Glaciecola amylolytica sp. nov., an amylase-producing bacterium isolated from seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and coccus-shaped bacterium (THG-3.7T) was isolated from seawater. Growth occurred at 10-30 °C (optimum 25 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7) and in the presence of 1-8 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-3.7T were identified as Paraglaciecola mesophila DSM 15026T (95.3 % similarity), Glaciecola pallidula DSM 14239T (95.2 %), Paraglaciecola aquimarina KCTC 32108T (95.1 %), Paraglaciecola arctica KACC 14537T (94.9 %), Glaciecola nitratireducens KCTC 12276T (94.7 %) and Paraglaciecola psychrophila CGMCC 1.6130T (94.7 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities among strain THG-3.7T and other species were lower than 94.7 %. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid and one unidentified aminolipid. The quinone system was composed of Q-8. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-3.7T was 47.9 mol%. On the basis of the data presented, strain THG-3.7T represents a novel species of the genus Glaciecola, for which the name Glaciecola amylolytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-3.7T (=KACC 19478T=CCTCC AB 2017258T).

Chitinophaga aurantiaca sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample from a tangerine field.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated THG-SD5.5T, was isolated from a soil sample collected in a tangerine field, Republic of Korea. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, the isolate was identified as a member of the genus Chitinophaga and to be closely related to Chitinophaga ginsengihumi KACC 17604T (97.9%) and Chitinophaga rupis KACC 14521T (97.5%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with other species of the genus Chitinophaga were in the range 92.8-95.5%. Catalase test was positive. Oxidase test was negative. The DNA G + C content was determined to be 46.1 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-SD5.5T and C. ginsengihumi KACC 17604T and C. rupis KACC 14521T were 45.1% and 15.6%, respectively. Strain THG-SD5.5T was also found to be able to grow at 24-33 °C, at 0-5% NaCl and at pH 5.5-9.0. The major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C15:0, C16:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C18:0. The dominant respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified lipids. Based on these phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterisations, strain THG-SD5.5T (= KACC 19338T = CGMCC 1.16304T) is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga, for which the name Chitinophaga aurantiaca sp. nov. is proposed.

Sphingomonas rhizophila sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive bacteria (THG-T61T), was isolated from rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 25-30 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum 7.0) and in the presence of 0-2.0 % NaCl (optimum without NaCl supplement). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T61T were identified as Sphingomonas ginsengisoli KCTC 12630T (97.9 %), Sphingomonas jaspsi DSM 18422T (97.8 %), Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens NBRC 102146T (97.4 %), Sphingomonassediminicola KCTC 12629T (97.2 %), 'Sphingomonas swuensis' KCTC 12336 (97.1 %) and Sphingomonas daechungensis KCTC 23718T (96.9 %). The isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 1ω6c, summed feature 4 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and summed feature 7 (C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω9t and/or C18 : 1ω12t). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, one unidentified lipid, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified glycolipid and one unidentified phosphoglycolipid. The polyamine was homospermidine. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T61T was 65.6 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-T61T and its closest reference strains were less than 49.2 %, which is lower than the threshold value of 70 %. Therefore, strain THG-T61T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas rhizophila sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T61T (=KACC 19189T=CCTCC AB 2016245T).

Flavobacterium limi sp. nov., isolated from forest mud.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, yellow and rod-shaped bacterial strain was isolated from forest mud located at Kyung Hee University, South Korea. Strain THG-AG6.4T grew at 10-35 °C, pH 6.0-9.5 and in the presence of 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that strain THG-AG6.4T was most closely related to Flavobacterium gyeonganense HME 7524T (97.66 %), Flavobacterium defluvii EMB 117T (96.93 %) and Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans S2-3HT (96.80 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-AG6.4T was 30.2 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain THG-AG6.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour, F. gyeonganense HME 7524T, were below 61.0 %. The predominant quinone of strain THG-AG6.4T was MK-6. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid, five unidentified glycolipids, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified lipid, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified aminoglycolipids. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 0 10-methyl, summed feature 3 and C18 : 1ω9c. The major polyamine was homospermidine. On the basis of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-AG6.4T, it is concluded that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium limi sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-AG6.4T as the type strain (=KACC 18851T=CGMCC 1.16060T).

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

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium (THG-S3T), was isolated from desert soil. Growth occurred at 15-35 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5-10 (optimum 7) and at 0-4 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-S3T were identified as Altererythrobacter rigui KCTC 42620T (99.0 %), Altererythrobacter dongtanensis KCTC 22672T (97.1 %), Altererythrobacter xinjiangensis CCTCC AB 207166T (96.9 %), Altererythrobacter troitsensis KCTC 12303T (96.9 %). Levels of relatedness among strain THG-S3T and other Altererythrobacter species were lower than 96.0 %. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-S3T and A. rigui KCTC 42620T, A. dongtanensis KCTC 22672T, A. xinjiangensis CCTCC AB 207166T and A. troitsensis KCTC 12303T were 59.7 % (42.8 %, reciprocal analysis), 45.1 % (36.3 %), 34.7 % (25.1 %) and 15.1 % (12.3 %), respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-S3T was 69 mol%. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and three unidentified lipids The quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω6c, C18 : 1 ω7c and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c). On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-S3T represents a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-S3T (=KACC 19190T=CGMCC 1.15959T).

Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L.

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, bright-yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterial strain, slightly motile by gliding, catalase- and oxidase-positive and aerobic, but growing weakly under anaerobic conditions, was isolated from the rhizosphere of the flower mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus L.) located in Kyung Hee University, Yongin, Gyeonggi, South Korea. The strain named THG-HG1.4T grew at 15-35 °C, pH 6.5-9.0 and in the presence of 0-2.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain THG-HG1.4T was most closely related to Flavobacterium gyeonganense HME7524T (98.83 %) and Flavobacterium arsenitoxidans S2-3HT (97.28 %). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-HG1.4T was 41.2 mol%. In DNA-DNA hybridization, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-HG1.4T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 64.1 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-HG1.4T was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, two unidentified glycolipids and an unidentified aminolipid. The major fatty acids were identified as iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3. Thus, based on the report of the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-HG1.4T, it has been concluded that the novel isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium.Flavobacterium hibisci sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-HG1.4T (=KACC 18852T=CCTCC AB 2016178T) as the type strain.

Microbacterium hibisci sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus L.).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile, short-rod shaped actinobacterium, designated THG-T2.14T, was isolated from soil sampled from the rhizosphere of mugunghwa. Growth occurred at 10-40 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 5.0-10.0 (optimum 7.0) and at 0-7.0 % NaCl (optimum 3.0 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.14T were identified as Microbacterium yannicii DSM 23203T (98.8 %), Microbacterium trichothecenolyticum DSM 8608T (98.8 %), Microbacterium arthrosphaerae DSM 22421T (98.7 %) and Microbacterium jejuense KACC 17124T (98.4 %). The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified lipid, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified phosphoglycolipids. The menaquinones were MK-12, and MK-13. The major polyamine was spermidine. The peptidoglycan contained ornithine, alanine, glycine, homoserine and glutamic acid. The diagnostic diamino acid was ornithine. The acyl type of the muramic acid was glycolyl. The whole-cell sugars were rhamnose, ribose, galactose, arabinose, xylose and glucose. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.14T was 71.2 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-T2.14T and its closest reference strains were significantly lower than the threshold value of 70 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.14T represents a novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium hibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.14T (=KACC 18931T=CCTCC AB 2016180T).

Paracoccus hibiscisoli sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus).

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, non-motile, short-rod-shaped bacterium (THG-T2.31T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa (Hibiscus syriacus). Growth occurred at 10-35 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0-4.0 % NaCl (optimum 1.0 %). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.31T were identified as Paracoccus marcusii DSM 11574T (98.4 %), Paracoccus haeundaensis BC74171T (98.3 %), Paracoccus carotinifaciens E-396T (98.3 %), Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (97.3 %) and Paracoccus seriniphilus MBT-A4T (97.0 %); levels of similarity with the type strains of other species of the genus Paracoccus were lower than 97.0 %. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified phospholipids. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C10 : 0 3-OH, and C18 : 1ω7c. The quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.31T was 69.1 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T2.31T and P. marcusii DSM 11574T, P. haeundaensis BC74171T, P. carotinifaciens E-396T, P. aestuarii B7T and P. seriniphilus MBT-A4T were 38.9 % (34.9 %, reciprocal analysis), 29.1 % (23.5 %), 28.0 % (19.7 %), 18.9 % (9.3) and 13.1 % (6.2 %). On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.31T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus hibiscisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.31T (=KACC 18933T=CCTCC AB 2016182T).

Emticicia aquatilis sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater sample.

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain THG-DN6.14T, was isolated from a freshwater sample near Donghaksa temple in Daejeon, South Korea. On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, THG-DN6.14T was found to be most closely related to Emticicia sediminis JBR12T (99.1 % sequence similarity), Emticicia oligotrophica DSM 17448T (97.6 %), Emticicia aquatica HMF2925T (96.5 %), and Emticicia ginsengisoliGsoil 085T (94.4 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness between THG-DN6.14T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 65.0 %. The DNA G+C content was 43.3 mol%. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified aminoglycolipid. The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7. These data supported the affiliation of THG-DN6.14T to the genus Emticicia. THG-DN6.14Tcould be distinguished from related species of the genus Emticicia by physiological and biochemical tests. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Emticicia aquatilis sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-DN6.14T (=KACC 18540T=CGMCC 1.15958T) as the type strain.

Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Hibiscus syriacus L. (Mugunghwa flower).

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short-rod-shaped bacterium, motile by means of one flagellum (THG-T2.8T), was isolated from the rhizosphere of Mugunghwa flower. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6-8 (optimum 7) and with 0-5 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). The major quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). The major fatty acids were C10 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid, two unknown phospholipids, one unknown glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain THG-T2.8T was 65.5 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain THG-T2.8T were identified as Paracoccus tibetensis Tibet-S9a3T (98.6 %), Paracoccus aestuarii B7T (98.4 %), Paracoccus rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T (98.3 %) and Paracoccus beibuensis JLT1284T (98.2 %). Levels of sequence similarity among strain THG-T2.8T and other species of the genus Paracoccus were lower than 98.0 %. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain THG-T2.8T and P. tibetensis Tibet-S9A3TT, P. aestuarii B7T, P. rhizosphaerae CC-CCM15-8T and P. beibuensisJLT1284T were 36.5 % (38.8 %, reciprocal analysis), 32.8 % (34.8 %), 31.6 % (33.8 %) and 15.3 % (24.8 %), respectively. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, chemotaxonomic data, physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain THG-T2.8T represents a novel species of the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus hibisci sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-T2.8T (=KACC 18932T=CCTCC AB 2016181T).

Aquaspirillum soli sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample.

A Gram-stain-negative, smooth, opaque, white-pigmented, helical-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium that was motile by means of bipolar tufts of flagella and grew under microaerophilic conditions, was isolated from a soil sample of a reed pond in Shangqiu, Henan province, PR China. The strain, designated THG-SQE6T, grows well at 25-42 °C, pH 6.5-7.5 and in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. hylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain THG-SQE6T was most closely related to Aquaspirillum serpens IAM 13944T (97.23 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The DNA G+C content of strain THG-SQE6T was 53.10 mol%. In DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, the DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-SQE6T and its closest phylogenetic neighbour was below 62.6 %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in strain THG-SQE6T was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, an unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids were identified as C12 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, C18 : 0, summed feature 3 and summed feature 8. These data support the affiliation of strain THG-SQE6T to the genus Aquaspirillum. Based on findings from the phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic characterization of strain THG-SQE6T, a novel species of the genus AquaspirillumnamedAquaspirillum soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-SQE6T (=KACC 18846T=CCTCC AB 2016081T).

Novosphingobium lotistagni sp. nov., isolated from a lotus pond.

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain THG-DN6.20T, was isolated from a lotus pond near Donghaksa temple in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain THG-DN6.20T was found to be most closely related to Novosphingobium rosa IFO 15208T (97.6 % sequence similarity), Novosphingobium sediminicola HU1-AH51T (97.5 %) and Novosphingobium barchaimii LL02T (96.9 %). The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain THG-DN6.20T and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 60.0 %. The respiratory quinone and polyamine detected in strain THG-DN6.20T were ubiquinone Q-10 and spermidine, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 63.1 mol%. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipid and phosphatidylcholine. The major fatty acids were identified as C16 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) and C14 : 0 2-OH. These data supported the affiliation of strain THG-DN6.20T to the genus Novosphingobium. Strain THG-DN6.20T could be distinguished from related species of the genus Novosphingobium by physiological and biochemical characteristics. Therefore, the novel isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Novosphingobium lotistagni sp. nov. is proposed, with THG-DN6.20T as the type strain (=KACC 18541T=CCTCC AB 2015354T).

