Aquipuribacter nitratireducens sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample of a mud volcano.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, coccoid, non-motile bacterium, designated strain AMV4T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a mud volcano located in the Andaman Islands, India. The colony was pale orange. Strain AMV4T was positive for oxidase, aesculinase, lysine decarboxylase and ornithine decarboxylase activities and negative for amylase, catalase, cellulase, protease, urease and lipase activities. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AMV4T was a member of the order Actinomycetales and was closely related to Aquipuribacter hungaricus with a sequence similarity of 97.13% (pairwise alignment). Phylogenetic analyses showed that strain AMV4T clustered with Aquipuribacter hungaricus and was distantly related to the other genera of the family Intrasporangiaceae. DNA-DNA hybridization between strains AMV4T and Aquipuribacter hungaricus IV-75T showed a relatedness of 28%. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (6.9%), anteiso-C15 : 0 (25.3%), C16 : 0 (12.9%), anteiso-C16 : 0 (5.6%), C18 : 1ω9c (19.8%) and C18 : 3ω6,9,12c (9.1%). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain AMV4T was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Strain AMV4T contained MK-10(H4) as the predominant respiratory quinone. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified glycolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and five unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AMV4T was 74.3 mol%. Based on data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, it is proposed that strain AMV4T represents a novel species of the genus Aquipuribacter, with the suggested name Aquipuribacter nitratireducens sp. nov. The type strain is AMV4T ( = CCUG 58430T = DSM 22863T = NBRC 107137T).

Lunatimonas lonarensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a haloalkaline bacterium of the family Cyclobacteriaceae with nitrate reducing activity.

Novel pinkish-orange pigmented, Gram-negative staining, half-moon shaped, non-motile, strictly aerobic strains designated AK24(T) and AK26 were isolated from water and sediment samples of Lonar Lake, Buldhana district, Maharahstra, India. Both strains were positive for oxidase, catalase and ß-galactosidase activities. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (41.5%), anteiso-C15:0 (9.7%), iso-C17:0 3OH (9.6%), iso-C17:1 ω9c (10.2%) and C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c/iso-C15:0 2OH (summed feature 3) (14.4%). The strains contained MK-7 as the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine and five unidentified lipids as the polar lipids. Blast analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain AK24(T) showed that it was closely related to Aquiflexum balticum, with a pair-wise sequence similarity of 91.6%, as well as to Fontibacter ferrireducens, Belliella baltica and Indibacter alkaliphilus (91.3, 91.2 and 91.2% pair-wise sequence similarity, respectively), but it only had between 88.6 and 91.0% pair-wise sequence similarity to the rest of the family members. The MALDI-TOF assay reported no significant similarities for AK24(T) and AK26, since they potentially represented a new species. A MALDI MSP dendrogram showed close similarity between the two strains, but they maintained a distance from their phylogenetic neighbors. The genome of AK24(T) showed the presence of heavy metal tolerance genes, including the genes providing resistance to arsenic, cadmium, cobalt and zinc. A cluster of heat shock resistance genes was also found in the genome. Two lantibiotic producing genes, LanR and LasB, were also found in the genome of AK24(T). Strains AK24(T) and AK26 were very closely related to each other with 99.5% pair-wise sequence similarity. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the strains were members of the family Cyclobacteriaceae and they clustered with the genus Mariniradius, as well as with the genera Aquiflexum, Cecembia, Fontibacter, Indibacter, and Shivajiella. DNA-DNA hybridization between strains AK24(T) and AK26 showed a relatedness of 82% and their rep-PCR banding patterns were very similar. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, it is proposed that the isolates be placed in a new genus and species with the name Lunatimonas lonarensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Lunatimonas lonarensis is AK24(T) (=JCM 18822(T)=MTCC 11627(T)).

Caldimonas meghalayensis sp. nov., a novel thermophilic betaproteobacterium isolated from a hot spring of Meghalaya in northeast India.

