyses showed that the strains can be clearly distinguished from the other described species in the genus Leptospir a, therefore representing two novel species of the pathogen subclade P1 and two novel species of the saprophyte subclade S1. The names Leptospira ainlahdjerensis sp. nov. (type strain 201903070T=KIT0297T=CIP111912T), Leptospira ainazelensis sp. nov. (201903071T=KIT0298T=CIP111913T), Leptospira abararensis sp. nov. (201903074T=KIT0299T=CIP111914T) and Leptospira chreensis (201903075T=KIT0300T=CIP111915T) are proposed.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize a Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain CC-CFT640T, isolated from vineyard soil sampled in Taiwan. Cells of strain CC-CFT640T were aerobic, non-motile, nitrate-reducing rods. Test results were positive for catalase, oxidase and proteinase activities. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °С and pH 7. Strain CC-CFT640T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to members of the genus Enhydrobacter (90.0 %, n=1) followed by Hypericibacter (89.4–90.0 %, n=2), Reyranella (88.8–89.8 %, n=5) and Nitrospirillum (89.2–89.4 %, n=2), and formed a distinct phyletic lineage distantly associated with the clade that predominately accommodated Reynerella species. The DNA G+C composition of the genome (2.1 Mb) was 67.9 mol%. Genes involved in the reduction of nitrate to nitrite, nitric oxide and nitrous oxide were found. In addition, genes encoding dissimilatory nitrate reduction to ammonia, ammonium transport and ammonium assimilation were also detected. Average nucleotide identity values were 73.3 % (n=1), 74.0–74.6 % (n=2), 67.5–68.3 % (n=2) when compared within the type strains of the genera Enhydrobacter , Reyranella and Niveispirillum , respectively. The dominant cellular fatty acids (>5 %) included C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 1  ω10c, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C18 : 1 2-OH and C18 : 1  ω7c/C18 : 1  ω6c. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 and the major polyamine was spermidine. Based on its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits together with results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing, digital DNA–DNA hybridization, average nucleotide identity and phylogenomic placement, strain CC-CFT640T is considered to represent a novel genus and species of the family Rhodospirillaceae , for which the name Vineibacter terrae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-CFT640T (=BCRC 81219T=JCM 33507T).

Two endophytic strains, coded MOVP5T and MOPV6, were isolated from nodules of Phaseolus vulgaris plants grown on agricultural soil in Southeastern Spain, and were characterized through a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Their 16S rRNA gene sequences showed 99.3 and 99.4 %, 98.9 and 99.6 %, and 99.0 and 98.7% similarity to ‘ A. deltaense ’ YIC 4121T, A. radiobacter LGM 140T, and A. pusense NRCPB10T, respectively. Multilocus sequence analysis based on sequences of recA and atpD genes suggested that these two strains could represent a new Agrobacterium species with less than 96.5 % similarity to their closest relatives. PCR amplification of the telA gene, involved in synthesis of protelomerase, confirmed the affiliation of strains MOPV5T and MOPV6 to the genus Agrobacterium . Whole genome average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization average values were less than 95.1 and 66.7 %, respectively, with respect to its closest related species. Major fatty acids in strain MOPV5T were C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c in summed feature 8, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c, C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 3-OH. Colonies were small to medium, pearl-white coloured on YMA at 28 °C and growth was observed at 10–42 °C, pH 5.0–10.0 and with 0.0–0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The DNA G+C content was 59.9 mol%. These two strains differ from all other genomovars of Agrobacterium found so far, including those that have not yet given a Latin name. The combined genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data support the classification of strain MOPV5T as representing a novel species of Agrobacterium , for which the name Agrobacterium leguminum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MOPV5T (=CECT 30096T=LMG 31779T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated SW123T, was isolated from a deep-sea water sample collected from the Indian Ocean. Strain SW123T was strictly aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and summed feature 9 (comprising C16 : 0-methyl or iso-C17 : 1 ω9c). Ubiquinone-8 was the sole respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 49.4 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain SW123T was closely related to Aliidiomarina shirensis AIST (96.7 % sequence similarity), Aliidiomarina iranensis GBPy7T (96.3%), Aliidiomarina haloalkalitolerans AK5T (96.0%) and Aliidiomarina celeris F3105T (95.9%). Phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SW123T represented a novel member of the genus Aliidiomarina , forming a distinct cluster with A. celeris F3105T. On the basis of phylogenetic inference and phenotypic characteristics, we propose that strain SW123T represents a novel species of the genus Aliidiomarina , with the name Aliidiomarina indica sp. nov. The type strain is SW123T (=CGMCC1.16169T=KCTC 82234T).

