Muricauda meishanensis sp. nov., a facultative anaerobic bacterium belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from marine sediment in the East China Sea.

A facultative anaerobic, Gram-strain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium (strain NBU2970T) was isolated by using modified ichip in situ cultivation from a marine sediment sample collected from Meishan Island in the East China Sea. Strain NBU2970T grew optimally at 37 °C, with a NaCl concentration of 2.0 % (w/v) and at pH 7.0. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses revealed that strain NBU2970T represents a novel species with the genus Muricauda, sharing highest sequence identities with Muricauda beolgyonensis BB-My12T (96.1 %), Muricauda alvinocaridis SCR12T (96.0 %), Muricauda taeanensis 105T (96.0 %) and Muricauda ruestringensis B1T (95.6 %). Phylogenetic analyses also indicated that strain NBU2970T clustered with the genus Muricauda and was closely related to M. beolgyonensis BB-My12T and M. ruestringensis B1T. The draft genome sequence of strain NBU2970T was composed of six contigs with a size of 3.2 Mbp, containing 3045 protein-coding genes and 38 RNA genes. The DNA G+C content was 43.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NBU2970T and related species of the genus Muricauda were well below the threshold limit for prokaryotic species delineation. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The only respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain NBU2970T is considered to be a representative of a novel species in the genus Muricauda, for which the name Muricauda meishanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBU2970T (=KCTC 82915T=MCCC 1K06394T).

Pontibacter liquoris sp. nov. and Pontibacter vulgaris sp. nov., two novel bacteria isolated from the pit mud of Chinese liquor.

Two pink-pigmented bacterial strains, designated NBU2971T and NBU2972T, were isolated from the pit mud of a Chinese liquor. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strains NBU2971T and NBU2972T formed a distinct lineage within the family Hymenobacteraceae and were closely related to members of the genus Pontibacter. 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain NBU2971T showed highest similarity of 97.9 % to Pontibacter arcticus 2b14T, and strain NBU2972T showed the highest similarity of 96.9 % to Pontibacter deserti JC215T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two novel strains were 95.2, 73.8 and 19.6 %, respectively, suggesting that they represent different species. The ANI and dDDH values between two novel strains and related species of genus Pontibacter were well below the threshold limit for prokaryotic species delineation. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains NBU2971T and NBU2972T were 51.3 and 44.5 mol%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of the two novel strains were iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B). The major polar lipid of both novel strains was phosphatidylethanolamine. The only respiratory quinone was MK-7. Combining results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strains NBU2971T and NBU2972T are considered to be two representatives in the genus Pontibacter, which the name Pontibacter liquoris sp. nov. and Pontibacter vulgaris sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains of the new species are NBU2971T (=KCTC 82916T=MCCC 1K06395T) and NBU2972T (=KCTC 82917T=MCCC 1K06396T), respectively.

Oricola nitratireducens sp. nov., a novel nitrate reducing bacterium isolated from marine sediment in East China Sea.

A novel strain designated NBU1457T, was isolated from marine sediment sampled on Meishan Island located in the East China Sea. Cells of strain NBU1457T was Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and ovoid-shaped. Strain NBU1457T grew optimally at 37 °C, NaCl concentration of 2.0-3.0% (w/v) and pH 6.5-7.5. Catalase and oxidase activities, urease, nitrate reduction and H2S production were positive. Indole production, methyl red reaction, hydrolysis of starch, gelatin, casein, Tweens 20, 40, 60 and 80 were negative. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarities to the species with validated name Oricola thermophila MEBiC13590T (98.8%), Oricola cellulosilytica CC-AMH-0 T (97.9%) and Oricola indica JL-62 T (97.9%). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain NBU1457T clustered with the genus Oricola and closely related to strains Oricola thermophila MEBiC13590T, Oricola cellulosilytica CC-AMH-0 T and Oricola indica JL-62 T. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NBU1457T and related species of genus Oricola were well below the threshold limit for prokaryotic species delineation. The DNA G + C content was 63.2%. The major cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, sulfoquinovosyldiacylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). Combining results of our phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain NBU1457T is considered to be a representative in the genus Oricola, which the name Oricola nitratireducens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the new species is NBU1457T (= KCTC 82225 T = MCCC 1K04764T).

