Simplicispira sedimenti sp. nov., isolated from a sediment of drainage ditch in winery.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile (by single polar flagellum) and rod-shaped bacterium, designated W1-6T, was isolated from a sediment of drainage ditch in winery in Guiyang, south-western China. Strain W1-6T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with the type strain of Acidovorax wautersii (98.1%) and Simplicispira lacusdiani (97.9%). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain W1-6T was placed adjacent to the members of the genus Simplicispira and formed a separat subclade. Cells showed oxidase and catalase negative reactions. The only respiratory quinone detected was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). Summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), C16:0 and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c) were predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10%) of strain W1-6T. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and five unidentified phospholipids were found in the polar lipid extraction. The genomic DNA G + C content was 65.6%. Strain W1-6T shared the highest digital DNA-DNA hybridization [dDDH, (27.6%)] and average nucleotide identity [ANI (84.3%)] values with the type strain of S. lacusdiani. The dDDH and ANI values were below the cutoff level (dDDH 70%; ANI 95-96%) for species delineation. The polyphasic characteristics indicated that the strain W1-6T represents a novel species of the genus Simplicispira, for which the name Simplicispira sedimenti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is W1-6T (= CGMCC 1.16274T = NBRC 115624T).

Genome-based reclassification of Picrophilus torridus Zillig et al. 1996 as a later heterotypic synonym of Picrophilus oshimae Schleper et al. 1996.

In the present study, we attempt to clarify the taxonomic positions of Picrophilus oshimae and Picrophilus torridus. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between P. oshimae DSM 9789T and P. torridus DSM9790T (99.4 %) was above the threshold value (98.6 %) for bacterial species delineation. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between P. oshimae DSM 9789T and P. torridus DSM9790T were higher than the threshold values (95-96 % for ANI and 70 % for dDDH) for bacterial species delineation. The present results indicate that Picrophilus torridus Zillig et al. 1996 is a later heterotypic synonym of Picrophilus oshimae Schleper et al. 1996.

Thermophilic Dehalococcoidia with unusual traits shed light on an unexpected past.

Although the phylum Chloroflexota is ubiquitous, its biology and evolution are poorly understood due to limited cultivability. Here, we isolated two motile, thermophilic bacteria from hot spring sediments belonging to the genus Tepidiforma and class Dehalococcoidia within the phylum Chloroflexota. A combination of cryo-electron tomography, exometabolomics, and cultivation experiments using stable isotopes of carbon revealed three unusual traits: flagellar motility, a peptidoglycan-containing cell envelope, and heterotrophic activity on aromatics and plant-associated compounds. Outside of this genus, flagellar motility has not been observed in Chloroflexota, and peptidoglycan-containing cell envelopes have not been described in Dehalococcoidia. Although these traits are unusual among cultivated Chloroflexota and Dehalococcoidia, ancestral character state reconstructions showed flagellar motility and peptidoglycan-containing cell envelopes were ancestral within the Dehalococcoidia, and subsequently lost prior to a major adaptive radiation of Dehalococcoidia into marine environments. However, despite the predominantly vertical evolutionary histories of flagellar motility and peptidoglycan biosynthesis, the evolution of enzymes for degradation of aromatics and plant-associated compounds was predominantly horizontal and complex. Together, the presence of these unusual traits in Dehalococcoidia and their evolutionary histories raise new questions about the timing and selective forces driving their successful niche expansion into global oceans.

Sphingosinicella terrae sp. nov. Isolated from a Desert Soil and Reclassification of Sphingomonas deserti as Sphingosinicella deserti comb. nov.

A motile, rod-shaped and yellow-coloured bacterium, designated strain SYSU D60001T, was isolated from a desert soil sample. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c) and C16:0. The respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The genomic DNA G+C content was 68%. The polar lipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and five unidentified polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain SYSU D60001T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingosinicella, with closely related strains Sphingosinicella ginsenosidimutans BS1T (95.81%), Sphingomonas deserti GL-C-18T (95.75%) and Sphingosinicella humi QZX222T (95.18%). Data from polyphasic taxonomy study suggest that the isolate represents a novel species in the genus Sphingosinicella, for which the name Sphingosinicella terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the proposed new taxon is SYSU D60001T (= DSM 104938T = KCTC 52780T = NBRC 112955T). We also propose the reclassification of Sphingomonas deserti as Sphingosinicella deserti comb. nov.

