Constantimarinum furrinae gen. nov., sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from saline volcanic rock aquifer (lava seawater) at Jeju Island, Republic of Korea.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped (0.3-0.5 × 1.0-1.9 µm), non-motile marine bacterium designated as ALE3EIT was isolated from a saline volcanic rock aquifer (lava sea-water) on Jeju Island, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain ALE3EIT showed high similarity to 'Altibacter lentus' JLT2010T (97.2%), followed by Marixanthomonas ophiurae KMM 3046T (94.5%). Growth was observed at 10-41°C (optimum, 30°C), at pH 6.0-8.5 (optimum, pH 7.5) and at 0.5-8% (optimum, 4.0%) NaCl. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (23.5%), iso-C16:0 (10.2%), iso-C16:0 3OH (10.5%), and iso-C17:0 3OH (16.8%). The DNA G + C contents was 40.4 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major polar lipids were determined to be phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, and two unidentified aminolipids. Several phenotypic characteristics such as production of acetoin, activities of arginine dihydrolase and acid phosphatase, and utilization pattern of carbon sources differentiate strain ALE3EIT from 'A. lentus' JLT2010T. Activities of the lipase, trypsin, α-chymotrypsin and gelatinase and utilization pattern of carbon sources differentiate strain ALE3EIT from M. ophiurae KMM 3046T. The genome of strain ALE3EIT is 3.0 Mbp long and its ANI and AAI values against 'A. lentus' JLT2010T were 76.58 and 72.76, respectively, however, AAI values against members in other genera were lower than 72%. The phylogenomic tree inferred by PhyloPhlAn clearly differentiated the strain ALE3EIT together with strain JLT2010T from other genera in the Falvobacteriaceae. This polyphasic taxonomic data indicates that strain ALE3EIT should be identified as a novel species in the genus 'Altibacter', however, the name has not been validated. Therefore, the strain is classified as a novel genus and is proposed as Constantimarinum furrinae gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is ALE3EIT (= KCCM 43303T = JCM 33022T).

Palleronia sediminis sp. nov. and Flavivirga algicola sp. nov., two marine bacteria isolated from offshore areas near Weihai.

Two bacterial strains, designated SS33T and Y03T, were isolated from marine sediment and marine red alga collected on the coast of Weihai, PR China. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain SS33T was found to be closely related to Primorskyibacter marinus PX7T, Pelagivirga dicentrarchi YLY04T, Palleronia marisminoris DSM 26347T and Maribius pontilimi GH1-23T with 94.8, 94.6, 94.5 and 94.5 % sequence similarity; strain Y03T was found to be closest to Flavivirga aquimarina EC2D5T, Flavivirga eckloniae ECD14T and Flavivirga amylovorans JC2681T with 96.4, 96.1 and 96.0 % sequence similarity. Strain SS33T grew at 4-37 °C (optimum, 33 °C), at pH 6.0-9.5 (optimum, pH 7.5-8.0) and in the presence of 0-10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3.0 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis of strain SS33T showed that the predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major fatty acids (>10.0 %) included C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified polar lipid and two unidentified aminolipids. Strain Y03T grew at 15-40 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.5-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0.5-9.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.0%). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6. The major fatty acids (>10.0 %) included iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified polar lipids. Based on the polyphasic data, strain SS33T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Palleronia, for which the name Palleronia sediminis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain SS33T (=KCTC 62986T=MCCC 1H00387T). Strain Y03T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavivirga, for which the name Flavivirga algicola sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Y03T (=KCTC 72001T=MCCC 1H00386T).

Marixanthomonas spongiae sp. nov., isolated from marine sponge.

A novel bacterial strain, designated as HN-E44T, was isolated from marine sponge collected from Yangpu Bay, Hainan, PR China. Strain HN-E44T was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, rod-shaped and yellow-pigmented. Growth occurred at 4-37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6-8 (pH 7) and in 0.5-14 % (w/v) NaCl (3-5 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HN-E44T formed an independent cluster with Marixanthomonas ophiurae JCM 14121T within the family Flavobacteriaceae and had the highest sequence similarity of 93.6 % to the closest type strain M. ophiurae JCM 14121T. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c) and iso-C15 : 1 G. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingolipid, four unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified lipid. The respiratory quinone was identified as MK-6. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 40.6 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and average amino acid identity (AAI) values between strain HN-E44T and closest type strain M. ophiurae JCM 14121T were, respectively, 79.6 and 85.2 %, both of which were below thresholds for species delineation (95-96 % ANI and 95-96 % AAI), but were over thresholds for genus delineation (73.98 % ANI and 70-76 % AAI). The combined genotypic and phenotypic distinctiveness demonstrated that strain HN-E44T could be differentiated from closely related genera. Therefore, it is proposed that strain HN-E44T represents a novel species of the genus Marixanthomonas, for which the name Marixanthomonas spongiae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain HN-E44T (=MCCC 1K03332T=LMG 30459T).

