Paracoccus haematequi sp. nov., isolated from horse blood.

Two slightly orange-pigmented, oxidase-positive bacterial strains (M1-83T and M2-116), isolated from horse blood collected during slaughter in Giessen, Germany, were studied in a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of the isolates were coccoid and stained Gram-negative. The two strains shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences but their genomic fingerprint patterns differed, indicating the genetic distinctiveness of the two strains. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain M1-83T with sequences of the type strains of the most closely related Paracoccus species showed highest sequence similarities to Paracoccus acridae (98.2 %) and Paracoccus aerius (98.1 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Paracoccus species were below 97.6 %. The fatty acid profile of the two strains consisted mainly of the major fatty acids C18 : 1 ω7c and C18:0, which is typical for the genus Paracoccus. The polyamine patterns of strain M1-83T contained major amounts of putrescine and spermidine. The major quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipid profile was characterized by the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified glycolipid. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments between M1-83T and the type strains of P. acridae and P. aerius resulted in similarity values of 17 % (reciprocal, 60 %) and 23 % (reciprocal 30 %), respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization results together with the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties showed that strain M1-83T represents a novel Paracoccusspecies, for which the name Paracoccus haematequi sp. nov. (type strain M1-83T=LMG 30633T=CIP 111624T=CCM 8857T), is proposed.

Niabella hirudinis and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana.

Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, strains E96(T) and E90(T), were isolated from medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) and characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the two strains shared 98.1% sequence similarity and were affiliated with the genus Niabella within the phylum Bacteroidetes, with 94.4-97.6% sequence similarity to type strains of species of the genus Niabella and highest sequence similarity to the type strain of Niabella aurantiaca (97.3 and 97.6%, respectively). Niabella-related 16S rRNA gene sequences were recently detected in the bladders of Hirudo verbana; however, no cultured representatives were so far available. Genomic fingerprint analysis using repetitive element primed (rep)- and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCRs and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments clearly showed that the strains were different from each other (DNA-DNA relatedness values of 39.1%, reciprocal 28.0%) and from the type strains of N. aurantiaca (<19.7%) and Niabella tibetensis (<41.1%). Chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed the affiliation to the genus Niabella. Both strains contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids of both strains were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, iso-C17:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH), which is characteristic for the genus Niabella. Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and physiological characterization, we propose two novel species of the genus Niabella, Niabella hirudinis sp. nov., with strain E96(T) ( =DSM 25812(T) =CCM 8411(T) =LMG 26956(T)) as the type strain, and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., with strain E90(T) ( =DSM 25811(T) =CCM 8410(T) =LMG 26954(T)) as the type strain.

Kaistia hirudinis sp. nov., isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana and studied for its taxonomic allocation. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to other strains showed that the strain was closely related to species of the genus Kaistia. Kaistia geumhonensis was shown to be the most closely related species (96.8%), followed by Kaistia soli (96.6%) and Kaistia dalseonensis (96.2%). All other species of the genus Kaistia showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities <96%. Chemotaxonomic data for strain E94(T) (major ubiquinone: Q-10; major polar lipids: diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, unknown phospholipids, aminolipids and aminophospholipids; and major fatty acids: C(18:1)ω7c, C(19:0)ω8c cylco, C(16:0) and C(18:0)) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Kaistia. Phenotypic differentiation of strain E94(T) from all species of the genus Kaistia was possible using different physiological characters. Strain E94(T) represents a novel species of the genus Kaistia, for which the name Kaistia hirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E94(T) ( = LMG 26925(T) =CIP 110381(T) =CCM 8401(T)).