While studying the microbial diversity of hot springs of North-east India we isolated a strain AK31T from the Jakrem hot spring of Meghalaya. The strain formed light yellow colonies on nutrient agar and was Gram negative, non spore-forming rods, motile with single polar flagellum. The strain was positive for oxidase and catalase and hydrolysed starch and weakly urea. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16:0 (34.8 %), C17:0 cyclo (27.1 %), C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2OH (summed feature 3) (9.6 %), C10:0 3OH (8.0 %), C12:0 (5.8 %), C14:0 (5.3 %) and C18:1 ω7c (5.3 %). Strain AK31T contained ubiquinone-8 as the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified glycolipid as the polar lipids. The G + C content of the DNA of the strain AK31T was 66.7 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AK31T was member of the genus Caldimonas and closely related to Caldimonas manganoxidans JCM 10698T and Caldimonas taiwanensis On1T with 96.9 % similarity and with Aquincola tertiaricarbonis L10T and Azohydromonas australica IAM 12664T with 96.5 and 96.4 % similarity respectively. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the strain AK31T clustered with C. manganoxidans JCM 10698T and C. taiwanensis On1T with a phylogenetic distance of 3.25 %. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strain AK31T is proposed as a novel species of the genus Caldimonas, for which the name Caldimonas meghalayensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of C. meghalayensis is AK31T (= MTCC 11703T = JCM 18786T).

Photobacterium marinum sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a sediment sample from Palk Bay, India.

The novel, cream colored, Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, motile bacteria, designated strains AK15(T) and AK18, were isolated from sediment samples collected from Palk Bay, India. Both strains were positive for arginine dihydrolase, lysine decarboxylase, oxidase, nitrate reduction and methyl red test. The major fatty acids were C16:0, C18:1 ω7c, C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH (summed feature 3). Polar lipids content of strains AK15(T) and AK18 were found to bephosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1 and PL2) and three unidentified lipids (L1-L3). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated strains AK15(T) and AK18 as the members of the genus Photobacterium and closely related to the type strain Photobacterium jeanii with pair-wise sequence similarity of 96.7%. DNA-DNA hybridization between strain AK15(T) and AK18 showed a relatedness of 87%. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strains AK15(T) and AK18 are proposed as novel species of the genus Photobacterium, for which the name Photobacterium marinum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Photobacterium marinum is AK15(T) (=MTCC 11066(T)=DSM 25368(T)).

Iodobacter arcticus sp. nov., a psychrotolerant bacterium isolated from meltwater stream sediment of an Arctic glacier.

Two novel violet-pigmented, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacteria, designated strains M4-16(T) and M4-9, were isolated from sediment from an Arctic glacier. The predominant fatty acids of both strains were C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c (summed feature 3), C16 : 0, C14 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c (summed feature 8) and both strains contained ubiquinone-8 as the respiratory quinone. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified aminolipid. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains M4-16(T) and M4-9 were members of the genus Iodobacter and closely related to Iodobacter fluviatilis ATCC 33051(T) with pairwise sequence similarity of 98.9 %. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strains M4-9 and M4-16(T) was 92.5 %, while strains M4-9 and M4-16(T) had DNA-DNA relatedness values of 21.5 and 18.2 %, respectively, with Iodobacter fluviatilis JCM 9044(T). The RAPD-PCR banding patterns of strains M4-9 and M4-16(T) were similar but differed from that of Iodobacter fluviatilis JCM 9044(T). Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strains M4-16(T) and M4-9 represent a novel species of the genus Iodobacter, for which the name Iodobacter arcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Iodobacter arcticus is M4-16(T) ( = CIP 1103011(T) = MTCC 11351(T)).

Algoriphagus shivajiensis sp. nov., isolated from Cochin back water, India.

Novel orange-pigmented, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacteria, designated strains NIO-S3(T) and NIO-S4, were isolated from a water sample collected from Cochin back waters, Thanneermukkom and Arookutty, Kerala, India. Both strains were positive for oxidase and catalase activities, and hydrolyzed gelatin and Tween 40. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3OH, C16:1ω7c/C16:1ω6c (summed feature 3) and iso-C17:1ω9c/C16:0 10-methyl (summed feature 9), whereas MK-7 was the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified lipid were the only polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of the two strains was 43.7 and 43.6mol%, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that they were members of the genus Algoriphagus and closely related to Algoriphagus olei CC-Hsuan-617(T), Algoriphagus aquatilis A8-7(T), Algoriphagus aquaeductus LMG 24398(T) and Algoriphagus mannitolivorans DSM 15301(T), with pairwise sequence similarities of 96.8, 96.6, 96.2 and 96.2%, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization between strains NIO-S3(T) and NIO-S4 showed a relatedness of 89%. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, the strains are proposed as a novel species of the genus Algoriphagus, for which the name Algoriphagus shivajiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. shivajiensis is NIO-S3(T) (=JCM 17885(T)=MTCC 11066(T)).

