International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology

A novel halophilic actinomycete, designated strain YIM 93223T, was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang Province, north-west China, and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The isolate grew at 25–45 °C, at pH 6–8 and in the presence of 1–15 % (w/v) NaCl; no growth was observed in the absence of NaCl. Strain YIM 93223T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid and alanine as cell-wall amino acids, and glucose and galactose as major whole-cell-wall sugars. Major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1 ω7c/iso-C15 : 0 2-OH. MK-8(H4) was the predominant menaquinone. The genomic DNA G+C content was 66.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 93223T belongs to the genus Amycolatopsis. It shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Amycolatopsis palatopharyngis 1BDZT (96.6 %) and Amycolatopsis marina Ms392AT (96.4 %), but lower values (94.5–96.2 %) with the type strains of other recognized species of the genus Amycolatopsis. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic study, strain YIM 93223T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Amycolatopsis, for which the name Amycolatopsis halophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 93223T (=DSM 45216T =KCTC 19403T).

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain CL-33T, was isolated from the encrusting pore coral Montipora aequituberculata collected from seawater off the coast of southern Taiwan. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the strain clustered closely with Endozoicomonas elysicola MKT110T (96.7 % similarity). The novel strain required NaCl for growth and exhibited optimal growth at 25 °C and in the presence of 2–3 % NaCl. Predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c; 39.6 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c; 32.8 %) and C16 : 0 (12.0 %). The DNA G+C content of strain CL-33T was 50.0 mol%. The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the clear phenotypic differentiation of this isolate from E. elysicola. It is evident from the genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data presented that strain CL-33T represents a novel species of the genus Endozoicomonas, for which the name Endozoicomonas montiporae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CL-33T (=LMG 24815T =BCRC 17933T).

An obligate anaerobic, Gram-staining-negative, mesophilic, cellulolytic bacterium, strain H1T, was isolated from the rumen content of yak. Cells were straight to slightly curved rods, 0.8–1.0×3.0–4.0 μm in size, non-motile and encapsulated with mucous materials. Elliptical and terminal spores that swelled the cells were produced occasionally. The strain grew at 25–45 °C (optimum, 38 °C) and pH 6.0–7.8 (optimum, pH 6.7). Cellulose, cellobiose, xylan, xylose and maltose were used as carbon and energy sources, but not glucose. Products from cellulose and cellobiose fermentation were formic acid, acetic acid, carbon dioxide and trace amounts of ethanol, lactic acid and succinic acid. The genomic DNA G+C content was 33.7±1.2 mol%. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0(27.1 %), C14 : 0(9.2 %) and iso-C16 : 0(6.4%). Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain H1Twas affiliated to the clostridial rRNA cluster XIVb and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity toClostridium lentocellumDSM 5427T(96.0 %). These two strains formed a distinct lineage of the family ‘Lachnospiraceae’. Based on data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, a new genus,Cellulosilyticumgen. nov., is proposed.Cellulosilyticum ruminicolasp. nov. is proposed for strain H1T. The type strain ofCellulosilyticum ruminicolasp. nov. is strain H1T(=CGMCC 1.5065T=JCM 14822T).Clostridium lentocellumwas reclassified in the new genus asCellulosilyticum lentocellumcomb. nov. (type strain RHM5T=ATCC 49066T=DSM 5427T=NCIMB 11756T).

The purpose of this announcement is to effect the valid publication of the following effectively published new names and new combinations under the procedure described in the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision). Authors and other individuals wishing to have new names and/or combinations included in future lists should send three copies of the pertinent reprint or photocopies thereof, or an electronic copy of the published paper, to the IJSEM Editorial Office for confirmation that all of the other requirements for valid publication have been met. It is also a requirement of IJSEM and the ICSP that authors of new species, new subspecies and new combinations provide evidence that types are deposited in two recognized culture collections in two different countries. It should be noted that the date of valid publication of these new names and combinations is the date of publication of this list, not the date of the original publication of the names and combinations. The authors of the new names and combinations are as given below, and these authors' names will be included in the author index of the present issue. Inclusion of a name on these lists validates the publication of the name and thereby makes it available in bacteriological nomenclature. The inclusion of a name on this list is not to be construed as taxonomic acceptance of the taxon to which the name is applied. Indeed, some of these names may, in time, be shown to be synonyms, or the organisms may be transferred to another genus, thus necessitating the creation of a new combination.