Pedobacter edaphicus sp. nov. isolated from forest soil in South Korea.

A Gram-negative, yellow-colored, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, motile bacterium was isolated from forest soil in Gyeongsang Province, South Korea. The strain was designated as THG-DA2.1(T). Cells of strain THG-DA2.1(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0, at temperature 28 °C and in the presence of 0.5 % NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain THG-DA2.1(T) was shown to belong to the genus Pedobacter and shares highest sequence similarity with Pedobacter ginsengisoli KCTC 12576(T). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 42.3 mol %. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was identified as menaquinone MK-7. The major cellular fatty acids of strain THG-DA2.1(T) were iso-C15:0 and C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c (summed feature 3*). Strain THG-DA2.1(T) contains phosphatidylethanolamine as major polar lipid, but an unidentified aminolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified lipids were also detected. On the basis of the data obtained from polyphasic taxonomy in this study, strain THG-DA2.1(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter edaphicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-DA2.1(T) (=KCTC 42232(T) =JCM 30351(T)).

Lysobacter novalis sp. nov., isolated from fallow farmland soil.

A novel bacterial strain, designated THG-PC7(T), was isolated from fallow farmland soil in Yongin, South Korea. Cells of strain THG-PC7(T) were Gram-stain-negative, dark yellow, aerobic, rod-shaped and had gliding motility. Strain THG-PC7(T) grew optimally at 25-35 °C, at pH 7 and in the absence of NaCl. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis identified strain THG-PC7(T) as belonging to the genus Lysobacter, exhibiting highest sequence similarity with Lysobacter ximonensis KCTC 22336(T) (98.7%) followed by Lysobacter niastensis KACC 11588(T) (95.7%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, DNA relatedness between strain THG-PC7(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbour L. ximonensis was below 25%. The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was determined to be 62.5 mol%. Flexirubin-type pigments were found to be present. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c. The major respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquonone-8 (Q8). The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminophospolipid. On the basis of results from DNA-DNA hybridization and the polyphasic data, strain THG-PC7(T) represents a novel species of the genus Lysobacter, for which the name Lysobacter novalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is THG-PC7(T)( = KACC 18276(T) = CCTCC AB 2014319(T)).

Pedobacter daejeonensis sp. nov. and Pedobacter trunci sp. nov., isolated from an ancient tree trunk, and emended description of the genus Pedobacter.

Two Gram-stain-negative, yellow, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterial isolates, designated THG-DN3.18(T) and THG-DN3.19(T), were isolated from an ancient tree trunk from Daejeon, South Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that both strains belong to the genus Pedobacter within the family Sphingobacteriaceae . Strain THG-DN3.18(T) exhibited maximum sequence similarity with Pedobacter boryungensis KCTC 23344(T) (98.5%) while strain THG-DN3.19(T) exhibited maximum sequence similarity with Pedobacter nyackensis LMG 24260(T) (97.3%). In DNA-DNA hybridization tests, the two strains showed less than 35% relatedness with respect to closely related species of the genus Pedobacter . Both strains contained iso-C(15 : 0) and C(16 : 1)ω6c and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c (summed feature 3) as the predominant fatty acids and MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C contents of strains THG-DN3.18(T) and THG-DN3.19(T) were 35.5 and 40.1 mol%, respectively. The genotypic analysis, biochemical properties, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics indicate that strains THG-DN3.18(T) and THG-DN3.19(T) represent novel species of the genus Pedobacter , for which the names Pedobacter daejeonensis sp. nov. and Pedobacter trunci sp. nov. are proposed. The type strains are THG-DN3.18(T) ( = KCTC 42230(T) = JCM 30352(T)) and THG-DN3.19(T) ( = KCTC 42233(T) = JCM 30353(T)), respectively.