Luteolibacter marinus sp. nov., a novel bacterium in the family Verrucomicrobiaceae, isolated from marine sediment.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated NBU1238T, was isolated from marine sediment sampled on Meishan Island located in the East China Sea. Strain NBU1238T was able to grow optimally at 28-32 °C, at pH 7.5 and with no NaCl. Catalase and oxidase activities, H2S production and hydrolysis of Tweens 40 and 60 were positive. Methyl red reaction, Voges-Proskauer test and hydrolysis of starch, casein and Tweens 20 and 80 were negative. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω9c and C14 : 0. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-9. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylmethylethanolamine. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain NBU1238T showed 95.6, 95.6, 94.8 and 93.8% sequence similarity to Luteolibacter flavescens GKXT, Luteolibacter luteus G-1-1-1T, Luteolibacter arcticus MC 3726T and Luteolibacter pohnpeiensis A4T-83T, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain NBU1238T clustered with the genus Luteolibacter and was closely related to strains L. flavescens GKXT, L. arcticus MC 3726T and L. luteus G-1-1-1T. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NBU1238T and related species of genus Luteolibacter were well below the threshold limit for prokaryotic species delineation. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.0 mol%. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain NBU1238T is considered to be a representative of a novel species in the genus Luteolibacter, for which the name Luteolibacter marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBU1238T (=KCTC 82227T=MCCC 1K04772T).

Hanstruepera marina sp. nov. and Hanstruepera flava sp. nov., two novel species in the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated by a modified in situ cultivation technique from marine sediment.

A modified in situ cultivation technique was developed and applied to resource mining of uncultured microbes from marine sediments of Meishan Island in the East China Sea. Two novel strains NBU2968T and NBU2984T were isolated by this method but not standard Petri dish, which indicated the modified technique was more effective compared to conventional approaches for isolating uncultured microbes and could be popularized and applied to other aquatic environments. The two novel strains were identified by the polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of both strains were observed to be Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, nonmotile, aerobic, and yellow-pigmented. Catalase and oxidase activities and hydrolysis of Tweens 40, 60, and 80 of two novel strains were positive. Methyl red reaction, H2S production, and hydrolysis of Tween 20 were negative. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, two novel strains shared the highest similarities (96.4-97.7%) to the species with a validated name in the genus Hanstruepera, while shared lower sequence similarities (<95.6%) to all other genera. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strains NBU2968T and NBU2984T were affiliated with the genus Hanstruepera. ANI and dDDH values between the two novel strains and Hanstruepera species were 77.4-78.3% and 20.4-20.9%, respectively, which were below the thresholds for species delineation. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, ANI, and dDDH values between the two novel strains were 99.3, 88.9, and 36.3%, respectively, indicating that the two strains represent different species. The genomes of NBU2968T and NBU2984T were 3.28 Mbp with a G+C content of 34.2% and 3.09 Mbp with a G+C content of 34.4%, respectively. The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1G, and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The major polar lipids of the two strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified amino lipids, and unidentified lipids. Based on the above polyphasic characteristics, strains NBU2968T and NBU2984T represent two novel species within the genus Hanstruepera, for which the names Hanstruepera marina sp. nov. and Hanstruepera flava sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are NBU2968T (= MCCC 1K06392T= KCTC 82913T) and NBU2984T (= MCCC 1K07472T= KCTC 92511T), respectively.

Nisaea sediminum sp. nov., a heavy metal resistant bacterium isolated from marine sediment in the East China Sea.

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, motile and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated NBU1469T, was isolated from marine sediment sampled on Meishan Island located in the East China Sea. Strain NBU1469T grew optimally at temperature of 40 °C, NaCl concentration of 2.0% (w/v) and pH 7.5. Catalase and oxidase activities, H2S production, nitrate reduction and hydrolysis of Tween 20 were positive. Indole, methyl red reaction, urease, hydrolysis of gelatin, starch, casein, Tweens 40, 60 and 80 were negative. The major cellular fatty acids were C16:0, C19:0 cyclo ω8c and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c). The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified amino-phospholipids and two unidentified phospholipids. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarities to the species with validated name Nisaea nitritireducens DR41_18T (98.1%) and Nisaea denitrificans DR41_21T (97.6%). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain NBU1469T formed a distinct lineage with strains Nisaea nitritireducens DR41_18T and Nisaea denitrificans DR41_21T within the genus Nisaea. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain NBU1469T and related species of genus Nisaea were well below the threshold limit for prokaryotic species delineation. The DNA G + C content was 63.6%. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain NBU1469T is considered to be a representative of a novel species in the genus Nisaea, for which the name Nisaea sediminum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBU1469T (=KCTC 82224 T =MCCC 1K04763T).