Strain 3P27G6T was isolated from an artesian well connected to the thermal water basin of Comano Terme, Province of Trento, Italy. In phylogenetic analyses based on multilocus sequence analysis, strain 3P27G6T clustered together with Mesorhizobium australicum WSM2073T. Genome sequencing produced a 99.51 % complete genome, with a length of 7 363 057 bp and G+C content of 63.53 mol%, containing 6897 coding sequences, 55 tRNA and three rRNA. Average nucleotide identity analysis revealed that all distances calculated between strain 3P27G6T and the other Mesorhizobium genomes were below 0.9, indicating that strain 3P27G6T represents a new species. Therefore, we propose the name Mesorhizobium comanense sp. nov. with the type strain 3P27G6T (=DSM 110654T=CECT 30067T). Strain 3P27G6T is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic bacterium. Growth condition, antibiotic susceptibility, metabolic and fatty acid-methyl esters profiles of the strain were determined. Only few nodulation and nitrogen fixation genes were found in the genome, suggesting that this strain may not be specialized in nodulation or in nitrogen fixation.

A yellow-coloured bacterium, designated strain JGD-16T, was isolated from a tidal flat in Janggu-do, Garorim Bay, Taean-gun, Chungcheongbuk-do, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-flagellated and short ovoid to coccoid-shaped. Growth was observed at 10–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0–9.0 (pH 8.0) and with 1–5% (w/v) NaCl (2%). Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JGD-16T was closely related to Altererythrobacter xiamenensis LY02T (97.1 %), Altererythrobacter aurantiacus O30T (96.3 %), Altererythrobacter ishigakiensis JPCCMB0017T (95.8 %), Altererythrobacter epoxidivorans JCS350T (95.7 %) and Altererythrobacter insulae BPTF-M16T (95.3%). Phylogenomic analysis using the maximum-likelihood algorithm showed that strain JGD-16T formed a clade with the genus Altererythrobacter . The genomic DNA G+C content was 57.8 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, a sphingoglycolipid, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The major fatty acids were C18:1 ω7c (31.5 %) and C18:3 ω6c (19.6 %). On the basis of its phylogenomic, physiological and chemotaxonomical characteristics, strain JGD-16T represents a novel species within the genus Altererythrobacter , for which the name Altererythrobacter lutimaris JGD-16Tsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JGD-16T (=KCTC 72632T=KACC 21405T=JCM 33750T). We also propose the reclassification of Altererythrobacter deserti as Tsuneonella deserti comb. nov., Altererythrobacter estronivorus as Croceicoccus estronivorus comb. nov. and Altererythrobacter muriae as Alteripontixanthobacter muriae comb. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile via polar flagellum, facultatively aerobic, light-yellow, bacterium (designated 188UL20-2T) was isolated from a mussel sample of Mytilus coruscus collected on Ulleung Island, Ulleung-gun, Gyeongsangbuk-do, Republic of Korea. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequencing results, strain 188UL20-2T clustered with species of the genus Vibrio and appeared closely related to Vibrio marisflavi DSM 23086T (96.59%), Vibrio variabilis DSM 26147T (96.57%), Vibrio penaeicida DSM 14398T (96.37%) and Vibrio litoralis DSM 17657T (95.97%). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 188UL20-2T and its closest related strain were 71.3 and 16.4%, indicating that 188UL20-2T represents a novel species of the genus Vibrio . Growth occurred at 18–37 °C on MA medium in the presence of 1–4% NaCl (w/v) and at pH 5.0–10.0. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 45.4 mol%, and ubiquinone-8 (Q-8) was the major respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids (>5%) were C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c (summed feature 3), C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c (summed feature 8), C16:0, C16:0 iso, C14:0, C14:0 iso and C12:0. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids, unidentified aminophospholipid, unidentified glycolipid and seven unidentified lipids. Physiological and biochemical characteristics indicated that strain 188UL20-2T represents a novel species of the genus Vibrio , for which the name Vibrio ulleungensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 188UL20-2T (=KACC 22258T=LMG 32202T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, milky white bacterium, designated B2012T, was isolated from mangrove sediment collected at Beibu Gulf, South China Sea. Antimicrobial activity assay revealed that the isolate possesses the capability of producing antibacterial compounds. Strain B2012T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence relatedness (96.9–95.5 %) with members of the genus Acuticoccus . The isolate and all known Acuticoccus species contain Q-10 as the main respiratory quinone and have the same polar lipid components (phosphatidylcholine, unidentified glycolipid, unidentified lipid, unidentified amino lipid and phosphatidylglycerol). However, genomic relatedness referred by values of average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization, average amino acid identity and the percentage of conserved proteins between strain B2012T and other type strains of the genus Acuticoccus were below the proposed thresholds for species discrimination. The genome of strain B2012T was assembled into 65 scaffolds with an N50 size of 244239 bp, resulting in a 5.5 Mb genome size. Eight secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters were detected in this genome, including three non-ribosomal peptide biosynthetic loci encoding yet unknown natural products. Strain B2012T displayed moderately halophilic and alkaliphilic properties, growing optimally at 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl concentration and at pH 8–9. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 dimethyl aldehyde (DMA) and C16 : 0. Combined data from phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses suggested that strain B2012T represents a novel species of the genus Acuticoccus , for which the name Acuticoccus mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is B2012T (=MCCC 1K04418T=KCTC 72962T).

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated as YN2T, that is capable of degrading 1,4-dioxane, was isolated from active sludge collected from a wastewater treatment plant in Harbin, PR China. Cells of strain YN2T were aerobic, motile, pleomorphic rods, mostly twisted, and contained the water-insoluble yellow zeaxanthin dirhamnoside. Strain YN2T grew at 10–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0–8.0 (pH 7.0) and with 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl (0.1 %). It also could grow chemolithoautotrophically and fix N2 when no ammonium or nitrate was supplied. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain YN2T belongs to the genus Xanthobacter and shares the highest pairwise identity with Xanthobacter autotrophicus 7cT (98.6 %) and Xanthobacter flavus 301T (98.4 %). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that the strain possesses C16 : 0, C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c and C18 : 1 ω7c as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 67.95 mol%. Based on genome sequences, the DNA–DNA hybridization estimate values between strain YN2T and X. autotrophicus 7cT, X. flavus 301T and X. tagetidis TagT2CT (the only three species of Xanthobacter with currently available genomes) were 31.70, 31.30 and 28.50 %; average nucleotide identity values were 85.23, 84.84 and 83.59 %; average amino acid identity values were 81.24, 80.23 and 73.57 %. Based on its phylogenetic, phenotypic, and physiological characteristics, strain YN2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Xanthobacter , for which the name Xanthobacter dioxanivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YN2T (=CGMCC 1.19031T=JCM 34666T).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain YQF-2T, was isolated from coastal sediment sampled in Jiangsu Province and characterized phylogenetically and phenotypically. Optimal bacterial growth occurred at 28 °C (range 4–38 °C) and pH 7 (pH 6–10). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YQF-2T was related to members of the genus Rheinheimera and shared the highest sequence identities with Rheinheimera pacifica KMM 1406T (98.6%), followed by Rheinheimera aestuarii H29T (98.4%), Rheinheimera japonica KMM 9513T (98.3%), Rheinheimera aquimaris SW-353T (98.3%), Rheinheimera hassiensis E48T (97.8%) and Rheinheimera muenzenbergensis E49T (97.7%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence identities between strain YQF-2T and other members of the genus Rheinheimera were below 97.2%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization value between strain YQF-2T and R. pacifica KMM 1406T was 23.3±2.3%. The average nucleotide identity value between strain YQF-2T and R. pacifica KMM 1406T was 79.7%. The unique respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8. Phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were identified as the major polar lipids. The strain had summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c), C16:0, C12:0 3-OH and iso-C17:0 3-OH as major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 50.0 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic evidence, strain YQF-2T represents a novel species of the genus Rheinheimera , for which the name Rheinheimera lutimaris sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YQF-2T (=KCTC 72184T=MCCC 1K03663T).