Mesonia hitae sp. nov., isolated from the seawater of the South Atlantic Ocean.

A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic and short rod-shaped bacterial strain R32T, was isolated from seawater of the South Atlantic Ocean. Strain R32T grew at 10-40 °C (optimum 28 °C), at pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum 7.0), and in the presence of 3-8 % NaCl (w/v) (optimum 5 %). Cells were oxidase- and catalase-positive. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain R32T shared the highest similarities with Mesonia oceanica (98.3 %), followed by Salegentibacter salarius (93.0 %), Salegentibacter mishustinae (92.8 %), Salegentibacter salegens (92.5 %) and Mesonia maritima (92.4 %). The dominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (32.7 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (21.1 %). Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the sole respiratory quinone. The polar lipids found were phosphatidylethanolamine, three aminolipids and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 35.0 mol%. The ANI value and dDDH value between strain R32T and the Salegentibacter and Mesonia species were 70.5-85.8 % and 18.7-30.5 %, respectively. Based on the results of the polyphasic characterization, strain R32T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Mesonia, for which the name Mesonia hitae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R32T (=MCCC 1A09780T=KCTC 72004T).

Kordia aestuariivivens sp. nov. and Olleya sediminilitoris sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat.

Two Gram-stain-negative and non-flagellated bacteria, YSTF-M3T and YSTF-M6T, were isolated from a tidal flat from Yellow Sea, Republic of Korea, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains YSTF-M3T and YSTF-M6T belong to the genera Kordia and Olleya of the family Flavobacteriaceae, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain YSTF-M3T and the type strains of Kordia species and between strain YSTF-M6T and the type strains of Olleya species were 94.1-98.4 and 97.3-98.3 %, respectively. The ANI and dDDH values between genomic sequences of strain YSTF-M3T and the type strains of five Kordia species and between those of strain YSTF-M6T and the type strains of three Olleya species were in ranges of 77.0-83.2 and 20.7-27.1 % and 79.4-81.5 and 22.3-23.9 %, respectively. The DNA G+C contents of strain YSTF-M3T and YSTF-M6T from genomic sequences were 34.1 and 31.1 %, respectively. Both strains contained MK-6 as predominant menaquinone and phosphatidylethanolamine as only major phospholipid identified. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strains YSTF-M3T and YSTF-M6T are separated from recognized species of the genera Kordia and Olleya, respectively. On the basis of the data presented, strains YSTF-M3T (=KACC 21639T=NBRC 114499T) and YSTF-M6T (=KACC 21640T=NBRC 114500T) are considered to represent novel species of the genera Kordia and Olleya, respectively, for which the names Kordia aestuariivivens sp. nov. and Olleya sediminilitoris sp. nov. are proposed.

Elizabethkingia argenteiflava sp. nov., isolated from the pod of soybean, Glycine max.

Soybean pods, separated and enclosed from the outside environment, are considered a suitable place to find new microbes. A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic bacterium, bacterial strain (YB22T) was isolated from the pod of Glycine max (soybean) collected from a rural area in Republic of Korea and characterized by using polyphasic taxonomy. Cells of the strain were rod-shaped (approximately 0.4-0.6 µm wide and 4.0-5.0 µm long), non-flagellated and formed silver-yellow colonies. Cells grew at 25-35 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-2.0% NaCl (optimum, 0 % NaCl). 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain YB22T was phylogenetically closest to the genus Elizabethkingia, and showed highest similarities to Elizabethkingia occulta G4070T (96.7 %), Elizabethkingia meningoseptica ATCC 13253T (96.7 %), Elizabethkingia miricola DSM 14571T (96.6 %), Elizabethkingia bruuniana G0146T (96.5 %), Elizabethkingia ursingii G4122T (96.4 %) and Elizabethkingia anophelis R26T (96.2 %). Average amino acid identity values between strain YB22T and other taxa in the genus Elizabethkingia were all above the threshold range of genus determination. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain YB22T and other phylogenetic relatives were all found to be below the threshold range for species determination. The respiratory quinone of strain YB22T was menaquinone 6 (MK-6) and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (47.8 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (18.5 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminolipids and three unidentified polar lipids. The phylogenetic analysis and physiological and biochemical data showed that strain YB22T should represent a novel species in the genus Elizabethkingia, for which the name Elizabethkingia argenteiflava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain for this novel species is YB22T (=KCCM 43263T=JCM 32097T).

Aestuariibaculum sediminum sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from a tidal flat in Zhoushan.

A Gram-staining-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated as strain TT11T, was isolated from a sediment sample of a tidal flat connected in Zhoushan, China. Cells of strain TT11T are spherical, halotolerant, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and produce carotenoid-like pigments. Colonies were 0.5-1.0 mm diameter, smooth, round, convex and orange-yellow after growth on marine agar at 30 °C for 24 h. Growth of the strain TT11T was observed at 10-40 °C (optimum, 35 °C), at pH 6.0-9.5 (optimum, pH 6.5), and in the presence of 0-8.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5-1.0%). The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain TT11T represents a member of the genus Aestuariibaculum and was closely related to Aestuariibaculum suncheonense SC17T (97.2%) and Aestuariibaculum marinum IP7T (96.8%). The G + C content of the genome was 34.6%. The only respiratory quinone was MK-6. The major fatty acids (> 10%) were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The major polar lipids contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoglycolipid, four unidentified aminolipids, four unidentified lipids and two unidentified glycolipids. On the basis of these genomic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic characteristics, we propose a novel species Aestuariibaculum sediminum sp. nov. with the type strain TT11T (= KCTC 82195T = MCCC 1K04734T).

Tamlana haliotis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis rubra.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, yellow-pigmented rod-shaped and alginate-degrading bacterium, designated B1N29T, was isolated from the gut of the abalone Haliotis rubra obtained in Weihai, China. Strain B1N29T was found to grow at 4-35 ℃ (optimum, 25 ℃), at pH 6.5-9.0 (optimum, 7.0-7.5) and in the presence of 0.5-9% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2%). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The 16S rRNA-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbors of strain B1N29T were Tamlana carrageenivorans KCTC 62451T (98.2%) and Tamlana agarivorans KCTC 22176T (97.7%). Based on the phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain B1N29T and the neighbor strains were 79.2 and 79.0%, respectively; the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain B1N29T and its two closest neighbors were 22.8 and 23.0%, respectively. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the sole respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:1 G. The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one aminophospholipid, seven aminolipids and five unidentified lipids. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain B1N29T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tamlana, for which the name Tamlana haliotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B1N29T (= KCTC 72683T = MCCC 1H00394T).

Myroides fluvii sp. nov., isolated from the Han River, Republic of Korea.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, short rod-shaped, pale yellow-pigmented, non-motile and gentamycin-resistant bacterial strain designated CJ210T was isolated from the Han River, Republic of Korea. Strain CJ210T grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.0 in the absence of NaCl on tryptic soy agar. Flexirubin-type pigments were not produced. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity showed that strain CJ210T belonged to the genus Myroides within the family Flavobacteriaceae and was most closely related to Myroides odoratus KACC 14347T (98.1 % similarity), followed by M. injenensis KCTC 23367T (95.3 % similarity). The average nucleotide identity values between strain CJ210T and two closely related type strains M. odoratus KACC 14347T and M. injenensis KCTC 23367T were 83.7 and 73.8 %, respectively. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization results between strain CJ210T and the related type strains were 27.5 and 20.2 %, respectively. Strain CJ210T contained menaquinone 6 (MK-6) as the predominant menaquinone. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids of strain CJ210T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). Whole genome sequencing revealed that strain CJ210T had a genome of 3.8 Mbp with 36.5 % DNA G+C content. The genome contained several antimicrobial resistance genes including an aminoglycoside-resistant gene. On the basis of the polyphasic taxonomic study, strain CJ210T represents a novel species in the genus Myroides, for which name Myrodies fluvii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CJ210T (=KACC 19954T=JCM 33306T).

Muricauda brasiliensis sp. nov., isolated from a mat-forming cyanobacterial culture.