Azospirillum tabaci sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil of Nicotiana tabacum L.

Strain W712T was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Nicotiana tabacum L. collected from Kunming, south-west China. Cells were Gram-staining negative, aerobic, motile and rod shaped. The isolate grew at 20-45 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of up to 3.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%, w/v). Ubiquinone-10 was the only respiratory quinone type. Polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmehtylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids were detected as summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c or C18:1 ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c or C16:1 ω6c) and C18:1 2OH. The genomic DNA G + C content was 68.7%. The ANI values were 94.3%, 93.3% and 93.6% between Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245T, Azospirillum brasilense ATCC 49958T, Azospirillum formosense CC-Nfb-7T and strain W712T, respectively, which were lower than the prokaryotic species delineation threshold of 95.0-96.0%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between A. baldaniorum Sp245T, A. brasilense ATCC 49958T, A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T and strain W712T indicated that the candidate represents a novel genomic species. According to the phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, we propose that strain W712T warrants the assignment to a novel species, for which the name Azospirillum tabaci sp. nov. (type strain W712T = CGMCC 1.18567T = KCTC 82186T) is proposed.

Genome-based reclassification of Caldicellulosiruptor lactoaceticus and Caldicellulosiruptor kristjanssonii as later heterotypic synonyms of Caldicellulosiruptor acetigenus.

The present study was carried out to re-clarify the taxonomic relationship of Caldicellulosiruptor acetigenus, Caldicellulosiruptor lactoaceticus and Caldicellulosiruptor kristjanssonii. The 16S rRNA sequence similarities between these species of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor were above the threshold values (98.65%) for bacterial species delineation. Similarly, the digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide and amino acid identity values were greater than the thresholds for bacterial species delineation. In phylogenetic (based on 16S rRNA gene sequences) and phylogenomic trees Caldicellulosiruptor acetigenus, Caldicellulosiruptor lactoaceticus and Caldicellulosiruptor kristjanssonii clade together. The results of our analysis indicated that these three taxa are conspecific. Therefore, Caldicellulosiruptor lactoaceticus Mladenovska et al. 1997 and Caldicellulosiruptor kristjanssonii Bredholt et al. 1999 should be reclassified as later heterotypic synonyms of Caldicellulosiruptor acetigenus (Nielsen et al. 1994) Onyenwoke et al. 2006.

Marmoricola caldifontis sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from a hot spring.

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and coccoid-shaped actinobacterial strain, designated YIM 730233T, was isolated from a sediment sample, collected from a hot spring in Tibet, China. Colonies were brownish, circular, smooth and convex. Strain YIM 730233T was able to grow in the temperature range of 20-50 °C, pH 6.5-8.0 and in the presence of up to 1.0 % (w/v) NaCl. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain YIM 730233T with sequences of type strains of most closely related species of Marmoricola showed highest sequence similarities to Marmoricola bigeumensis MSL-05T (98.3%) and Marmoricola pocheonensis Gsoil 818T (98.1%). The draft genome of strain YIM 730233T had a size of 4 806 234 bp with a DNA G+C content of 72.1 mol%. The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain YIM 730233T mainly consisted of iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω9c, typical of the genus Marmoricola. Strain YIM 730233T had LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H4). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified lipid. DNA-DNA hybridizations between strain YIM 730233T and type strains of Marmoricola bigeumensis MSL-05T and Marmoricola pocheonensis Gsoil 818T resulted in similarity values of 21 and 19% respectively. Based on DNA-DNA hybridization results, together with the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic features, showed that strain YIM 730233T represents a novel Marmoricola species, for which the name Marmoricola caldifontis sp. nov. (type strain YIM 730233T=KCTC 49192T=CGMCC 4.7521T), is proposed.

Elioraea thermophila sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium from hot spring of the class Alphaproteobacteria, emended description of the genus Elioraea and proposal of Elioraeaceae fam. nov.

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, curved rod-shaped and thermophilic bacterial strain, designated YIM 72297T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. Growth was observed at pH 5.0-9.0 with an optimum of pH 7.0-7.5, and at 45-60 °C with an optimum of 55 °C. Positive for catalase and oxidase. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison indicated that strain YIM 72297T was most closely related to Elioraea tepidiphila DSM 17972T (96.9 %) and showed <91 % sequence similarities to members of the order Rhodospirillales. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YIM 72297T formed a distinct lineage within the genus Elioraea, and revealed that the genus Elioraea formed a novel family-level clade in the order Rhodospirillales. The ANI and the dDNA-DNA hybridization estimate values between strains YIM 72297T and Elioraea tepidiphila DSM 17972T were 70.8 and 20.1 %, respectively. Strain YIM 72297T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone. The major fatty acids (>5 %) were summed C18 : 0 (35.8 %), summed feature 8 (30.1 %), C16 : 0 (12.6 %), C18 : 1 2OH (5.6 %) and C16 : 0 2OH (5.4 %). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol in addition to two unidentified aminolipids. The DNA G+C content of YIM 72297T was 70.8 mol% (draft genome). On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic evidence presented in this study, strain YIM 72297T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Elioraea, for which the name Elioraea thermophila sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain YIM 72297T (=CCTCC AB 2017169T=KCTC 62323T). In addition, a novel family, Elioraeaceae fam. nov., is proposed to accommodate the genus Elioraea.

Rhodobacter thermarum sp. nov., a novel phototrophic bacterium isolated from sediment of a hot spring.

An ovoid to rod-shaped, phototrophic, purple non-sulfur bacterium was isolated from a sediment sample of a hot spring in Tibet, China. Cells of strain YIM 73036T were Gram-stain negative, non-motile and multiplied by binary fission. Strain YIM 73036T grew optimally at pH 7.0-7.5 at 37-45 °C. Growth occurred in 0.5-3.5% (w/v) NaCl. Vitamins were not required for growth. The presence of photosynthesis genes pufL and pufM were shown and photosynthesis pigments were formed. Bacteriochlorophyll α, the bacteriopheophytin and carotenoids were present as photosynthetic pigments. Internal cytoplasmic membranes were of the lamellar type. The organism YIM 73036T was able to grow chemo-organoheterophically, chemo-lithoautotrophically and photo-organoheterotrophically but photo-lithoautotrophic and fermentative growth were not demonstrated. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 73036T is closely related to Rhodobacter blasticus ATCC 33485T (96.65% sequence similarity) and clustered with species of the genus Rhodobacter of the family Rhodobacteraceae. Whole-genome sequence analyses based on the average nucleotide BLAST identity (ANI < 82%) indicated that this isolate belongs to a novel species. The genomic DNA G+C content of organism YIM 73036T was determined to be 66.0 mol%. Strain YIM 73036T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18:1ω7c, C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and C18:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and unidentified phospholipid. Differential phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties, together with the phylogenetic distinctiveness, demonstrated that strain YIM 73036T is distinguishable from other species of the genus Rhodobacter. On the basis of the data presented, strain YIM 73036T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhodobacter, for which the name Rhodobacter thermarum sp. nov. [type strain YIM 73036T (= KCTC 52712T = CCTCC AB 2016298T)] is proposed.

Aquabacterium tepidiphilum sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium, designated YIM 730274T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring located in Tibet, PR China, and was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells were motile by means of a polar flagellum. The strain was oxidase- and catalase-positive, and contained polyalkanoates and polyphosphate as storage polymers. Growth occurred at 25-50 °C, at pH 6.0-8.5 and with 0.5-1.0 % NaCl. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The known polar lipids comprised of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine. The isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 70.7 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain forms a monophyletic branch at the periphery of the evolutionary radiation occupied by the genus Aquabacterium in the class Betaproteobacteria. The most closely related phylogenetic neighbours were Aquabacterium limnoticumABP-4T (97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identity) and Aquabacterium communeB8T (97.2 % 16SrRNA gene sequence identity). DNA-DNA relatedness values between YIM 730274T and A. limnoticum KCTC 23306T (46.4±0.4 %) and A. commune DSM 11901T (42.2±1.2 %) were well below the 70 % limit for species identification. YIM 730274T was distinguishable from other members of the genus Aquabacterium by the differences in phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics. YIM 730274T merits recognition as a representative of a novel species of the genus Aquabacterium. It is proposed that the isolate should be classified in the genus Aquabacterium as representing a novel species, Aquabacteriumtepidiphilum sp. nov. The type strain is YIM 730274T (=KCTC 52716T=CCTCC AB 2016295T).

Actinoplanes deserti sp. nov., isolated from a desert soil sample.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain YIM CF22T, was isolated from a desert soil sample collected from Turpan in Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, north-western China. The taxonomic position of the strain YIM CF22T is described based on a polyphasic approach. Strain YIM CF22T was found to form irregular sporangia on agar media. It contains meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan. The major menaquinone was identified as MK-9(H4); the polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified glycolipids. The whole cell sugars were found to be ribose, mannose, galactose, glucose and xylose. The major cellular fatty acids were found to be (> 5%) iso-C16:0 (43.5%), anteiso-C17:0 (10.2%), iso-C15:0 (7.1%), C17:1 ω8c (6.3%) and iso H-C16:1 (5.9%). The G+C content was determined to be 70.8%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain YIM CF22T showed high similarity (97.0%) to Actinoplanes rishiriensis NBRC 108556T. The strain also showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to Verrucosispora sediminis CGMCC 4.3550T (96.9%) and Micromonospora tulbaghiae DSM 45142T (96.8%). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain YIM CF22T clusters with A. rishiriensis NBRC 108556T, Actinoplanes globisporus JCM 3186T and Actinoplanes rhizophilus NEAU-A-2T. Based on the differential phenotypic characteristics and the results of DNA-DNA relatedness and phylogenetic analysis, it is proposed that strain YIM CF22T represents a novel species of the genus Actinoplanes, for which the name Actinoplanes deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM CF22T (= KCTC 39543T = CCTCC AB2018113T).

Anoxybacillus sediminis sp. nov., a novel moderately thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring.

A Gram-stain positive, moderately thermophilic, aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterium, designated YIM 73012T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring located in Tibet, China, and was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. The strain is oxidase positive and catalase negative. Growth occurred at 37-65 °C (optimum, 45-50 °C), at pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.0-7.5) and with 0.5-3.5% NaCl (optimum, 0.5-1.0%, w/v). The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and C16:0. The major polar lipids comprised of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. The cell wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The respiratory quinone was MK-7. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 43.6 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain YIM 73012T forms a distinct lineage with respect to the genus Anoxybacillus in the family Bacillaceae. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence identities the closely related phylogenetic neighbours are Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus DSM 15730T (96.7%) and Saccharococcus thermophilus DSM 4749T (96.6%). Strain YIM 73012T was distinguishable from the closely related reference strains by the differences in phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, and represents a novel species of the genus Anoxybacillus, for which the name Anoxybacillus sp. nov. is proposed. The type species is Anoxybacillus sediminis sp. nov., with the type strain YIM 73012T (= KCTC 33884T = DSM 103835T).

Phenylobacterium terrae sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample of Khyber-Pakhtun-Khwa, Pakistan.

A Gram-stain negative, aerobic, motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated YIM 730227T, was isolated from a soil sample, collected from Karak district, Khyber-Pakhtun-Khwa, Pakistan. The bacterium was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Pairwise comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 730227T is closely related to Phenylobacterium lituiforme FaiI3T (97.5% sequence similarity), Phenylobacterium muchangponense A8T (97.4%), Phenylobacterium panacis DCY109T (97.1%), Phenylobacterium immobile ET (97.1%) and Phenylobacterium composti 4T-6T (97.0%), while also sharing 98.0% sequence similarity with Phenylobacterium hankyongense HKS-05T after NCBI blast, showing it represents a member of the family Caulobacteraceae. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major fatty acids were C16:0, summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and C17:0. The polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified glycolipids, phospholipid and unidentified lipid. The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 68.2 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strain YIM 730227T with P. hankyongense HKS-05T, P. lituiforme FaiI3T, P. muchangponense A8T, P. panacis DCY109T, P. immobile ET and P. composti 4T-6T were 31.3 ± 0.6, 26.1 ± 0.2, 24.3 ± 0.1, 21.8 ± 0.9, 19.8 ± 0.6 and 18.2 ± 1.1%, respectively, values lower than 70%. Besides the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences and the biochemical characteristics indicated that the strain YIM 730227T represents a novel member of the genus Phenylobacterium, for which the name Phenylobacterium terrae sp. nov. (type strain YIM 730227T = KCTC62324T = CGMCC 1.16326T) is proposed.

Tepidimonas sediminis sp. nov. and Tepidimonas alkaliphilus sp. nov., two novel moderately thermophilic species isolated from a hot spring.

The taxonomic positions of two moderately thermophilic bacteria, strains YIM 72259T and YIM 72238T, isolated from a hot spring sediment sample were determined using polyphasic taxonomic approaches. Pairwise comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains YIM 72259T and YIM 72238T are closely related to Tepidimonas ignava SPS-1037T (97.0 and 97.5%, respectively), Tepidimonas taiwanensis I1-1T (96.5 and 97.3%), while sharing 98.0% sequence similarity with each other. The DNA-DNA relatedness values of strains YIM 72238T with T. ignava SPS-1037T and T. taiwanensis I1-1T were determined to be 25.2 ± 1.2 and 24.6 ± 3.1%, respectively, while the two strains (YIM 72259T and YIM 72238T) had a relatedness value of 38.3 ± 4.4% between themselves. The two strains were aerobic, Gram-stain negative, motile by means of a polar flagellum and formed non-pigmented colonies. The DNA G+C contents of strains YIM 72259T and YIM 72238T were determined to be 71.6 and 68.9 mol%, respectively. The major fatty acids in both strains were identified as (> 10%) C16:0, C17:0 and summed feature 8, while the strain YIM 72238T contained a moderately high amount of summed feature 3 as well. The polar lipid profiles for strains YIM 72259T and YIM 72238T consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and several unidentified phospholipids. Besides the morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the biochemical characteristics indicated that the two strains represented two novel members of the genus Tepidimonas, for which the name Tepidimonas sediminis sp. nov. [type strain YIM 72259T (= NBRC 112410T = CGMCC 1.15971T) and Tepidimonas alkaliphilus sp. nov. [type strain YIM 72238T (= KCTC 52717T = CCTCC AB 2017168T)] are proposed.

Phenylobacterium deserti sp. nov., isolated from desert soil.

A novel bacterial strain, designated YIM 73061T, was isolated from the Cholistan desert in Punjab, Pakistan, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed the highest levels of sequence similarity with respect to Phenylobacterium conjunctum FWC21T (97.6 %), Phenylobacterium lituiforme FaiI3T (97.4 %), Phenylobacteriumcomposti 4T-6T (97.0 %) and Phenylobacterium aquaticum W2-3-4T (96.8 %). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and motile rods that formed orange colonies. The strain was oxidase- and catalase-positive. Growth occurred at 20-40 °C (optimum, 30-37 °C) at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-0.5 %). The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified glycolipids. The major isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 66.8 mol%. Strain YIM 73061T showed low levels of DNA-DNA relatedness to P. conjunctum FWC21T (27.2±2.6 %), P. lituiforme FaiI3T (24.6±1.1 %) and P.composti 4T-6T (18.4±3.1 %). On the basis of phylogenetic inference, chemotaxonomic characteristics and phenotypic data, strain YIM 73061T should be classified as representing a novel species, for which the name Phenylobacterium deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 73061T (=DSM 103871T=CCTCC AB 2016297T).

Caldovatus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring.

A Gram-stain-negative, ovoid-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and moderately thermophilic bacterial strain, designated strain YIM 72346T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. Growth occurred at 37-50 °C (optimum, 45 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.5-7.0) and in the presence of 0.5-1.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 %). The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C19 : 0cyclo ω8c,and C18 : 1 2-OH. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 69.8 mol%. The predominant ubiquinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. Bacteriochlorophyll α and carotenoic acids were not detected. Strain YIM 72346T was not observed for the accumulation of poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate. The strain shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence identities with Crenalkalicoccus roseus YIM 78023T (93.3 %) and Craurococcus roseus NS130T (92.7 %), but formed a distinct lineage within the family Acetobacteraceae in the phylogenetic trees. On the basis of genotypic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YIM 72346T is considered to represent a novel genus and species of the family Acetobacteraceae, for which the name Caldovatus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Caldovatus sediminis is YIM 72346T (=KCTC 52714T=CGMCC 1.16330T).

Thermus caldifontis sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring.

A thermophilic bacterial strain, designated YIM 73026T was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a hot spring in Tibet, PR China. The taxonomic position of the novel isolate was investigated by a polyphasic approach. The novel isolate was Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped. Colonies were circular, convex, opaque and yellow. The strain grew at 50-70 °C (optimum, 60 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of up to 1.0 % NaCl (w/v). Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of YIM 73026T and those of other members of the genus Thermus showed sequence similarities ranging from 91.2 to 97.5 %, with YIM 73026T showing closest sequence similarity to Thermus scotoductus SE-1T (97.5 %). DNA-DNA hybridization results, however, revealed that DNA-DNA reassociation values between YIM 73026T and T. scotoductus DSM 8553T (37.6 %), Thermusamyloliquefaciens YIM 77409T (34.5 %), Thermusantranikianii DSM 12462T (30.3 %), Thermuscaliditerrae YIM 77925T (28.6 %) and Thermustengchongensis YIM 77924T (27.3 %) were well below the 70 % limit for species identification. YIM 73026T contained MK-8 as the respiratory quinone, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids (>10 %). The polar lipids consisted of one aminophospholipid, one phospholipid and two glycolipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of YIM 73026T was 65.4 mol%. On the basis of morphological, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, it is proposed that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Thermus, for which the name Thermus caldifontis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 73026T (=NBRC 112415T=CCTCC AB 2016305T).

Nocardioides thalensis sp. nov., isolated from a desert.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated NCCP-696T, was isolated from the Thal desert in Punjab, Pakistan, and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain NCCP-696T belongs to the genus Nocardioides and showed the highest level of sequence similarity with respect to Nocardioides panacisoliGsoil 346T (98.2 %) and less than 96.4 % to the strains of other species of the genus Nocardioides. Cells of strain NCCP-696T were Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile rods and formed cream-coloured colonies. The strain was positive for oxidase and catalase. Growth occurred at 20-42 °C (optimum 30-37 °C) at pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0-4 % NaCl (optimum 0-2 %, w/v). Strain NCCP-696T contained Iso-C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c, C17 : 1ω8c and C17 : 0 as the predominant fatty acids and was found to have LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol and one unknown phospholipid. The major menaquinone was MK-8(H4) (98.7 %) while a minor amount (1.3 %) of MK-9(H2) was also detected. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.6 mol%. The DNA-DNA hybridization value of the isolate against the closely related type strain Nocardioides panacisoliGsoil 346T was 56.3±1.4. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference, chemotaxonomic characteristics and phenotypic data, strain NCCP-696T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Nocardioides thalensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NCCP-696T (=DSM 103833T=CCTCC AB 2016296T).

Meiothermus luteus sp. nov., a slightly thermophilic bacterium isolated from a hot spring.

A slightly thermophilic, aerobic bacterium, designated YIM 72257T, was isolated from a sediment sample taken from a hot spring in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. The isolate was Gram-stain-negative, non-sporulating and forms non-motile rods, appearing in chains. The isolate grew at 50-65 °C, pH 6.0-9.0 and with 0.5-1 % NaCl (w/v). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIM 72257T was most closely related to Meiothermus cateniformans LY1T (95.6 %), Meiothermus ruber DSM 1279T (95.1 %) and Meiothermus taiwanensis WR-30T (94.6 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YIM 72257T was 62.6 mol%. The main cellular fatty acids (>5 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipids consisted of an uncharacterized phospholipid and two glycolipids. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain YIM 72257T is proposed to be a representative of a novel species of the genus Meiothermus, for which the name Meiothermus luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 72257T (=KCTC 52599T=CCTCC AB 2017100T).

Sphingobacteriumsoli sp. nov., isolated from soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated YIM X0211T, was isolated from a soil sample of Shiling County, Yunnan Province, south-west China. The new isolate was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0 and with 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl. It was positive for catalase and oxidase but negative for H2S production. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIM X0211T fell within the cluster comprising Sphingobacterium species and clustered with Sphingobacterium mizutaii DSM 11724T (97.93 % similarity). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 41.2 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingolipid, and several unknown phospholipids or lipids. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain YIM X0211T and S. mizutaii DSM 11724T was 42.3±0.4 %, which is below the 70 % limit for species delineation. These chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain YIM X0211T to the genus Sphingobacterium. Based on the recorded phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, it is determined that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM X0211T (=KCTC 42696T=CGMCC 1.15966T).