Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork.

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain H21T32T, was isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana. Cells formed cocci grouped in pairs, tetrads or conglomerates, and colonies on solid medium were pale yellow. Strain H21T32T belonged to the genus Jeotgalibaca, family Carnobacteriaceae, order Lactobacillales and class Bacilli. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain showed 97.06-97.34, 96.17-96.31 and 95.93-96.07 % similarity to the type strains of Jeotgalibaca arthritidis, J. porci and J. dankookensis, respectively. The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum temperature: 30 °C), with 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum salinity: 0.5 %) and at pH 7-9 (optimum pH: 8). The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Respiratory quinones were not detected. Sugar components of the peptidoglycan were rhamnose, ribose and glucose. Amino acid components of the cell wall were l-alanine, d-glucose, l-lysine, glycine and aspartic acid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity between strain H21T32T and J. arthritidis CECT 9157T was 77.02 %, confirming that strain H21T32T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca, for which the name Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H21T32T (=KCTC 33991T=JCM 33222T).

Tabrizicola piscis sp. nov., isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean indigenous freshwater fish, Acheilognathus koreensis.

A novel Gram-negative, obligately aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated strain K13M18T, was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean indigenous fish, oily bitterling (Acheilognathus koreensis). Strain K13M18T formed creamy-pink colonies on a marine agar plate. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain K13M18T was most closely related to Tabrizicola sediminis DRYC-M-16T, sharing 97.62 % similarity with that strain. Strain K13M18T belonged to the genus Tabrizicola, which formed a cluster with Tabrizicola aquatica RCRI19T, Tabrizicola fusiformis SY72T, Tabrizicola sediminis DRYC-M-16T and Tabrizicola alkalilacus DJCT in a phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain K13M18T grown optimally in 0 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7 and 30 °C, in a marine broth medium. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c and C18 : 1 ω6c. The major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. Polar lipids of strain K13M18T contained phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, six unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. Based on genome sequencing, the DNA G+C content of strain K13M18T was 64.08 mol %, with an average nucleotide identity value, calculated by a comparative genomic analysis of strains K13M18T and T. sediminis DRYC-M-16T, of 74.82 %. Based on the phylogenetic, genotypic, and phenotypic information, strain K13M18T is proposed to be a novel species of the genus Tabrizicola. The type strain is K13M18T (=KCTC 62659T=JCM 33230T).

Flammeovirga pectinis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the Korean scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, reddish-orange-coloured, gliding bacterial strain, designated L12M1T, was isolated from the gut of the Korean scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain L12M1T formed a monophyletic clade with the strains in the genus Flammeovirga and showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flammeovirga kamogawensis YS10T (98.66 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain L12M1T were iso-C15 : 0 and C20 : 4ω6,9,12,15c. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polyamines were spermidine, cadaverine and the minor polyamine was putrescine. The DNA G+C content was 32.1 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and genotypic results indicated that strain L12M1T represents a novel species of the genus Flammeovirga, for which the name Flammeovirga pectinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L12M1T (=KCTC 62750T=JCM 33169T).

Cupriavidus sp. strain Ni-2 resistant to high concentration of nickel and its genes responsible for the tolerance by genome comparison.

The widespread use of metals influenced many researchers to examine the relationship between heavy metal toxicity and bacterial resistance. In this study, we have inoculated heavy metal-contaminated soil from Janghang region of South Korea in the nickel-containing media (20 mM Ni2+) for the enrichment. Among dozens of the colonies acquired from the several transfers and serial dilutions with the same concentrations of Ni, the strain Ni-2 was chosen for further studies. The isolates were identified for their phylogenetic affiliations using 16S rRNA gene analysis. The strain Ni-2 was close to Cupriavidus metallidurans and was found to be resistant to antibiotics of vancomycin, erythromycin, chloramphenicol, ampicillin, gentamicin, streptomycin, and kanamycin by disk diffusion method. Of the isolated strains, Ni-2 was sequenced for the whole genome, since the Ni-resistance seemed to be better than the other strains. From the genome sequence we have found that there was a total of 89 metal-resistance-related genes including 11 Ni-resistance genes, 41 heavy metal (As, Cd, Zn, Hg, Cu, and Co)-resistance genes, 22 cation-efflux genes, 4 metal pumping ATPase genes, and 11 metal transporter genes.