Shivajiella indica gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium of the family "Cyclobacteriaceae" with nitrate reducing activity.

Novel orange pigmented, Gram-negative-staining, rod-shaped, non-motile, strictly aerobic strains designated NIO-S1(T) and NIO-S2 were isolated from the water sample of a pond adjacent to the coast and an algal mat from a fish pond, respectively, at Kakinada, India. Both strains were positive for oxidase, catalase and ß-galactosidase activities. The predominant fatty acids in NIO-S1(T) were iso-C(15:0) (39.6%), anteiso-C(15:0) (9.9%), iso-C(17:0) 3OH (10.9%) and C(16:1)ω7c/C(16:1)ω6c (summed feature 3) (5.7%). The strains contained MK-7 as the major respiratory quinine, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified lipids as the polar lipids. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain NIO-S1(T) was a member of the family "Cyclobacteriaceae" of the class "Sphingobacteriia" and it clustered with the genera Fontibacter, Cecembia and Aquiflexum with phylogenetic distances of 6.8, 9.0 and 12.2% (93.2, 91.0 and 87.8% similarity), respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization between strains NIO-S1(T) and NIO-S2 showed a relatedness of 93% and rep-PCR banding patterns were similar. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, it is proposed that the new isolates be placed in a new genus and species with the name Shivajiella indica gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Shivajiella indica is NIO-S1(T) (= KCTC 19812(T)=MTCC 11065(T)).

Echinicola shivajiensis sp. nov., a novel bacterium of the family "Cyclobacteriaceae" isolated from brackish water pond.

Strain AK12(T), an orange pigmented Gram-negative, rod shaped, non-motile bacterium, was isolated from a mud sample collected from a brackish water pond at Rampur of West Bengal, India. The strain was positive for oxidase, catalase and phosphatase. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C(15:0) (42.7%), iso-C(17:0) 3OH (13.2%), C(16:1ω7c)/C(16:1ω6c) (summed feature 3) (8.0%), iso-C(17:1) I/anteiso-C(17:1) B (summed feature 4) (6.1%) and iso-C(17:1ω9c)/C(16:0) 10-methyl (summed feature 9) (9.4%). Strain AK12(T) contained MK-7 as the major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminophospholipid and six unidentified lipids as the polar lipids. The G + C content of DNA of the strain AK12(T) was 46.2 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AK12(T) was member of the genus Echinicola and closely related to Echinicola vietnamensis, Echinicola pacifica and Echinicola jeungdonensis with pair-wise sequence similarity of 96.8, 96.3 and 96.0% respectively. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that the strain AK12(T) clustered with E. vietnamensis and together with E. pacifica and E. jeungdonensis with a phylogenetic distance of 5.1, 6.3 and 6.6% (94.9, 93.7 and 93.4% similarity) respectively. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, strain AK12(T) is proposed as a novel species of the genus Echinicola, for which the name Echinicola shivajiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of E. shivajiensis is AK12(T) (= MTCC 11083(T) = JCM 17847(T)).

Aliidiomarina haloalkalitolerans sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from coastal surface seawater.

A novel Gram-negative, rod shaped, motile, non-sporing strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain AK5(T), was isolated from a sea water sample collected near Visakhapatnam coast, Bay of Bengal, India. Colonies on marine agar were circular, 3-4 mm in diameter, creamish and rose with entire margin. Growth occurred at 10-40°C, 0.5-12% (w/v) NaCl and pH of 7-11. Strain AK5(T) was oxidase and catalase positive. The fatty acids were dominated by iso-branched saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with a high abundance of iso-C(15:0), iso-C(17:0) and summed feature 9 (as defined by MIDI). Q8 was found to be the major respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and four unidentified phospholipids as polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain AK5(T) was 54.7 ± 0.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain AK5(T) was a member of the genus Aliidiomarina and closely related to Aliidiomarina taiwanensis with a phylogenetic distance of 5.3% (94.7% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and clustered with the same species. Results from the polyphasic taxonomy study support the conclusion that strain AK5(T) represents a novel Aliidiomarina species, for which the name Aliidiomarina haloalkalitolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of A. haloalkalitolerans is AK5(T) (= MTCC 11064(T) = JCM 17359(T)).

Rhodovulum kholense sp. nov.