Devosia epidermidihirudinis sp. nov. isolated from the surface of a medical leech.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped organism, isolated from the surface of the medical leech Hirudo verbana was characterized phenotypically and genotypically. The calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to those of the most closely related species grouped strain E84(T) into the genus Devosia showing the highest similarities to Devosia limi (98.1 %), followed by Devosia psychrophila (97.9 %), Devosia neptuniae (97.3 %), and Devosia glacialis (97.5 %). Chemotaxonomic analyses showed that the major quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and three glycolipids. The major fatty acid profile consisted of C18:1 ω7c 11-methyl, C19:0 cyclo ω8c, and C16:0, C18:0 and C18:1 ω7c with C18:0 3OH as hydroxylated fatty acid. This profile is very similar to those of the patterns reported for the already described Devosia species. The results of DNA-DNA hybridization, physiological and biochemical tests allowed both genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain E84(T) from all other Devosia species suggesting a novel species for which the name Devosia epidermidihirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E84(T) (=CIP 110375(T) = LMG 26909(T) = CCM 8398(T)).

Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov., isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana.

A Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain E103(T), was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the isolate was closely related to species of the genus Castellaniella. Castellaniella ginsengisoli DCY36(T) was shown to be the most closely related (98.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Castellaniella denitrificans NKNTAU(T) and Castellaniella daejeonensis MJ06(T) (both 97.8 %), then Castellaniella caeni Ho-11(T) (97.5 %). Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone, Q-8; major polar lipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylserine; predominant polyamine, putrescine with a moderate amount of 2-hydroxyputrescine; and major fatty acids, C(17 : 0) cyclo, C(16 : 0) and summed feature 4 comprising C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Castellaniella. DNA-DNA hybridization values with the type strains of all species of the genus Castellaniella were 23 % (reciprocal, 18 %) with C. ginsengisoli KCTC 22398(T), 20 % (26 %) with C. daejeonensis KCTC 22454(T), 11 % (58 %) with C. denitrificans DSM 11046(T) and 13 % (12 %) with C. caeni KCTC 12197(T)(.) Phenotypic differentiation of strain E103(T) from its closest neighbours was possible. Strain E103(T) therefore represents a novel species of the genus Castellaniella, for which the name Castellaniella hirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E103(T) ( = CCUG 62394(T) = LMG 26910(T)).

Luteolibacter cuticulihirudinis sp. nov., isolated from Hirudo medicinalis.

A Gram-negative, coccoid shaped bacterium isolated from the outer surface of the medicinal leech Hirudo medicinalis was characterized. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that the bacterium was closely related to species of the genus Luteolibacter. Luteolibacter pohnpeiensis was the most closely related species (94.6 % sequence similarity), followed by Luteolibacter luojiensis (93.4 %) and Luteolibacter algae (93.3 %). Chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone: MK-9; major polar lipids: phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol; and major fatty acids: iso-C(14:0), C(16:0), iso-C(16:1), and anteiso-C(15:0)) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Luteolibacter. DNA-DNA hybridizations with the type strain of L. pohnpeiensis was 31 % (reciprocal value 30 %). A phenotypic differentiation of strain E100(T) from L. pohnpeiensis and the other Luteolibacter species was possible by several physiological tests. We conclude Strain E100(T) represents a novel species, for which we propose the name Luteolibacter cuticulihirudinis sp. nov. with the type strain E100(T) (=CCM 8400(T) = LMG 26924(T)).

Pseudarcicella hirudinis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis.

A pinkish-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain E92(T), was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo medicinalis, on R2A agar. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strain E92(T) showed a relatively low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (93.0-93.5 %) to representatives of the genus Arcicella and 91.5-92.0 % to members of the genus Flectobacillus. The polar lipid profile was composed of the major compounds phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified polar lipid; glycolipids were not detected. The major quinone was menquinone MK-7, and the major compound in the polyamine pattern was spermidine. The predominant fatty acids were C(16 : 1)ω5c and C(16 : 1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH (detected as summed feature 3). The isolate did not contain C(14 : 0) or the hydroxyl fatty acid iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH found in all representatives of the genera Arcicella and Flectobacillus, but did produce C(18 : 1)ω7c and 11-methyl C(18 : 1)ω7c which are not found in these two genera. The DNA G+C content of strain E92(T) was 64.4 mol%. The unique 16S rRNA gene sequence, and specific chemotaxonomic and physiological data revealed that strain E92(T) represents a new genus in the family Cytophagaceae for which we propose the name Pseudarcicella hirudinis gen. nov., sp. nov., with the type strain of the type species as E92(T) (= LMG 26720(T) = CCM 7988(T)).