A novel bacterium, designated BD-1T, was isolated from a sludge sample. Cells of the novel Gram-stain-negative strain were identified to be facultative anaerobic, non-motile and short rod-shaped. Growth occurred at 15–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0–10.0 (pH 7.0) and in 0–4.0  % NaCl (2.0 %, w/v). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain BD-1T showed the highest sequence similarity to Ottowia thiooxydans DSM 14619T (97.0 %), followed by Ottowia pentelensis DSM 21699T (96.3 %) and less than 96 % to other related strains. The phylogenetic trees revealed that strain BD-1T clustered within the genus Ottowia . Summed feature 3 (C16 : 1  ω7c and/or C16 : 1  ω6c, 48.2 %), C16 : 0 (23.2 %) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1  ω7c and/or C18 : 1  ω6c, 8.6 %) were the major fatty acids (>5 %), and ubiquinone-8 was the respiratory quinone. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were identified as the major polar lipids. Meanwhile, the G+C content of the DNA was 63.6 mol% based on the draft genome analysis. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain BD-1T and DSM 14619T were 74.5 and 21.4  %, respectively. In addition, the novel strain completely degraded 500 mg l−1 phenylacetic acid within 72 h under the condition of 3 % NaCl. Given the results of genomic, phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain BD-1T was considered to represent a novel species of the genus Ottowia , for which the name Ottowia caeni sp. nov. is proposed. The strain is a potential resource for the bioremediation of phenylacetic acid contaminated water. The type strain is BD-1T (=CGMCC 1.18541T=KCTC 82183T).

Two bacterial strains, designated HSP-20T and CCP-1T, isolated from freshwater habitats in Taiwan, were characterized by polyphasic taxonomy. Both strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped. Cells of strains HSP-20T and CCP-1T formed pink and dark red coloured colonies, respectively. Both strains contained bacteriochlorophyll a, and showed optimum growth under anaerobic conditions by photoheterotrophy, but no growth by photoautotrophy. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences indicated that both strains belonged to the genus Rhodobacter . Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains HSP-20T and CCP-1T shared 98.3 % sequence similarity and were closely related to Rhodobacter tardus CYK-10T (96.0 %) and Rhodobacter flagellatus SYSU G03088T (96.0 %), respectively. Both strains shared common chemotaxonomic characteristics including Q-10 as the major isoprenoid quinone, C18 : 1  ω7c as the predominant fatty acid, and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine as the main polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of both strains was 66.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between these two novel isolates and their closest relatives were below the cut-off values of 95–96, 90 and 70 %, respectively, used for species demarcation. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference, both strains should be classified as novel species within the genus Rhodobacter , for which the names Rhodobacter amnigenus sp. nov. (=BCRC 81193T=LMG 31334T) and Rhodobacter ruber sp. nov. (=BCRC 81189T=LMG 31335T) are proposed.

Xenorhabdus is a symbiotic group of bacteria associated with entomopathogenic nematodes of the family Steinernematidae. Although the described Steirnernema species list is extensive, not all their symbiotic bacteria have been identified. One single motile, Gram-negative and non-spore-forming rod-shaped symbiotic bacterium, strain VLST, was isolated from the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema unicornum. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene determined that the VLST isolate belongs to the genus Xenorhabdus , and its closest related species is Xenorhabdus szentirmaii DSM 16338T (98.2 %). Deeper analyses using the whole genome for phylogenetic reconstruction indicate that VLST exhibits a unique clade in the genus. Genomic comparisons considering digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values confirms this result, showing that the VLST values are distant enough from the 70 % threshold suggested for new species, sharing 30.7, 30.5 and 30.3 % dDDH with Xenorhabdus khoisanae MCB, Xenorhabdus koppenhoeferi DSM 18168T and Xenorhabdus miraniensis DSM 18168T, respectively, as the closest species. Detailed physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic tests of the VLST isolate reveal consistent differences from previously described Xenorhabdus species. Phylogenetic, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic approaches show that VLST represents a new species of the genus Xenorhabdus , for which the name Xenorhabdus lircayensis sp. nov. (type strain VLST=CCCT 20.04T=DSM 111583T) is proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NR704-98T, was isolated from marine sediment of the northern South China Sea. Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. Growth was observed at 4–30 °C (optimum 20–25 °C), at pH 6–9 (pH 7) and with 0.5–7 % NaCl (2 %). The 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain NR704-98T were Shewanella woodyi MS32T (97.9 %), Shewanella hanedai 281T (97.1 %), Shewanella sediminis HAW-EB3T (96.8 %) and Shewanella canadensis HAW-EB2T (96.7 %). Based on the results of phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain NR704-98T and the previously mentioned type strains of species of the genus Shewanella were in the range of 74.9–93.1 % and 20.6–51.4 %, respectively. The respiratory quinones were Q-7 and Q-8. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain NR704-98T were C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1  ω7c and/or C16 : 1  ω6c) and iso-C15 : 0. Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids and five unidentified lipids were detected in strain NR704-98T. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain NR704-98T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Shewanella , for which the name Shewanella nanhaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NR704-98T (=KCTC 82799T=MCCC 1K06091T).