A yellowish brown bacterium was isolated from photoheterotrophic enrichment cultures obtained from a mud sample collected from a mangrove forest located in Khola, India. Enrichment and isolation in medium containing 2 % NaCl (w/v) yielded strain JA297(T), cells of which were ovoid and motile. Cells of strain JA297(T) contained vesicular internal membranes and bacteriochlorophyll a and carotenoids of the spheroidene series. Strain JA297(T) grew optimally at 30 degrees C and at pH 6.0-7.0. Photo-organoheterotrophy was the preferred mode of growth. Strain JA297(T) was also able to grow photolithoautotrophically and chemo-organotrophically but not by chemolithoautotrophy or by fermentation. Strain JA297(T) was able to utilize sulfide, sulfite, sulfate, thiosulfate, thioglycolate and cysteine as sulfur sources. Biotin, niacin and thiamine were required as growth factors. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain JA297(T) was shown to belong to the class Alphaproteobacteria and was closely related to the type strains of Rhodovulum marinum (96.72 % similarity), Rhodovulum visakhapatnamense (96.42 %) and Rhodovulum sulfidophilum (96.32 %). The DNA G+C composition was 63 mol%. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and morphological and physiological characteristics, strain JA297(T) could be distinguished from all recognized species of the genus Rhodovulum. This strain is therefore suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Rhodovulum, for which the name Rhodovulum kholense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA297(T) (=ATCC BAA-1544(T)=JCM 14888(T)=CCUG 55397(T)).

Halochromatium roseum sp. nov., a non-motile phototrophic gammaproteobacterium with gas vesicles, and emended description of the genus Halochromatium.

A rod-shaped, marine, phototrophic, purple sulfur bacterium containing gas vesicles was isolated from a marine solar saltern at Kakinada, India. Cells of strain JA134(T) are Gram-negative, non-motile rods, with vesicular intracytoplasmic membranes, and the strain has an absolute requirement for NaCl for growth. Bacteriochlorophyll a and the carotenoid okenone are present as photosynthetic pigments. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA134(T) clusters with members of the genus Halochromatium, but is distinctly separated from the species reported so far. The morphological and physiological differences of strain JA134(T) from other Halochromatium species support the description of strain JA134(T) (=ATCC BAA-1363(T) =DSM 18859(T) =JCM 14151(T)) as the type strain of a novel species, Halochromatium roseum sp. nov.

Marichromatium bheemlicum sp. nov., a non-diazotrophic, photosynthetic gammaproteobacterium from a marine aquaculture pond.

A rod-shaped, phototrophic, purple sulfur bacterium, strain JA124(T), was isolated in pure culture from a marine aquaculture pond, located near Bhimunipatnam, in a medium that contained 3 % NaCl (w/v). Strain JA124(T) is a Gram-negative, motile rod with a single polar flagellum. Strain JA124(T) has a requirement for NaCl, with optimum growth at 1.5-8.5 %, and tolerates up to 11 % NaCl. Intracellular photosynthetic membranes are of the vesicular type. Bacteriochlorophyll a and probably carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series are present as photosynthetic pigments. Strain JA124(T) was able to utilize sulfide, sulfate, thiosulfate, sulfite, thioglycollate and cysteine as sulfur sources. Strain JA124(T) was able to grow photolithoautotrophically, photolithoheterotrophically and photo-organoheterotrophically. Chemotrophic and fermentative growth could not be demonstrated. Strain JA124(T) lacks diazotrophic growth and acetylene reduction activity. Pyridoxal phosphate is required for growth. During growth on reduced sulfur sources as electron donors, sulfur is deposited intermediately as a number of small granules within the cell. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA124(T) clusters with species of the genus Marichromatium belonging to the class Gammaproteobacteria. The highest sequence similarities of strain JA124(T) were found with the type strains of Marichromatium indicum (98 %), Marichromatium purpuratum (95 %) and Marichromatium gracile (93 %). However, DNA-DNA hybridization with Marichromatium indicum DSM 15907(T) revealed relatedness of only 65 % with strain JA124(T). The DNA base composition of strain JA124(T) was 67 mol% G+C (by HPLC). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, morphological and physiological characteristics and DNA-DNA hybridization studies, strain JA124(T) (=ATCC BAA-1316(T)=JCM 13911(T)) is sufficiently different from other Marichromatium species to merit its description as the type strain of a novel species, Marichromatium bheemlicum sp. nov.