Pedobacter bambusae sp. nov., isolated from soil of a bamboo plantation.

An ivory white, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore forming, Gram-staining-negative, and aerobic bacterium designated THG-G118T, was isolated from a soil sample collected in a bamboo plantation in Seoul, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed a clear affiliation of strain THG-G118T with the genus Pedobacter. Strain THG-G118T was found to show the closest phylogenetic relationship with Pedobacter metabolipauper WB2.3-71T with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.3 %. The major cellular fatty acids of strain THG-G118T were identified as C16:0, C18:0, iso-C15:0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), and the predominant menaquinone as menaquinone MK-7. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), unidentified phospholipid and unidentified aminophospholipids. Strain THG-G118T was found to contain ceramide phosphorylethanolamine 2 (CerPE-2) and dihydrosphingosine as the major ceramide. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was found to be 41.7 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed a low level of DNA-DNA relatedness (<42.5 %) between strain THG-G118T and its closest relatives. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data showed that strain THG-G118T could be clearly distinguished from the members of the genus Pedobacter. Based on the results of a polyphasic study, a new species, Pedobacter bambusae sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is THG-G118T (=KACC 17544T = JCM 19364T).

Dyella kyungheensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a cornus fruit field.

A Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, motile by one polar flagellum, yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain THG-B117(T), was isolated from soil of a cornus fruit field of Hoengseong province in South Korea and its taxonomic position was investigated by a polyphasic study. Strain THG-B117(T) grew well at 25-30 °C and at pH 6.0-8.0 in the absence of NaCl on nutrient agar. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain THG-B117(T) was shown to belong to the family Xanthomonadaceae and be related to Dyella japonica XD53(T) (98.7 % similarity), Dyella terrae JS14-6(T) (98.0 %), Dyella koreensis BB4(T) (96.9 %), Dyella soli JS12-10(T) (96.9 %) and Dyella thiooxydans ATSB10(T) (96.7 %). DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed that DNA relatedness between strain THG-B117(T) and its phylogenetically closest neighbours was below 45.1 %. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain THG-B117(T) was 64.8 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, unidentified aminolipids, unidentified aminophospholipids and unidentified phospholipids. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data (major ubiquinone was Q-8, and major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1ω9c) supported the affiliation of strain THG-B117(T) with the genus Dyella. The results of physiological and biochemical tests suggested that strain THG-B117(T) was different genotypically and phenotypically from recognized species of the genus Dyella, and represents a novel species of this genus. The name Dyella kyungheensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain THG-B117(T) ( = KACC 16981(T) = JCM 18747(T)).

Evaluation of in-vitro antimicrobial activity of Artemisia apiacea H. and Scutellaria baicalensis G. extracts.

PURPOSE: In traditional Korean medicine, Artemisia apiacea H. (ART) and Scutellaria baicalensis G. (SCU) are combined for the treatment of malaria and other malaria-like diseases. Because SCU is well-known as an antibacterial agent, the antimicrobial effect of a mixture of ART and SCU was investigated. METHODOLOGY: Plant samples were purchased from Kyungdong mart and extracted with 70 % ethanol. The in vitro antimicrobial activity of ART and SCU against pathogenic fungi (Aspergillus niger, Aspergillus oryzae, Candida albicans, Candida tropicalis and Candida glabrata), Gram-negative bacteria (Escherichia coli and Pseudomonas aeruginosa) and Gram-positive bacteria (Bacillus subtilis and Staphylococcus aureus) was evaluated using a broth microdilution assay, modified-disc diffusion and agar dilution methods with further CH2Cl2-fractionated ART, SCU and a mixture of ART/SCU (at a ratio of 3 : 5) (THAN-1). RESULTS: ART and SCU were effective against A. niger, C. albicans, B. subtilis and S. aureus. The range of minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values was 0.03125 to 4 mg ml-1 in the ART and SCU treatments. ART exhibited stronger activity than SCU. Interestingly, a 3 : 5 ratio mixture of ART and SCU (THAN-1) showed stronger antimicrobial activity than ART or SCU used individually. CONCLUSION: A treatment using a mixture of herbs such as THAN-1 would be useful in the suppression of the growth of pathogenic bacterial and fungal strains.