Microbulbifer hainanensis sp. nov., a moderately halopilic bacterium isolated from mangrove sediment.

A new bacterium was successfully isolated from a mangrove sediment sample in Haikou City, Hainan Province, China. The organism is a Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile and strictly aerobic bacterium, named NBU-8HK146T. Strain NBU-8HK146T was able to grow at temperatures of 10-40 °C, at salinities of 0-11% (w/v) and at pH 5.5-9.5. Veoges-Proskauer, methyl red reaction and hydrolysis of Tween 20 were negative. Catalase and oxidase activities, H2S production, hydrolysis of starch, casein, Tweens 40, 60 and 80 were positive. The major cellular fatty acids were C16:0, iso-C15:0 and summed feature 9. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified glycolipids. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain NBU-8HK146T shared 98.0%, 97.9%, 97.7%, 97.6% and 97.3% similarities to the species with validated name Microbulbifer taiwanensis CC-LN1-12T, Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae Cs16bT, Microbulbifer marinus Y215T, Microbulbifer donghaiensis CN85T and Microbulbifer aggregans CCB-MM1T, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain NBU-8HK146T formed a distinct lineage with strains Microbulbifer taiwanensis CC-LN1-12T and Microbulbifer marinus Y215T. Both digital DNA-DNA hybridization values (19.5-22.7%) and average nucleotide identity values (73.2-78.9%) between strain NBU-8HK146T and related species of genus Microbulbifer were below the species delineation cutoffs. The DNA G+C content was 58.9 mol%. Many proteins involving in the adaption of osmotic stress in the salt environment of mangrove were predicted in genome of strain NBU-8HK146T. From phenotypic, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain NBU-8HK146T can be regarded as a new Microbulbifer species for which the name Microbulbifer hainanensis. The type strain is NBU-8HK146T (= KCTC 82226T = MCCC 1K04737T).

Shimia sediminis sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from marine sediment in the East China Sea.

A Gram-stain-negative, ovoid-shaped, motile and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated ZQ172T, was isolated from marine sediment sampled on Zhoushan Island located in the East China Sea. Strain ZQ172T grew optimally at temperatures of 25-30 °C, at NaCl concentration of 2.0 % (w/v) and at pH 7.0-8.5. Catalase and oxidase activities, urease, and nitrate reduction were positive. Indole production, methyl red reaction, H2S production and hydrolysis of gelatin, starch, casein and Tweens 20, 40, 60 and 80 were negative. The major cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed highest similarities to Shimia aestuarii JC2049T (97.5 %), Shimia abyssi JAMH 043T (97.5 %) and Shimia thalassica CECT 7735T (97.3 %). Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain ZQ172T clustered with the genus Shimia and was closely related to Shimia thalassica CECT 7735T. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain ZQ172T and related species of the genus Shimia were well below the threshold limit for prokaryotic species delineation. The DNA G+C content was 59.6 mol%. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data, strain ZQ172T is considered to be a representative of a novel species in the genus Shimia, for which the name Shimia sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZQ172T (=KCTC 62578T=MCCC 1K03531T).

mig-5/Dsh controls cell fate determination and cell migration in C. elegans.

Cell fate determination and cell migration are two essential events in the development of an organism. We identify mig-5, a Dishevelled family member, as a gene that regulates several cell fate decisions and cell migrations that are important during C. elegans embryonic and larval development. In offspring from mig-5 mutants, cell migrations are defective during hypodermal morphogenesis, QL neuroblast migration, and the gonad arm migration led by the distal tip cells (DTCs). In addition to abnormal migration, DTC fate is affected, resulting in either an absent or an extra DTC. The cell fates of the anchor cell in hermaphrodites and the linker cells in the male gonad are also defective, often resulting in the cells adopting the fates of their sister lineage. Moreover, 2 degrees vulval precursor cells occasionally adopt the 3 degrees vulval cell fate, resulting in a deformed vulva, and the P12 hypodermal precursor often differentiates into a second P11 cell. These defects demonstrate that MIG-5 is essential in determining proper cell fate and cell migration throughout C. elegans development.