Hyphobacterium marinum sp. nov. and Hyphobacterium lacteum sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment.

Two bacterial strains, Y60-23T and HN-65T, were isolated from marine sediment samples collected from Xiaoshi Island, Weihai, and Dongzhai Harbour, Haikou, PR China, respectively. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain Y60-23T exhibited 96.0% similarity to its most related type strain Hyphobacterium vulgare KCTC 52487T, while strain HN-65T exhibited 97.3% similarity to its most related type strain Hyphobacterium indicum 2ED5T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the two strains was 95.8%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains Y60-23T and HN-65T belonged to the genus Hyphobacterium. Cells of strains Y60-23T and HN-65T were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, prosthecate and multiplied by binary fission. The major cellular fatty acids (>10.0%) of strain Y60-23T were C18 : 1 ω7c and C17 : 0, while those of strain HN-65T were iso-C17 : 1 ω9c, iso-C17 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c. The major respiratory quinone in both strains was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) and the major polar lipids were monoglycosyl diglyceride, sulfoquinovosyl diacylglycerol and glucuronopyranosyl diglyceride. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains Y60-23T and HN-65T were 63.9 and 60.7 mol%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity value between the two strains was 72.1% and the DNA-DNA hybridization value was 18.4%, clearly distinguishing them from each other. According to the results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic analyses, the two strains represented two novel species within the genus Hyphobacterium, for which the names Hyphobacterium marinum sp. nov. and Hyphobacterium lacteum sp. nov. were proposed with the type strains Y60-23T (=MCCC 1H01433T=KCTC 8172T) and HN-65T (=MCCC 1H01434T=KCTC 8169T), respectively.

Devosia salina sp. nov., isolated from South China Sea sediment.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile strain, designated SCS-3T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment of the South China Sea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities revealed that strain SCS-3T represented a novel species of the genus Devosia, with closely related strains 'Devosia sediminis' MSA67T (98.61 %), Devosia riboflavina IFO13584T (98.22 %) and Devosia indica IO390501T (97.72 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA is 63.44 mol%. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with 'D. sediminis' MSA67T, D. riboflavina IFO13584T and D. indica IO390501T were 24.50, 21.8 and 24.80 %, respectively. The major polar lipids of strain SCS-3T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and three unidentified glycolipids. Ubiquinone-10 was the sole isoprenoid quinone, and C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) were the major fatty acids. Based on polyphasic taxonomic data, strain SCS-3T represents a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia salina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SCS-3T (=JCM 34403T=GDMCC 1.2221T).

Devosia rhizoryzae sp. nov., and Devosia oryziradicis sp. nov., novel plant growth promoting members of the genus Devosia, isolated from the rhizosphere of rice plants.

Two novel Gram-negative, aerobic, asporogenous, motile, rod-shaped, orange and white pigmented, designated as LEGU1T and G19T, were isolated from the roots of rice plants, collected from Goyang, South Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belonged to the genus Devosia and formed a different lineage and clusters with different members of the genus Devosia. These strains shared common chemotaxonomic features. In particular, they had Q-10 as the sole quinone, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol as the principal polar lipids and C16:0, C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1ω7c/C18:1ω6c) as the main fatty acids. The draft genome sequences of strains LEGU1T and G19T were 3,524,978 and 3,495,520 bp in size, respectively. Their average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values were 72.8-81.9% and 18.7-25.1%, respectively, with each other and type strains of related species belonging to the genus Devosia, suggesting that these two strains represent novel species. The G + C content of strains LEGU1T and G19T were 62.1 and 63.8%, respectively. Of the two strains, only LEGU1T produced carotenoid and flexirubin-type pigment. Both strains produced siderophore and indole acetic acid (IAA) in the presence of L-tryptophan. Siderophore biosynthesis genes, auxin responsive genes and tryptophan biosynthesis genes were present in their genomes. The present study aimed to determine the detailed taxonomic positions of the strains using the modern polyphasic approach. Based on the results of polyphasic analysis, these strains are suggested to be two novel bacterial species within the genus Devosia. The proposed names are D. rhizoryzae sp. nov., and Devosia oryziradicis sp. nov., respectively. The plant growth promoting effects of these strains suggest that they can be exploited to improve rice crop productivity. The type strain of D. rhizoryzae is LEGU1T (KCTC 82712T = NBRC 114485T) and D. oryziradicis is G19T (KCTC 82688T = NBRC 114842T).

Devosia equisanguinis sp. nov., isolated from horse blood.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-endospore-forming organism isolated from horse blood was studied for its taxonomic allocation. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain M6-77T grouped within the genus Devosia and was most closely related to Devosia elaeis (97.6 %) and Devosia indica (97.55 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to type strains of other Devosia species was below 97.5 %. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the M6-77T genome assembly and those of the closest relative Devosia type strains were <85 and <25 %, respectively. Strain M6-77T grew optimally at 25-37 °C (range: 10-36 °C), at a pH range of pH 6.5-10.5 and in the presence of up to 3 % (w/v) NaCl. The fatty acid profile from whole-cell hydrolysates supported the allocation of the strain to the genus Devosia. Major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c, 11-methyl C18 : 1 ω7c and C16 : 0. The quinone system consisted exclusively of ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipid profile was composed of the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and three unidentified glycolipids. In the polyamine pattern, putrescine was predominant and spermidine was detected in moderate amounts. The diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain M6-77T from the closely related species. Hence, M6-77T represents a new species of the genus Devosia, for which we propose the name Devosia equisanguinis sp. nov., with M6-77T (=CIP 111628T=LMG 30659T=CCM 8868T) as the type strain.

Description of Devosia faecipullorum sp. nov., harboring antibiotic- and toxic compound-resistace genes, isolated from poultry manure.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize a Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain CC-YST696T, harbouring antibiotic- and toxic compound-resistace genes, isolated from poultry manure in Taiwan. Cells of CC-YST696T were short rods, motile with polar flagella, catalase- and oxidase-positive. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °Ð¡, pH 9 and with 1 % NaCl. The results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes revealed a distinct taxonomic position attained by CC-YST696T associated with Devosia chinhatensis (97.9 % sequence identity), Devosia riboflavina (97.3 %) and Devosia indica (97.2 %), and with lower sequence similarity values to other species. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values were 72.8-80.0 % (n=17) compared within the type strains of species of of the genus Devosia. CC-YST696T contained C16:0, C18:0, C18:1ω7c 11-methyl and C18:1ω6c/ C18:1ω7c as the predominant fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified glycolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 62.2 mol% and the predominant quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. On the basis of its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits together with results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence and ANI analyses, strain CC-YST696T is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia faecipullorum sp. nov. (type strain CC-YST696T=BCRC 81284T=JCM 34167T) is proposed.

Pelagibacterium limicola sp. nov., isolated from a soda alkali-saline soil.

A Gram-staining negative, motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated NAJP-14T, was isolated from the alkali-saline soil in Heilongjiang, Northeast China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing illustrated that strain NAJP-14T was a member of the genus Pelagibacterium, and shared 94.6-96.6% sequence identities to species from the genus Pelagibacterium. Strain NAJP-14T grew at 20-45 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and in the presence of up to 5% w/v NaCl. The menaquinone was determined to be Q (10). The major fatty acids were identified as C18:1w6c (38.7%), C16:0 (16.2%) and C19:0 cyclo w8c (13.9%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA was 61.2%. Out of the 3442 predicted genes, 3391 were protein-coding genes and 51 were ncRNA. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) estimation and average nucleotide identity (ANI) of the strain NAJP-14T and the type strains of related species in the same family ranged between 17.9 and 21.8% and between 61.4 and 78.7%, respectively. Based on these data, it is concluded that strain NAJP-14T possesses sufficient characteristics to differentiate it from all recognized Pelagibacterium species, and should be considered as a novel species for which the name Pelagibacterium limicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NAJP-14T (= CGMCC 1.16631T, = JCM 33746T).

Devosia marina sp. nov., isolated from deep seawater of the South China Sea, and reclassification of Devosia subaequoris as a later heterotypic synonym of Devosia soli.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped and motile bacterial strain, designated L53-10-65T, was isolated from deep seawater of the South China Sea. Strain L53-10-65T was found to grow at 4-41 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (pH 7.0-8.0) and in 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl (2 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain L53-10-65T fell within the genus Devosia, with the highest similarity to Devosia indica IO390501T (98.4 %), followed by 'Devosia lucknowensis' L15T (97.7 %) and Devosia riboflavina IFO 13584T (96.8 %). The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between strain L53-10-65T and the three relatives above were 43.7, 21.5 and 20.9 %, respectively; the average nucleotide identity (ANI) values were 91.3, 78.4 and 76.8 %, respectively. These values were below the 70 % dDDH and 95-96 % ANI thresholds for bacterial species delineation. The major cellular fatty acids of strain L53-10-65T were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), C18 : 1 ω7c 11-methyl and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids. The respiratory quinone was identified as Q-10. The DNA G+C content of strain L53-10-65T was 61.3 mol%. Based on the results of phylogenetic analysis and distinctive phenotypic characteristics, strain L53-10-65T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia marina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is L53-10-65T (=MCCC 1A05139T=KCTC 72888T). Moreover, we propose that Devosia subaequoris is a later heterotypic synonym of Devosia soli based on the present results.

Devosia ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from ginseng cultivation soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, ivory-coloured and rod-shaped bacterium (designated Gsoil 520T) isolated from ginseng cultivation soil was characterized by using a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. Strain Gsoil 520T was observed to grow optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.0 on Reasoner's 2A agar medium. The results of phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, indicated that Gsoil 520T belongs to the genus Devosia of the family Hyphomicrobiaceae and was most closely related to Devosia epidermidihirudinis E84T (98.0 %), Devosia yakushimensis Yak96BT (97.7 %), Devosia neptuniae J1T (97.7 %) and Devosia chinhatensis IPL18T (96.8 %). The complete genome of strain Gsoil 520T is a presumptive circular chromosome of 4 480 314 base pairs having G+C content of 63.7 mol%. A total of 4 354 genes, 4 303 CDS and 43 rRNA genes were assigned a putative function. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified aminolipids (AL1 and AL3). The predominant fatty acids of strain Gsoil 520T were C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl, C16 : 0 and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c (summed feature 8) supporting the affiliation of strain Gsoil 520T to the genus Devosia. The low values of DNA-DNA hybridization distinguished strain Gsoil 520T from the recognized species of the genus Devosia. Thus, the novel isolate represents a novel species of the genus Devosia, for which the name Devosia ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Gsoil 520T (=KACC 19440T=LMG 30329T).

Devosia indica sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater in the Indian Ocean.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated IO390501T, was isolated from a sea water sample from the Indian Ocean and taxonomically characterized using a polyphasic approach. The strain is phylogenetically close to 'Devosia lucknowensis' L15 and Devosia chinhatensis IPL18T, with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.7 and 97.4 %, respectively. The genome of IO390501T has a DNA G+C content of 61.9 mol% for the 3.9 Mb chromosome. Genome-based phylogenetic trees indicated that IO390501T clusters as an independent lineage with 'D. lucknowensis' L15. Genomic relatedness of in silico DNA-DNA hybridization between IO390501T and phylogenetic neighbours ranged from 18.8 to 21.5 %, below the cutoff of 70 %, and corresponding average nucleotide identity values were between 71.4 and 79.0 %, lower than the 95.0 % threshold. The predominant cellular fatty acids of IO390501T are summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c/C18  : 1ω6c) and C16  :  0. IO390501T contains ubiquinone-10 as the sole respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids as the major polar lipids. On the basis of the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genetic analyses, strain IO390501T represents a novel species of the genus Devosia for which the name Devosia indica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IO390501T.

Pelagibacterium montanilacus sp. nov., an alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from Lake Cuochuolong on the Tibetan Plateau.

A Gram-stain negative, alkaliphilic and halotolerant bacterium, designated CCL18T, was isolated from Lake Cuochuolong on the Tibetan Plateau. The strain was aerobic, short rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and motile by means of several polar flagella. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain CCL18T belongs to the genus Pelagibacterium, with its two closest neighbours being Pelagibacterium halotolerans B2T (96.6 %, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Pelagibacterium luteolum 1_C16_27T (96.1 %). The predominant respiratory quinone of strain CCL18T was Q-10, with Q-9 as a minor component. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω6c/C18 : 1ω7c (60.4 %), C19 : 0cyclo ω8c (8.1 %) and C18 : 0 (6.8 %). The polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, seven kinds of unidentified lipids and three kinds of glycolipids. The DNA G+C content was 60.1 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization showed 35.2 % relatedness between strain CCL18T and P. halotolerans B2T and 24.6 % relatedness to P. luteolum 1_C16_27T. Based on phylogenetic analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization and a range of physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain CCL18T was clearly distinguishable from the other strains of the genus Pelagibacterium. It was evident that strain CCL18T could be classified as a novel species of the genus Pelagibacterium, for which the name Pelagibacterium montanilacus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCL18T (=CGMCC 1.16231T=KCTC 62030T).

Limoniibacter endophyticus gen. nov., sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from the roots of Limonium otolepis.

A Gram-negative bacterium, designated as strain YIM 690229T, was isolated from the roots of Limonium otolepis. The strain was able to grow at 10-40 °C (optimum, 28-37 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of up to 7% NaCl (w/v) (optimum, up to 2.5%). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain YIM 690229T shared less than 93.9% sequence similarities with members within the order Rhizobiales, and was remotely related to members of the family Hyphomicrobiaceae. Strain YIM 690229T was characterized by the presence of Q-10 as the predominant respiratory lipoquinone. The major fatty acids (> 10%) detected were C18:1 ω7c, C16:0, anteiso-C15:0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso-C17:1 B). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethylethanoamine and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G + C content was 57.2 mol%. Data from this polyphasic taxonomy study suggested that strain YIM 690229T should be classified as a new species of a new genus within the family Hyphomicrobiaceae for which the name Limoniibacter endophyticus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type species of the genus Limoniibacter gen. nov. is Limoniibacter endophyticus. The type strain of the species Limoniibacter endophyticus sp. nov. is YIM 690229T (= KCTC 42097T = JCM 30141T = CCTCC AB 2014130T = CGMCC 1.12906T).

Devosia elaeis sp. nov., isolated from oil palm rhizospheric soil.

A bacterial isolate, designated strain S37T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Strain S37T was found to be Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod shaped. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain S37T was most closely related to Devosia albogilva IPL15T (97.3 %), Devosia chinhatensis IPL18T (96.8 %) and Devosia subaequoris HST3-14T (96.5 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.0 mol%, and dominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10), and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid and phospholipids. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, it is clear that strain S37T represents a novel species of the genus Devosia within the family Hyphomicrobiaceae, for which we propose the name Devosia elaeis sp. nov., with strain S37T (=TBRC 5145T=LMG 29420T) as the type strain.

Pelagibacterium lixinzhangensis sp. nov., a Novel Member of the Genus Pelagibacterium.

A Gram-negative, rod shaped and non-spore-forming bacterium, strain H642(T), was isolated from a desert sample collected from Xinjiang province of China, and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic investigation. Strain H642(T) grew between 20 and 40 °C (optimal 28-37 °C), pH 6.0-10.0 (optimal 7.0-9.0) and at NaCl concentrations between 1.0 and 20.0 % (optimal 2.0-8.0 %). It was positive for catalase, but negative for oxidase. Ubiquinone-10 was present as the major respiratory ubiquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, four unknown glycolipids and one unknown lipid. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain H642(T) belongs to the genus Pelagibacterium. Strain H642(T) was most closely related to Pelagibacterium halotolerans (with 98.4 % similarity), Pelagibacterium nitratireducens (97.3 %) and Pelagibacterium luteolum (96.2 %). DNA-DNA reassociation values between strain H642(T), P. halotolerans B2(T) and P. nitratireducens JLT2005(T) were 38.0 and 25.3 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G + C content of strain H642(T) was determined to be 44.4 mol%. Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain H642(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pelagibacterium, for which the name Pelagibacterium lixinzhangensis sp. nov is proposed. The type strain is H642(T) (=CGMCC 1.10230(T)=JCM 16597(T)).

Devosia pacifica sp. nov., isolated from deep-sea sediment.

A novel bacterial strain, NH131(T), was isolated from deep-sea sediment of South China Sea. Cells were strictly aerobic, Gram-stain negative, short rod-shaped and motile with a single lateral flagellum. Strain NH131(T) grew optimally at pH 6.5-7.0 and 25-30 °C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain NH131(T) belonged to the genus Devosia, sharing the highest sequence similarity with the type strain, Devosia geojensis BD-c194(T) (96.2%). The predominant fatty acids were C(18 : 1)ω7c, 11-methyl C(18 : 1)ω7c, C(18 : 0) and C(16 : 0). Ubiquinone 10 was the predominant ubiquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipid, three glycolipids and two unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain NH131(T) was 63.0 mol%. On the basis of the results of polyphasic identification, it is suggested that strain NH131(T) represents a novel species of the genus Devosia for which the name Devosia pacifica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NH131(T) ( = JCM 19305(T) = KCTC 32437(T)).

Devosia psychrophila sp. nov. and Devosia glacialis sp. nov., from alpine glacier cryoconite, and an emended description of the genus Devosia.

Two psychrophilic strains, Cr7-05(T) and Cr4-44(T), isolated from alpine glacier cryoconite, were characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Both strains were psychrophilic, showing good growth over a temperature range of 1-20 °C. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of these isolates included the presence of C(18:1)ω7c and summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c) as the major cellular fatty acids, Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and unknown glycolipids as major polar lipids. The DNA G+C contents of strains Cr7-05(T) and Cr4-44(T) were 61.4 and 63.6 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two isolates belong to the genus Devosia. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the two strains was 98.6%, but DNA-DNA hybridization indicated 54% relatedness. Strains Cr7-05(T) and Cr4-44(T) exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 94.7-97.2 and 94.9-96.9%, respectively, to the type strains of recognized Devosia species. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness data, strains Cr7-05(T) and Cr4-44(T) represent two novel species within the genus Devosia, for which the names Devosia psychrophila sp. nov. (type strain Cr7-05(T) =DSM 22950(T) =CGMCC 1.10210(T) =CIP 110130(T)) and Devosia glacialis sp. nov. (type strain Cr4-44(T) =CGMCC 1.10691(T) =LMG 26051(T)) are proposed. An emended description of the genus Devosia is also provided.

First report of human infection by Rhodoplanes sp., Alphaproteobacteria in China.

We isolated a novel strain of Alphaproteobacteria from a patient, who had medical history of chronic rhinitis for more than twenty years and recently experienced local skin abscess and ulcer. He eventually died of multiple organ failure due to multi-antibiotics resistance. We identified the microorganism by 16SrRNA sequencing and found that it belonged to the genus Rhodoplanes. It was named as Rhodoplanes sp. strain ZLJ-0. It is resumed that Rhodoplanes sp. strain ZLJ-0 might be an emerging human pathogen involving in unknown febrile conditions and could cause local infection of any tissues or organs. Differential diagnosis of febrile patients should be conducted in clinical practice and research on emerging pathogens of Alphaproteobacteria should be performed to determine the epidemiology, clinical symptoms and pathogenic features of these pathogens.

Detection of iron-depositing Pedomicrobium species in native biofilms from the Odertal National Park by a new, specific FISH probe.

Iron-depositing bacteria play an important role in technical water systems (water wells, distribution systems) due to their intense deposition of iron oxides and resulting clogging effects. Pedomicrobium is known as iron- and manganese-oxidizing and accumulating bacterium. The ability to detect and quantify members of this species in biofilm communities is therefore desirable. In this study the fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method was used to detect Pedomicrobium in iron and manganese incrusted biofilms. Based on comparative sequence analysis, we designed and evaluated a specific oligonucleotide probe (Pedo 1250) complementary to the hypervariable region 8 of the 16S rRNA gene for Pedomicrobium. Probe specificities were tested against 3 different strains of Pedomicrobium and Sphingobium yanoikuyae as non-target organism. Using optimized conditions the probe hybridized with all tested strains of Pedomicrobium with an efficiency of 80%. The non-target organism showed no hybridization signals. The new FISH probe was applied successfully for the in situ detection of Pedomicrobium in different native, iron-depositing biofilms. The hybridization results of native bioflims using probe Pedo_1250 agreed with the results of the morphological structure of Pedomicrobium bioflims based on scanning electron microscopy.

Zhangella mobilis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Hyphomicrobiaceae isolated from coastal seawater.

A Gram-negative, pale-yellow, non-spore-forming bacterium, motile with single polar flagella, strain E6T, was isolated from coastal seawater collected from Tianjin, China, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain E6T requires NaCl for growth and grows optimally at pH 8.2 and 36 degrees C and in the presence of 2.0% (w/v) NaCl. It is positive for catalase and oxidase, and reduces nitrate to nitrite. The major fatty acids (>10%) are C18:1omega7c (64.71%) and 11-methyl C18:1omega7c (12.38%), the ubiquinone system is Q-10 and the DNA G+C content is 53.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that strain E6T represented a new lineage in the Alphaproteobacteria and is related to genera Cucumibacter, Devosia, Ochrobactrum and Ahrensia. Strain E6T shows highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (93.3%) to Cucumibacter marinus CL-GR60T and less than 92.2% similarity to other relatives. It can be differentiated from its closest phylogenetic neighbours on the basis of several phenotypic features, including nitrate reduction, assimilation of D-glucose, L-arabinose, D-mannose, mannitol and maltose and major fatty acid composition. A polyphasic analysis supported the conclusion that strain E6T represents a novel genus and species of the family Hyphomicrobiaceae, for which the name Zhangella mobilis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Zhangella mobilis is E6T (=CGMCC 1.7002T=JCM 15144T).

Devosia albogilva sp. nov. and Devosia crocina sp. nov., isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane dump site.

Two bacterial strains, IPL15(T) and IPL20(T), isolated from a hexachlorocyclohexane dump site in India, were characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, both strains belonged to the genus Devosia; highest sequence similarities of strain IPL15(T) were observed with Devosia neptuniae J1(T) and Devosia geojensis BD-c194(T) (96.2 % in each case) and the highest sequence similarity of strain IPL20(T) was observed with Devosia soli GH2-10(T) (98.6 %). Phylogenetic analysis showed the distinct lineages of strains IPL15(T) and IPL20(T) among members of the genus Devosia. The presence of C(18 : 0) 3-OH and C(10 : 0) 3-OH fatty acids supported their respective positions within the genus Devosia. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization results, it is concluded that strains IPL15(T) and IPL20(T) represent two distinct species of the genus Devosia for which the names Devosia albogilva sp. nov. and Devosia crocina sp. nov., respectively, are proposed. The type strains are Devosia albogilva IPL15(T) (=CCM 7427(T)=MTCC 8594(T)) and Devosia crocina IPL20(T) (=CCM 7425(T)=MTCC 8590(T)).

Filomicrobium insigne sp. nov., isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil.

Strain SLG5B-19(T), isolated from an oil-polluted saline soil in Gudao in the coastal Shengli Oilfield, eastern China, was Gram-negative with monoprosthecae or bipolar prosthecae and buds on the prosthecal tips. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations between 0 and 7 % (w/v), at temperatures between 4 and 45 degrees C, and at pH 6.0-9.0. Strain SLG5B-19(T) had Q-9 as the major respiratory quinone and unsaturated C(18 : 1)omega7c as the predominant cellular fatty acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 59.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SLG5B-19(T) belonged to a clade with the genera Filomicrobium and Hyphomicrobium in the class Alphaproteobacteria. However, 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain SLG5B-19(T) to the phylogenetically most closely related strains, i.e. the type strains of Filomicrobium fusiforme and Hyphomicrobium zavarzinii, were 95.8 and 94.5 %, respectively. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SLG5B-19(T) had 24 signature nucleotides that were identical to those of the type strain of F. fusiforme. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain SLG5B-19(T) could be allocated to the genus Filomicrobium. However, distinct phenotypic differences were observed between strain SLG5B-19(T) and the type strain of F. fusiforme. It is therefore proposed that strain SLG5B-19(T) represents a novel species in the genus Filomicrobium, Filomicrobium insigne sp. nov. The type strain is SLG5B-19(T) (=CGMCC 1.6497(T)=LMG 23927(T)).