A moderately halophilic, obligately chemolithoautotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacterium, designated strain HRh1T, was obtained from mixed sediment samples from hypersaline chloride–sulfate lakes in the Kulunda Steppe, in south-western Siberia (Russia), using aerobic enrichment culture at 1 M NaCl with thiocyanate as substrate. Cells of the isolate were short, non-motile rods with a Gram-negative type of cell wall. The bacterium was an obligate aerobe capable of chemolithoautotrophic growth with thiocyanate and thiosulfate. With thiosulfate, it grew at NaCl concentrations of 0.2–3.0 M (optimum 0.5 M) and at pH 6.3–8.0 (optimum pH 7.3–7.5). During growth on thiocyanate, cyanate was identified as an intermediate. The dominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0and C18 : 1ω7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing placed the isolate in the classGammaproteobacteriaas an independent lineage, with an unclassified marine sulfur-oxidizing bacterium as the closest culturable relative (93 % sequence similarity). A singlecbbLgene (coding for the key enzyme of the Calvin–Benson cycle of autotrophic CO2assimilation) with relatively low similarity to any homologous genes found in chemolithoautotrophs was detected in strain HRh1T. On the basis of our phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis, the halophilic isolate is proposed to represent a new genus and novel species,Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticusgen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain ofThiohalobacter thiocyanaticusis HRh1T(=DSM 21152T=UNIQEM U249T).

A polyphasic study was undertaken to clarify the taxonomic position of endospore-forming strains 433-D9, 433-E17 and 121-X1. BOX-PCR-generated fingerprints indicated that they may be members of a single species. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity demonstrated that a representative of this group, 433-D9, is affiliated closely with Bacillus arvi DSM 16317T (100 %), Bacillus arenosi DSM 16319T (99.8 %) and Bacillus neidei NRRL BD-87T (97.1 %). Sequence similarities revealed Bacillus pycnus NRRL NRS-1691T and several Kurthia species as the next nearest relatives. DNA–DNA hybridization results showed that strain 433-D9 is a member of B. arvi. Detection of l-Lys–d-Asp-based peptidoglycan in strain 433-D9, B. arvi DSM 16317T and B. arenosi DSM 16319T was in agreement with their close relationship, but differentiated these strains from B. neidei NRRL BD-87T and B. pycnus NRRL NRS-1691T, for which l-Lys–d-Glu was reported. A similar quinone system was detected in strains 433-D9, 433-E17, 121-X1, B. arvi DSM 16317T, B. arenosi DSM 16319T and B. neidei NRRL BD-87T. This system, unusual for bacilli, consisted of the major compound menaquinone MK-8 (69–80 %) and moderate amounts of MK-7 (19–30 %). This observation was in contrast to the predominance of MK-7 of the closest relative B. pycnus NRRL NRS-1691T, as also reported for representatives of the closely related non-endospore-forming genus Kurthia. Strains 433-D9, B. arvi DSM 16317T and B. arenosi DSM 16319T exhibited homogeneous and discriminative polar lipid profiles and fatty acid profiles consisting of major acids i-C15 : 0 and ai-C15 : 0 and moderate amounts of i-C17 : 1 ω10c and i-C17 : 1 I/ai-C17 : 1 B that discriminated them from closely related strains such as B. neidei NRRL BD-87T. On the basis of clear-cut discriminative chemotaxonomic markers, we propose strains 433-D9, 433-E17 and 121-X1, B. arvi DSM 16317T, B. arenosi DSM 16319T and B. neidei NRRL BD-87T to be reclassified within a separate genus. For this new taxon, we propose the name Viridibacillus gen. nov., and we propose the reclassification of Bacillus arvi, Bacillus arenosi and Bacillus neidei as Viridibacillus arvi gen. nov., comb. nov. (the type species of Viridibacillus, with the type strain DSM 16317T =LMG 22165T), Viridibacillus arenosi comb. nov. (type strain DSM 16319T =LMG 22166T) and Viridibacillus neidei comb. nov. (type strain NRRL BD-87T =DSM 15031T =JCM 11077T).