Iodobacter ciconiae sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from feces of oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, non-violet-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain H11R3T, was isolated from the feces of Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana, collected from Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that H11R3T formed a monophyletic clade with Iodobacter fluviatilisDSM 3764T, Iodobacter arcticusDSM 100243T, and Iodobacter limnosediminisDSM 103822T, with sequence similarities of 98.8, 98.6 and 98.4 %, respectively. H11R3T grew optimally at 15 °C, pH 8, with 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8), and polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, four unidentified phospholipids, and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 and C16 : 0, and the DNA G+C content of the genome is 48.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains H11R3T and I. fluviatilis NCTC 11159T (=DSM 3764T) is 83.7 %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain H11R3T represents a novel species of the genus Iodobacter for which the name Iodobacterciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H11R3T (=KCTC 62666T=JCM 33283T).

Undibacterium piscinae sp. nov., isolated from Korean shiner intestine.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, obligate aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, and flagellated bacterium, designated S11R28T, was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean shiner, Coreoleuciscus splendidus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain S11R28T was identified as member of the genus Undibacterium in class Betaproteobacteria, and was closely related to Undibacterium parvum DSM 23061T (98.49 %). The isolate grew at 4-25 °C, pH 6-9, with 0 % (w/v) NaCl, and grew optimally at 20 °C, pH 8, in the absence of NaCl. The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 and summed features 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The strain possessed diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine as predominant polar lipids, and ubiquinone Q-8 as a respiratory quinone. The polyamine profile composed of 2-hydroxyputrescine, spermidine, putrescine, and benzoic acid. A genomic DNA G+C content was 51.4 mol%. The average nucleotide identity between strains S11R28T and U. parvum DSM 23061T was 78.66 %. Thus, Undibacterium piscinae can be considered a novel species within the genus Undibacterium with the type strain S11R28T (=KCTC 62668T=JCM 33224T).

KSHV vPK inhibits Wnt signaling via preventing interactions between ß-catenin and TCF4.

Viral factors interact with host cellular proteins, leading to dysregulation of signaling pathways. The Wnt pathway is known to participate in embryonic development and oncogenesis under dysregulation conditions. A downstream factor of the Wnt signaling pathway, ß-catenin, activates T-cell factor (TCF)-dependent transcription, which contributes to cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. In this study, we demonstrated that viral protein kinase (vPK) encoded by Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus inhibits the Wnt signaling pathway without affecting nuclear localization and expression of ß-catenin. Coimmunoprecipitation and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that vPK interacts with ß-catenin, reducing the binding affinity on TCF binding regions as well as interactions of ß-catenin with TCF4. Overexpression of vPK led to reduced mRNA expression of cyclin D1, a well-known transcriptional product of Wnt signaling, suggesting that vPK effectively regulates the host signaling pathway through direct interactions with cellular proteins.

Deinococcus irradiatisoli sp. nov., isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil.

Strain 17bor-2T, a gamma-resistant, pink-to-red-coloured, aerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and Gram-stain-negative bacterium, was isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil. The isolate grew aerobically at 18-37 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (pH 6.5-7.5) and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (0 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain 17bor-2T belonged to the genus Deinococcus with a highest sequence similarity of 96.4 % to Deinococcus alpinitundrae ME-04-04-52T. The major fatty acids of the strain were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and cyclo C17 : 0. The only respiratory quinone was MK-8. The major polar lipids of the strain were phosphoglycolipid, aminophospholipid and an unknown glycolipid. The DNA G+C content of strain 17bor-2T was 62.8 mol%. On the basis of its phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain 17bor-2T should be classified as a novel species in the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcusirradiatisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 17bor-2T (=KCTC 33907T=NBRC 113037T).

Adhaeribacter swui sp. nov., isolated from wet mud.

Strain 17mud1-7T, a pink, aerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-positive and Gram-reaction-negative bacterium, was isolated from wet mud. The isolate grew aerobically at 18-37 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 17mud1-7T belonged to the genus Adhaeribacter with highest sequence similarity of 96.4 % to Adhaeribacter aerophilus 6424S-25T. The strain showed the typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Adhaeribacter, with the presence of menaquinone MK-7 as the respiratory quinone, and summed feature 4 (composed of iso-C17 : 1 I/anteiso-C17 : 1 B), iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω5c as the major fatty acids are. The polar lipid profile contained two aminophosphoglycolipids, two glycolipids and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain 17mud1-7T was 45.9 mol%. Strain 17mud1-7T should thus be classified as representing a novel species in the genus Adhaeribacter, for which the name Adhaeribacter swui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 17mud1-7T (=KCTC 52873T=NBRC 112824T).

Brevibacterium hankyongi sp. nov., isolated from compost.

A Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, milky-white to creamy coloured and rod-shaped bacterium, designated BS05T, was isolated from compost. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that the strain formed a distinct lineage within the genus Brevibacterium and was most closely related to Brevibacterium avium NCFB 3055T (96.3 %), Brevibacterium oceani BBH7T (96.2 %) and Brevibacterium epidermidis NBRC 14811T (96.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 62.3 mol%. The predominant quinone was MK-8(H2). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain BS05T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylglycerol. Moreover, the low sequence similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequencing, physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic analyses allowed the phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of strain BS05T from the recognized species of the genus Brevibacterium. Therefore, strain BS05T represents a novel species of the genus Brevibacterium, for which the name Brevibacteriumhankyongi sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain BS05T (=KACC 18875T=LMG 29562T).

Roseomonas radiodurans sp. nov., a gamma-radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil.

A bacterial strain, designated 17Sr1-1T, was isolated from gamma ray-irradiated soil. Cells of this strain were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile and non-spore-forming rods. Growth occurred at 18-42 ˚C and pH 6.0-8.0, but no growth occurred at 2 % NaCl concentration. The major fatty acids of strain 17Sr1-1T were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), iso-C17 : 1ω5c and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and four unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of 17Sr1-1T was 71.9 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 17Sr1-1T was phylogenetically related to Roseomonas pecuniae N75T and Roseomonas rosea 173-96T (96.6 and 96.3 % sequence similarity, respectively). The genotypic and phenotypic data showed that strain 17Sr1-1T could be distinguished from its phylogenetically related species, and that this strain represented a novel species within the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas radiodurans sp. nov. (type strain 17Sr1-1T=KCTC 52899T=NBRC 112872T) is proposed as the first reported gamma ray-resistant Roseomonas species.

Sphingomonas aquatica sp. nov., isolated from tap water.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated W1-2-1T, was isolated from tap water in South Korea. The strain was characterized by a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain W1-2-1T grew at 18-42 °C and at pH 6.0-10.0 on R2A medium. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Sphingomonas and is most closely related to the Sphingomonas oligophenolica JCM 12082T (97.2 % similarity), Sphingomonas asaccharolyticaNBRC 15499T (96.8 %), Sphingomonas desiccabilis CP1DT (96.8 %), Sphingomonas pruniNBRC 15498T (96.8 %), Sphingomonas hankookensis ODN7T (96.4 %) and Sphingomonas yabuuchiae DSM 14562T (95.8 %). Chemotaxonomic data [major ubiquinone - Q10, major polyamine - homospermidine, major fatty acids - summed feature 8 (C18  : 1ω7c/ω6c), C16 : 0 and C14 : 0 2-OH and presence of sphingoglycolipid] supported the affiliation of the strain to the genus Sphingomonas. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 67.1 mol%. However, low level of DNA-DNA relatedness value between strain W1-2-1T and S. oligophenolica JCM 12082T and the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain W1-2-1T from other Sphingomonas species with validly published names. Therefore, the isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Sphingomonas aquatica sp. nov. (type strain W1-2-1T=KACC 18309T=LMG 28596T) is proposed.

Deinococcus ruber sp. nov., a radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from soil.

Two gamma- and UVC-resistant bacterial strains, designated JSH3-1T and 9-2-2, were isolated from garden soil in South Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile and spherical. A polyphasic approach was used to study the taxonomic properties of strains JSH3-1T and 9-2-2. Phylogenetic analysis based on nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains JSH3-1T and 9-2-2 indicated highest similarity with Deinococcus radiomollis PO-04-20-132T (94.7 and 94.9 %, respectively); levels of sequence similarity with the type strains of other Deinococcus species were less than 94.0 %. Strains JSH3-1T and 9-2-2 shared relatively high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.7 %) and had a high DNA reassociation value of 81±0.5 %. Meanwhile, they showed low levels of DNA reassociation (<25 %) with other closely related species of the genus Deinococcus. The two strains showed chemotaxonomic features typical of the genus Deinococcus, with the presence of menaquinone 8 as the respiratory quinone. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C17 : 0, iso-C13 : 0 and anteiso-C13 : 0. The polar lipids comprised phosphoglycolipid, aminophospholipid, glycolipid and unknown aminolipids. The DNA G+C contents of strains JSH3-1T and 9-2-2 were 62.0 and 61.9 mol%, respectively. On the basis of their phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, and phylogenetic distinction, strains JSH3-1T (=KCTC 33790T=JCM 31311T) and 9-2-2 (=KCTC 33789=JCM 31310) should be classified within a novel species of the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus ruber sp. nov. is proposed.

Anseongella ginsenosidimutans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from soil cultivating ginseng.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, oxidase and catalase-positive, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain Gsoil 524T, was isolated from the soil of a ginseng field and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, placed Gsoil 524T in a distinct lineage in the family Sphingobacteriaceae, sharing 87.2-88.0 % sequence similarity with members of the closely related genera Pedobacter, Mucilaginibacter and Solitalea. Strain Gsoil 524T contained MK-7 as the predominant quinone, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and C16 : 1ω5c as the major fatty acids. Strain Gsoil 524T could be distinguished from the other members of the family Sphingobacteriaceae by a number of chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics. The major polar lipids in strain Gsoil 524T were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified polar lipids. Compared with the standard and reference strains unidentified sphingolipid was also found. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain Gsoil 524T represents a novel species within a novel genus, for which the name Anseongella ginsenosidimutans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Anseongella ginsenosidimutans is Gsoil 524T ( = KACC 14636T = KCTC 22261T = LMG 24494T).

Marmoricola ginsengisoli sp. nov. and Marmoricola pocheonensis sp. nov. isolated from a ginseng-cultivating field.

Two novel actinobacteria, designated strains Gsoil 097T and Gsoil 818T, isolated from soil of a ginseng field, South Korea, were characterized by a polyphasic approach to clarify their taxonomic positions. They were Gram-reaction-positive, aerobic, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that both isolates belong to the genus Marmoricola and were related most closely to Marmicola solisilvae KIS18-7T (99.1 and 98.3 % similarity, respectively), Marmicola terrae JOS5-1T (97.9 and 97.9 %), Marmicola scoriae Sco-D01T (97.8 and 97.1 %) and Marmicola aequoreus SST-45T (97.5 and 97.0 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 68.8 and 70.0 mol%, respectively. Both strains were characterized chemotaxonomically as having ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone and C17 : 1ω6c, C18 : 1ω9c, C18 : 0 10-methyl and iso-C16 : 0 as major fatty acids. These chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of both strains to the genus Marmoricola. However, levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between the two strains and closely related type strains of Marmoricola species were less than 30 %. Moreover, the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the phenotypic differentiation of strains Gsoil 097T and Gsoil 818T from other Marmoricola species with validly published names. Therefore, the two isolates represent two novel species, for which the names Marmoricola ginsengisoli sp. nov. (type strain Gsoil 097T = KACC 14267T = DSM 22772T) and Marmoricola pocheonensis sp. nov. (type strain Gsoil 818T = KACC 14275T = DSM 22773T) are proposed.

Deinococcus actinosclerus sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from soil of a rocky hillside.

Three Gram-stain-positive, catalase- and oxidase-positive coccus- or rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated BM2T, BM4 and BM5, were isolated from soil in South Korea. They showed strong resistance to gamma radiation with a D10 value of 9 kGy but weak UVC resistance. The 16S rRNA sequences of strains BM2T, BM4 and BM5 represent a novel subline within the genus Deinococcus in the family Deinococcaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains BM2T, BM4 and BM5 were indistinguishable and showed 98.1-87.3 % similarity with other species of the genus Deinococcus. Strain BM2T exhibited relatively high levels of DNA-DNA hybridization with BM4 (87 ± 0.8 %) and BM5 (92 ± 1.2 %). Meanwhile, it showed a low level of DNA-DNA hybridization ( < 30 %) with other closely related species of the genus Deinococcus. The strains showed the typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Deinococcus, with the presence of menaquinone 8 as the respiratory quinone; the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (composed of C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c), C15 : 1ω6c and C16 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain BM2T was 69.7 mol%. The polar lipid profile included major amounts of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and an unknown aminolipid. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties, and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strains BM2T, BM4 and BM5 should be classified in a novel species in the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus actinosclerus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BM2T ( = KEMB 5401-184T = JCM 30700T); reference strains are BM4 ( = JCM 30701) and BM5 ( = JCM 30702).

Deinococcus persicinus sp. nov., a radiation-resistant bacterium from soil.

Two Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, aerobic and coccus-shaped bacterial strains, KSY3-6T and JSH6-18, were isolated from soil in South Korea. Strains KSY3-6T and JSH6-18 showed high resistance to gamma-ray and UVC irradiation. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains KSY3-6T and JSH6-18 showed a novel subline within the genus Deinococcus in the family Deinococcaceae. They shared 94.8-86.4 % nucleotide similarities with other species of the genus Deinococcus. Strain KSY3-6T exhibited high DNA-DNA hybridization values with JSH6-18 (77±0.8 %). The two strains showed typical chemotaxonomic characteristics of the genus Deinococcus, including the presence of menaquinone 8 (MK-8) as predominant respiratory quinone and C16 : 0, C17 : 0cyclo and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16: 1ω6c) as major fatty acids. The G+C content of the DNA of strains KSY3-6T and JSH6-18 was 62.0 and 62.4 mol%, respectively. Polar lipids in strains KSY3-6T and JSH6-18 were mainly phosphoglycolipids. Based on their phenotypic and genotypic properties, strains KSY3-6T and JSH6-18 should be classified as representatives of a novel species in the genus Deinococcus, for which the name Deinococcus persicinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KSY3-6T (=KCTC 33787T=JCM 31313T). The reference strain is JSH6-18 (=KCTC 33788=JCM 31312).

Flavisolibacter tropicus sp. nov., isolated from tropical soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, deep yellow, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain LCS9T, was isolated from a soil sample at the tropical zone within the Ecorium of the National Institute of Ecology in Seocheon, central-western Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain LCS9T clustered with members of the genus Flavisolibacter of the family Chitinophagaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes. Sequence similarities between strain LCS9T and the type strains of the genus Flavisolibacter ranged from 94.6 to 94.9 %. Strain LCS9T grew at 10-37 °C (optimum, 25 °C) and at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7); was positive for catalase and oxidase; and negative for nitrate reduction and production of indole. Cells showed pigment absorbance peaks at 451 and 479 nm, and had 0.03 % survival following exposure to 3 kGy gamma radiation. Strain LCS9T had the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: the major quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7); the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH; polar lipids included phosphoatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, unidentified aminolipidsand unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 39.4 mol%. Based on polyphasic analysis, the type strain LCS9T (=KCTC 42070T=JCM 19972T) represents a novel species for which the name Flavisolibacter tropicus sp. nov. is proposed. Radiation resistance in the genus Flavisolibacter has not been reported to date, and so this is the first report of low-level radiation resistance of a member of the genus.

Flavisolibacter ginsenosidimutans sp. nov., with ginsenoside-converting activity isolated from soil used for cultivating ginseng.

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain designated Gsoil 636T was isolated from soil of a ginseng cultivation field in Pocheon Province, South Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Gsoil 636T grew at 18-30 °C and at pH 6.0-8.0 on R2A medium. Gsoil 636T possessed ß-glucosidase activity, which was responsible for its ability to transform ginsenoside Rb1 (ones of the dominant active components of ginseng) to F2. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, Gsoil 636T was shown to belong to the family Chitinophagaceae and to be related to Flavisolibacter ginsengiterrae Gsoil 492T (96.7 % sequence similarity), Flavisolibacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 643T (96.6 %) and Flavisolibacter rigui 02SUJ3T (96.6 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 48.9 %. The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. DNA and chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of Gsoil 636T to the genus Flavisolibacter. Gsoil 636T could be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from the species of the genus Flavisolibacter with validly published names. The isolate therefore represents a novel species, for which the name Flavisolibacter ginsenosidimutans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Gsoil 636T (KCTC 22818T = JCM 18197T = KACC 14277T).

Nocardioides ungokensis sp. nov., isolated from lake sediment.

A Gram-reaction-positive, aerobic, coccus- to rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium (strain UKS-03T) was isolated from a sediment sample of Ungok Lake in Gochang, Republic of Korea. The taxonomic position of this bacterium was determined in an investigation based on a polyphasic approach. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain UKS-03T was shown to belong to the family Nocardioidaceae and to be related most closely to Nocardioides ginsengisegetis Gsoil 485T (98.5 % similarity), Nocardioides koreensis MSL-09T (98.4 %) and 'Nocardioides panaciterrulae' Gsoil 958 (97.3 %). Strain UKS-03T was characterized chemotaxonomically as having ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in its cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as the main polar lipids, and iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω8c and C17 : 0 10-methyl as its major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71.9 mol%. Mean DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain UKS-03T and N. ginsengisegetis Gsoil 485T, N. koreensis KCTC 19272T and 'N. panaciterrulae' Gsoil 958 were 37.5 ± 7.2, 6.8 ± 0.9 and 3.1 ± 0.7 %, respectively. On the basis of the data from this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain UKS-03T represents a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides ungokensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is UKS-03T ( = KACC 18304T = LMG 28591T).