Strain K001 was isolated from a cyanobacterial culture derived from Abrolhos, a reef bank microbial mat (South Atlantic Ocean-Brazil). Cells of K001 are Gram stain-negative, catalase and oxidase-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped, and with or without appendages. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain K001 belongs to the genus Muricauda. The highest strain K001 16S rRNA gene identity, ANI, and dDDH, respectively, are with M. aquimarina (98.90%, 79.23, 21.60%), M. ruestringensis (98.20%, 80.82, 23.40%), and M. lutimaris (97.86%, 79.23, 22.70%). The strain grows at 15-37 °C and between 0.5 and 10% NaCl. The major fatty acids of strain K001 are iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, iso-C17:0 3-OH, and summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c). The polar lipids are represented by phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids, and three unidentified polar lipids. The major respiratory quinone is MK-6. The G+C content of the DNA of strain K001 is 41.62 mol%. Based on polyphasic analysis of strain K001, it was identified as a novel representative of the genus Muricauda and was named Muricauda brasiliensis sp. nov. The type strain is K001 (=CBMAI 2315T = CBAS 752T).

A Healthcare-Associated Outbreak of Urinary Tract Infections Due to Myroides odoratimimus.

Myroides spp. are low-grade opportunistic pathogens. Outbreaks due to Myroides spp. have rarely been described in the literature to date. We report a healthcare-associated outbreak of urinary tract infections (UTIs), caused by Myroides odoratimimus, in a Turkish hospital. As of March 2019 until May 2019, 6 strains of M. odoratimimus were isolated from the urine samples of patients, all of whom were hospitalized in intensive care units. After identification and antibiotic susceptibility testing using the VITEK 2 system, MALDI-TOF-MS and 16S rRNA-based sequencing methods were performed for confirmation and species-level identification. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) was performed in order to investigate the clonal relatedness of the isolates. All the patients were immunocompromised and underwent urinary catheterization. None of the patients had urinary neoplasm, surgery, or calculi. VITEK 2 and MALDI-TOF-MS systems revealed that the isolates belonged to the Myroides genus; however, the aforementioned systems neglected to identify the isolates at the species level. The isolates were all successfully identified as M. odoratimimus through 16S rRNA-based sequencing. The isolates were resistant to every antibiotic tested. All isolates had an indistinguishable PFGE pattern, thus indicating cross-transmission between cases. Although M. odoratimimus is rarely isolated from human specimens, clinicians should be aware of its ability to cause UTIs and infectious outbreaks.

Croceivirga litoralis sp. nov., isolated from coastal surface water, and reclassification of Muricauda lutea as Croceivirga lutea comb. nov.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, yellow-pigmented bacterium was isolated from seawater of Aoshan Bay, and designated as strain ASW18T. Strain ASW18T was a long-rod-shaped bacterium without flagellum and lacked gliding ability. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, strain ASW18T showed the closest relationship to Croceivirga radicis MCCC 1A06690T, with a sequence similarity of 97.0 %. Strain ASW18T was able to grow at 25-40 °C, at pH 5.5-9.5 and with 0.5-9 % (w/v) NaCl. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain ASW18T was 37.3 %. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain ASW18T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, an aminolipid and three unidentified lipids. The respiratory quinone of strain ASW18T was menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6). Based on the present polyphasic analysis, strain ASW18T represents a novel species of the genus Croceivirga, for which the name Croceivirga litoralis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is ASW18T (=MCCC 1K04203T=KCTC 72852T). In addition, it is also proposed that Muricauda lutea should be reclassified as Croceivirga lutea comb. nov.; the type strain is CSW06T (=CGMCC 1.15761T=JCM 31455T=KCTC 52375T=MCCC 1K03195T).

Psychroflexus aurantiacus sp. nov., isolated from soil in the Yellow River Delta wetlands.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, orange-coloured bacterium, designated YR1-1T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Yellow River Delta wetlands (PR China). Growth was observed at a salinity of 1.0-15.0 % NaCl, 4-45 °C and pH 6.0-9.0. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that YR1-1T represented a member of the genus Psychroflexus, with the highest sequence similarity to Psychroflexus sediminis YIM-C238T (97.9 %), followed by Psychroflexus aestuariivivens (97.1 %) and Psychroflexus torquis (96.4 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between YR1-1T and other closely related type strains of species of the genus Psychroflexus were 68.7-86.3% and 17.8-30.9 %. The genome of the strain was 2 899 374 bp in length with 39.8 % DNA G+C content. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phospholipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicate that YR1-1T represents a novel species within the genus Psychroflexus, for which the name Psychroflexus aurantiacus sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is YR1-1T (=KCTC 72794T=CGMCC 1.17458T).

Paucihalobacter ruber gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a haloalkaline lake sediment sample.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated CWB-1T, was isolated from a haloalkaline lake sediment sample collected from the bottom of Chaiwopu Lake, Urumchi, Xinjiang Province, PR China. Strain CWB-1T grew at 4-40 °C (optimum, 30-35 °C), pH 6.5-9.0 (optimum, pH 6.5-7.0) and with 0.5-5.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2.5-3.0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and the whole genome sequence both revealed that strain CWB-1T belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae. The strain had the highest similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequence to Psychroserpens jangbogonensis PAMC 27130T (92.8 %). The genome of strain CWB-1T was 3 548 011 bp long with 36.3 % DNA G+C content. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) in the CWB-1T cells were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 1 (iso-C15 : 1 H/C13 : 0 3-OH). The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, as well as the phenotypic characteristics, a novel genus and species of the family Flavobacteriaceae, Paucihalobacter ruber gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is CWB-1T (=KCTC 72450T=CGMCC 1.17149T).

Poritiphilus flavus gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from coral Porites lutea.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-endospore-forming, non-motile, aerobic bacterium (strain R33T) was isolated from coral Porites lutea and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The G+C content was 44.5 mol%. The only detected respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 1 ω6c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. Global alignment based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R33T shares the highest sequence identity of 93.2 % with Muriicola marianensis A6B8T in the family Flavobacteriaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R33T forms a distinct branch in a stable clade comprising strain R33T and members of the genera Muriicola, Robiginitalea, Eudoraea and Zeaxanthinibacter. The phylogenomic analysis also supported this 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic result. Comparative genomic analysis indicated that strain R33T is rich in AraC-type DNA-binding domain-containing protein-coding genes, which means the regulation of carbon utilization is very complex. Low 16S rRNA gene identity, different polar lipids and/or cellular fatty acid profiles could readily distinguish strain R33T from any validly published type strains. Therefore, strain R33T is suggested to represent a new species in a new genus, for which the name Poritiphilus flavus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R33T (=MCCC 1K03853T=KCTC 72443T).

Myroides albus sp. nov., isolated from the gut of plastic-eating larvae of the coleopteran insect Zophobas atratus.

A bacterial strain, BIT-d1T, was isolated from the gut of plastic-eating larvae of the coleopteran insect Zophobas atratus. Its taxonomic position was analysed using a polyphasic approach. Cells were white-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, long rods without flagella. The 16S rRNA gene sequence (1401 bp) of strain BIT-d1T showed highest similarity (98.0%) to Myroides pelagicus SM1T and 96.6~92.6 % similarity to the other species of the genus Myroides. The results of phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA gene, concatenated sequences of six housekeeping genes (gyrB, dnaK, tuf, murG, atpA and glyA) and genome sequences, placed strain BIT-d1T in a separate lineage among the genus Myroides, family Flavobacteriaceae. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and the major fatty acids were C15 : 0 iso, C17 : 0 iso 3-OH and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl), which were similar to other members in the genus Myroides. In silico DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity calculations plus physiological and biochemical tests exhibited the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain BIT-d1T from the other members of the genus Myroides. Therefore, strain BIT-d1T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Myroides, for which the name Myroides albus sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is BIT-d1T (=CGMCC 1.17043T=KCTC 72447T).

Gramella bathymodioli sp. nov., isolated from a mussel inhabiting a hydrothermal field in the Okinawa Trough.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and non-flagellated marine bacterium strain, designated BOM4T, was isolated from a mussel inhabiting the Tangyin hydrothermal field of the Okinawa Trough. The growth temperature was in the range of 16-40 °C, and the optimum temperature was 37 °C. Optimal growth occurred at pH 7.0 and in the presence of 1 % (w/v) NaCl. The predominant isoprenoid quinone of strain BOM4T was identified as menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0(43.8 %) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (17.5 %). The major polar lipids comprised one phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, strain BOM4T was found to be most closely related to Gramella aestuarii JCM 17790T (96.7 %), followed by Gramella flava JLT2011T (96.1 %), Gramella sediminilitoris GHTF-27T (95.6 %) and Gramella gaetbulicola RA5-111T (95.5 %) and with lower sequence similarities (93.7- 95.4 %) to other species of the genus Gramella. Genome relatedness between strain BOM4T and G. aestuarii JCM 17790T was computed using both average nucleotide identity and DNA-DNA hybridization with values of 75.6 and 19.3±2.4 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain BOM4T was 41.4 mol%. On the basis of polyphasic analysis, strain BOM4T was considered to represent a novel species of the genus Gramella, for which the name Gramella bathymodioli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BOM4T (=MCCC 1K03735T=JCM 33424T).

Avrilella dinanensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from human blood.

Polyphasic taxonomic analysis was performed on a novel bacterium, designated UR159T, isolated in 2016 from human blood of a septic patient hospitalized in France. Preliminary 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain UR159T belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae, forming a distinct phyletic line distantly related (<94% sequence similarity) to known species of the family. Further phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic analyses were performed. Cells were non-motile, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive Gram-negative rods. It was strictly aerobic yielding yellow-pigmented colonies, and was metabolically rather inert. Major fatty acids were iso-branched fatty acids, predominantly iso-C15:0 (55.5%) and iso-C17:1ω9c (8.8%). Whole genome sequencing revealed a 2.3-Mbp genome encoding a total of 2262 putative genes with a genomic DNA G+C content at 37.6mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) values between strain UR159T and the most closely related members of the Flavobacteriaceae family were <75% and <39%, respectively, much below the established cut-offs for ANI (<95-96%) and isDDH (<70%) for species and genus delineation. Average Amino Acid Identity (AAI) percentages were also estimated and were lower than 65% (cut-off proposed for genus delineation for uncultivated prokaryotes) in all cases, except for F. marinum that was just at the limit (65.1%). Based on these findings, we propose it as a new genus and species, Avrilella dinanensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain UR159T=CIP 111616T=DSM 105483T).

Salinimicrobium nanhaiense sp. nov. and Salinimicrobium oceani sp. nov., two novel species of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from the South China Sea.

Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea. Cells of both strains were observed to be rod-shaped, non-gliding, Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and showing optimum growth at 30 °C. Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T could tolerate up to 9 and 10  % (w/v) NaCl concentration and grow at pH 6.5-9.5 and 6.0-9.0, respectively. The strains shared 97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other but were identified as two distinct species based on 81.1-85.8 % ANIb and 31.5 % dDDH values calculated using whole genome sequences. Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Salinimicrobium xinjiangense CGMCC 1.12522T (98.4 %) and Salinimicrobium sediminis CGMCC 1.12641T (98.0 %), respectively. Among species with validly published names, S. sediminis CGMCC 1.12641T shared close genetic relatedness with strains J15B81-2T [85.1-85.3% average nucleotide identity based on blastBlast+ (ANIb) and 30.6 % digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH)] and J15B91T (76.6-79.1 % ANIb and 21.5 % dDDH). The major fatty acid of strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were identified as iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, respectively, and the major polar lipids of the two strains consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The strains contained MK-6 as their predominant menaquinone. The genomic G+C contents of strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were determined to be 41.7 and 41.8 mol %, respectively. Both strains are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Salinimicrobium and the names Salinimicrobium nanhaiense sp. nov. and Salinimicrobium oceani sp. nov. are proposed for strains J15B81-2T (=KCTC 72867T=MCCC 1H00410T) and J15B91T (=KCTC 72869T=MCCC 1H00411T), respectively.

Pontimicrobium aquaticum gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium in the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from seawater.

A Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, non-spore-forming, non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-positive, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated CAU 1491T, was isolated from seawater and its taxonomic position was examined using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain CAU 1491T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.5 and in 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of CAU 1491T showed that it formed a distinct lineage within the family Flavobacteriaceae as a separate deep branch, with 97.0 % or lower sequence similarity to representatives of the genera Lacinutrix, Gaetbulibacter and Aquibacter. The major cellular fatty acids of strain CAU 1491T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3. The polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylserine, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The strain contained MK-6 as the sole respiratory quinone. Genome sequencing revealed that strain CAU 1491T has a genome size of 3.13 Mbp and a G+C content of 32.4 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data, strain CAU 1491T represents a new genus and species in the family Flavobacteriaceae for which the name Pontimicrobium aquaticum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Pontimicrobium aquaticum is CAU 1491T (=KCTC 72003T=NBRC 113695T).