Novel halophilic, alkalithermophilic, Gram-type-positive bacterial strains were isolated from sediment of alkaline, hypersaline lakes of the Wadi An Natrun, Egypt. Cells of strain JW/NM-WN-LFTwere rod-shaped, non-spore-forming and non-motile. Strain JW/NM-WN-LFTgrew (at pH55 °C 9.5) between 35 and 56 °C, with an optimum at 53 °C. The pH55 °Crange for growth was 8.3–10.6, with an optimum at pH55 °C 9.5 and no growth at pH55 °C 8.2 or below, or at pH55 °C 10.8 or above. At the optimum pH and temperature, the strain grew in the Na+range of 3.1–4.9 M (1.5–3.3 M added NaCl) and optimally between 3.3 and 3.9 M Na+(1.7–2.3 M added NaCl). Strain JW/NM-WN-LFTutilized fructose, cellobiose, ribose, trehalose, trimethylamine, pyruvate, Casamino acids, acetate, xylose and peptone as carbon and energy sources. Fumarate (20 mM), S2O32−(20 mM), NO3−(20 mM) and iron(III) citrate (20 mM) were utilized as electron acceptors. During growth on sucrose, the isolate produced acetate and formate as major fermentation products. Main cellular fatty acids were iso-branched 15 : 0, i17 : 0 dimethylacetal and 16 : 0 dimethylacetal. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 40.4 mol% (HPLC). On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, it is proposed that strain JW/NM-WN-LFTrepresents a novel genus and species,Natranaerobius thermophilusgen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is JW/NM-WN-LFT(=DSM 18059T=ATCC BAA-1301T). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain forms a novel lineage within the class ‘Clostridia’ and clusters with uncultivated bacteria and unidentified strains retrieved from alkaline, hypersaline environments. The phylogenetic data suggest that the lineage represents a novel family,Natranaerobiaceaefam. nov., and order,Natranaerobialesord. nov.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, chemoheterotrophic, facultatively aerobic, short-rod-shaped bacterium, designated IMCC1097T, was isolated from coastal seawater (10 m depth) of the East Sea, Korea. The temperature, pH and NaCl ranges for growth were 15–30 °C, pH 5.0–10.0 and 1.5–10 % NaCl. The colonies of the strain were very small, having a mean diameter of 0.05 mm. 16S rRNA gene sequence data indicated that the strain was most closely related to genera within the class Gammaproteobacteria. Members of the most closely related genera showed less than 90 % sequence similarity and included Saccharospirillum (89.3 %), Oleiphilus (88.7 %), Reinekea (88.2 %), Alcanivorax (86.4–87.6 %) and Zooshikella (87.6 %), which represent five different families of the order Oceanospirillales. Phylogenetic analyses showed that this marine strain represented a distinct phylogenetic lineage in the order Oceanospirillales and could not be assigned to any of the defined families in the order. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, C18 : 1 ω7c and C10 : 0 3-OH, and the DNA G+C content was 57.9 mol%. These chemotaxonomic properties, together with phenotypic characteristics, served to differentiate the strain from phylogenetically closely related genera. The very low sequence similarities (<90 %) and distant relationships between IMCC1097T and members of the order Oceanospirillales suggested that the strain merited classification within a novel genus within a novel family in the order. On the basis of taxonomic evidence collected in this study, a novel genus and species are proposed, Litoricola lipolytica gen. nov., sp. nov., within a new family Litoricolaceae fam. nov. Strain IMCC1097T (=KCCM 42360T =NBRC 102074T) is the type strain of Litoricola lipolytica.

New diseases known locally as ‘hoja de perejil’ of tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill) and ‘brotes grandes’ of potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) were first recognized in surveys of production fields in Bolivia during 2000–2003. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa) witches' broom and little leaf diseases of native weeds Morrenia variegata and mora-mora (Serjania perulacea) were also identified near to production fields. Phytoplasma aetiology was attributed to each of these diseases following detection and initial identification of aster yellows group (16SrI) phytoplasmas in all five diseased plant species. While potato, alfalfa and mora-mora plants contained indistinguishable 16SrI-B strains, ‘hoja de perejil’ (THP) and morrenia little leaf (MVLL)-associated phytoplasma strains shared 97.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma asteris’ and related strains and <95 % similarity with all other ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma’ species. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the THP and MVLL phytoplasmas represent a novel lineage within the aster yellows (16SrI) group and, on the basis of unique 16S rRNA gene sequences, we propose that THP and MVLL phytoplasmas represent ‘Candidatus Phytoplasma lycopersici’, with THP as the reference strain.

Phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characterization were used to assign a multicellular magnetotactic prokaryote the name ‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis’. ‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' lives in a large hypersaline coastal lagoon from Brazil and has properties that are unique among prokaryotes. It consists of a compact assembly or aggregate of flagellated bacterial cells, highly organized in a sphere, that swim in either helical or straight trajectories. The life cycle of ‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' is completely multicellular, in which one aggregate grows by enlarging the size of its cells and approximately doubling the volume of the whole organism. Cells then divide synchronously, maintaining the spherical arrangement; finally the cells separate into two identical aggregates. Phylogenetic 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that ‘Candidatus Magnetoglobus multicellularis' is related to the dissimilatory sulfate-reducing bacteria within the Deltaproteobacteria and to other previously described, but not yet well characterized, multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes.