Episymbiotic Saccharibacteria suppresses gingival inflammation and bone loss in mice through host bacterial modulation.

Saccharibacteria (TM7) are obligate epibionts living on the surface of their host bacteria and are strongly correlated with dysbiotic microbiomes during periodontitis and other inflammatory diseases, suggesting they are putative pathogens. However, due to the recalcitrance of TM7 cultivation, causal research to investigate their role in inflammatory diseases is lacking. Here, we isolated multiple TM7 species on their host bacteria from periodontitis patients. These TM7 species reduce inflammation and consequential bone loss by modulating host bacterial pathogenicity in a mouse ligature-induced periodontitis model. Two host bacterial functions involved in collagen binding and utilization of eukaryotic sialic acid are required for inducing bone loss and are altered by TM7 association. This TM7-mediated downregulation of host bacterial pathogenicity is shown for multiple TM7/host bacteria pairs, suggesting that, in contrast to their suspected pathogenic role, TM7 could protect mammalian hosts from inflammatory damage induced by their host bacteria.

Unravelling the eco-specificity and pathophysiological properties of Cutibacterium species in the light of recent taxonomic changes.

In 2016, a new species name Cutibacterium acnes was coined for the well-documented species, Propionibacterium acnes, one of the most successful and clinically important skin commensals. The nomenclatural changes were brought about through creation of the genus Cutibacterium, when a group of propionibacteria isolates from the skin were transferred from the genus Propionibacterium and placed in the phylum Actinobacteria. Almost simultaneously, the discovery of two novel species of Cutibacterium occurred and the proposal of three subspecies of C. acnes were reported. These dramatic changes that occurred in a long-established taxon made it challenging for the non-specialist to correlate the huge volume of hitherto published work with current findings. In this review, we aim to correlate the eco-specificity and pathophysiological properties of these newly circumscribed taxa. We envisage that this information will shed light on the pathogenic potential of new isolates and enable better assessment of their clinical importance in the foreseeable future. Currently, five species are recognized within the genus: Cutibacterium acnes, Cutibacterium avidum, Cutibacterium granulosum, Cutibacterium modestum (previously, "Propionibacterium humerusii"), and Cutibacterium namnetense. These reside in different niches reflecting their uniqueness in their genetic makeup. Their pathogenicity includes acne inflammation, sarcoidosis, progressive macular hypomelanosis, prostate cancer, and infections (bone, lumbar disc, and heart). This is also the case for the three newly described subspecies of C. acnes, which are C. acnes subspecies acnes (C. acnes type I), subspecies defendens (C. acnes type II), and subspecies elongatum (C. acnes type III). C. acnes subspecies acnes is related to inflamed acne and sarcoidosis, while subspecies defendens to prostate cancer and subspecies elongatum to progressive macular hypomelanosis. Because the current nomenclature is based upon polyphasic analyses of the biochemical and pathogenic characteristics and comparative genomics, it provides a sound basis studying the pathophysiological roles of these species.

A New Pathway for Forming Acetate and Synthesizing ATP during Fermentation in Bacteria.

Many bacteria and other organisms carry out fermentations forming acetate. These fermentations have broad importance for foods, agriculture, and industry. They also are important for bacteria themselves because they often generate ATP. Here, we found a biochemical pathway for forming acetate and synthesizing ATP that was unknown in fermentative bacteria. We found that the bacterium Cutibacterium granulosum formed acetate during fermentation of glucose. It did not use phosphotransacetylase or acetate kinase, enzymes found in nearly all acetate-forming bacteria. Instead, it used a pathway involving two different enzymes. The first enzyme, succinyl coenzyme A (succinyl-CoA):acetate CoA-transferase (SCACT), forms acetate from acetyl-CoA. The second enzyme, succinyl-CoA synthetase (SCS), synthesizes ATP. We identified the genes encoding these enzymes, and they were homologs of SCACT and SCS genes found in other bacteria. The pathway resembles one described in eukaryotes, but it uses bacterial, not eukaryotic, gene homologs. To find other instances of the pathway, we analyzed sequences of all biochemically characterized homologs of SCACT and SCS (103 enzymes from 64 publications). Homologs with similar enzymatic activity had similar sequences, enabling a large-scale search for them in genomes. We searched nearly 600 genomes of bacteria known to form acetate, and we found that 6% encoded homologs with SCACT and SCS activity. This included >30 species belonging to 5 different phyla, showing that a diverse range of bacteria encode the SCACT/SCS pathway. This work suggests the SCACT/SCS pathway is important for acetate formation in many branches of the tree of life. IMPORTANCE Pathways for forming acetate during fermentation have been studied for over 80 years. In that time, several pathways in a range of organisms, from bacteria to animals, have been described. However, one pathway (involving succinyl-CoA:acetate CoA-transferase and succinyl-CoA synthetase) has not been reported in prokaryotes. Here, we discovered enzymes for this pathway in the fermentative bacterium Cutibacterium granulosum. We also found >30 other fermentative bacteria that encode this pathway, demonstrating that it could be common. This pathway represents a new way for bacteria to form acetate from acetyl-CoA and synthesize ATP via substrate-level phosphorylation. It could be a target for controlling yield of acetate during fermentation, with relevance for foods, agriculture, and industry.

Bacterial pericarditis and empyema caused by Cutibacterium acnes in a patient with metastatic lung cancer.

Bacterial pericarditis and empyema due to Cutibacterium acnes has rarely been reported. C.acnes, a normal component of human skin flora, is often considered a contaminant when isolated from body fluids and thus cases may be underreported. We report the first case of concurrent purulent pericarditis and empyema caused by C. acnes in a patient with newly diagnosed metastatic lung cancer. Our patient underwent pericardial window creation and placement of pericardial and bilateral chest tubes and was successfully treated with culture directed antibiotic therapy.

Microlunatus speluncae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from a Karstic subterranean environment sample.

A novel actinobacterial strain, designated SYSU K12189T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a Karst cave in Xingyi county, Guizhou province, south-western China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were observed to be aerobic and Gram-stain positive. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and phylogenetic analysis, strain SYSU K12189T is closely related to the type strains of the genus Microlunatus, Microlunatus parietis 12-Be-011T (98.5% sequence similarity), Microlunatus nigridraconis CPCC 203993T (98.4%) and Microlunatus cavernae YIM C01117T (96.6%), and is therefore considered to represent a member of the genus Microlunatus. DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain SYSU K12189T and related type strains of the genus Microlunatus were < 70%. In addition, LL-diaminopimelic acid was found to be the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan. The major isoprenoid quinone was identified as MK-9(H4), while the major fatty acids (> 10%) were found to be anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and iso-C14:0. The polar lipids were found to contain diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, three glycolipids and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain SYSU K12189T was determined to be 69.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, strain SYSU K12189T is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Microlunatus, for which the name Microlunatus speluncae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU K12189T (= KCTC 39847T = DSM 103947T).

Cutibacterium acnes Isolates from Deep Tissue Specimens Retrieved during Revision Shoulder Arthroplasty: Similar Colony Morphology Does Not Indicate Clonality.

Cutibacterium acnes is the most common bacterium associated with periprosthetic shoulder infections. Sequencing of C. acnes has been proposed as a potential rapid diagnostic tool and a method of determining subtypes associated with pathogenicity and antibiotic resistance patterns. When multiple deep samples from the same surgery are culture positive for the same species and the isolates show the same culture phenotype, it is typically assumed that these isolates are clonal. However, it is well-known that C. acnes is not clonal on the skin of most individuals. We hypothesized that the C. acnes bacteria recovered at the time of revision shoulder arthroplasty would often represent more than one subtype, and we tested this hypothesis in this work. For patients undergoing revision shoulder arthroplasty, multiple samples from the surgical field were taken. For those patients with multiple samples that were culture positive for C. acnes, isolates from each sample were subjected to full genome sequencing. Of 11 patients, 5 (45%) had different subtypes of C. acnes within the deep tissues even though the colony morphology was similar. One patient had four subtypes in the deep tissues, while four patients had two different subtypes. Up to four different subtypes of C. acnes were observed in the deep tissues of a single patient. Clonality of C. acnes isolates from deep specimens from a potential periprosthetic shoulder infection cannot be assumed. Sequence-based characterization of virulence and antibiotic resistance may require testing of multiple deep specimens.

Intra-peritoneal abscess after an abdominal hysterectomy involving Cutibacterium avidum (former Propionibacterium avidum) highly resistant to clindamycin.

Cutibacterium avidum is a gram-positive anaerobic rod belonging to the cutaneous group of human bacteria with preferential colonization of sweat glands in moist areas. The microorganism rarely cause disease, generally delayed prosthetic joint infections (PJIs). We describe the second case of intraperitoneal abscess by C. avidum after an abdominal surgery in an obese female patient and the first case after a non-prosthetic abdominal surgery due to a highly clindamycin resistant strain in a patient with underling conditions. The patient was successfully treated with surgical drainage and beta-lactam antibiotics. Although rare and apparently non-pathogenic, C. avidum may be involved in infections, especially in some high-risk patients with obesity who have undergone surgical incision involving deep folder of the skin. The microorganism was identified by phenotypic methods, MALDI-TOF MS and 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Susceptibility test should be performed in C. avidum because high level resistance to clindamycin could be present. We present a literature review of C. avidum infections.

Polyphosphate metabolic gene expression analyses reveal mechanisms of phosphorus accumulation and release in Microlunatus phosphovorus strain JN459.

The ability of Microlunatus phosphovorus to accumulate large amounts of polyphosphate (Poly-P) plays an important role in removing soluble phosphorus from wastewater. Strain JN459, isolated from a sewage system, was previously demonstrated to be Microlunatus phosphovorus. In this study, we analyzed the phosphorus-accumulating and phosphorus-releasing characteristics of strain JN459. Our analyses indicate that strain JN459 accumulates Poly-P under aerobic conditions but releases phosphorus under anaerobic conditions. To determine the mechanisms underlying Poly-P metabolism in strain JN459, we compared transcriptional profiles under aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Significant differences were detected in the expression levels of genes associated with Poly-P metabolism between aerobic and anaerobic conditions, including ppk (MLP_47700, MLP_50300 and MLP_05750), ppgk (MLP_05430 and MLP_26610), ppx (MLP_44770), pap (MLP_23310) and ppnk (MLP_17420). The high expression of polyphosphate glucokinase (MLP_05430) and polyphosphate/ATP-dependent NAD kinase (MLP_17420) indicated that both of them might be responsible for utilizing Poly-P as the energy resource for growth under anaerobic conditions. These findings enhance our understanding of phosphate metabolism in a major bacterial species involved in wastewater phosphorus reduction.

Tessaracoccus terricola sp. nov., isolated from oil-contaminated soil.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, yellow and rod-shaped actinobacterium, designated strain Brt-AT, isolated from oil-contaminated soil, grew at 15-40 °C, at pH 5.5-10.0 and at 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl concentration. This strain was characterized by a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain Brt-AT belonged to the genus Tessaracoccus and is closely related to Tessaracoccus rhinocerotis YIM 101269T, Tessaracoccus flavescens SST-39T, Tessaracoccus defluvii LNB-140T and Tessaracoccus flavus RP1T (99.03, 97.00, 96.88, and 96.46 % gene sequence similarity, respectively). The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-9(H4); the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol; the predominant polyamines were spermine and spermidine; and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ll-diaminopimelic acid; and glucose and ribose were detected as diagnostic sugars from whole-cell hydrolysates. The DNA G+C content was 68.1 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain Brt-AT and its closely related species of the genus Tessaracoccus were between 55.0-44.0 %, which fall below the threshold value of 70 % for the strain to be considered as novel. The morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses clearly distinguished this strain from its closest phylogenetic neighbours. Thus, strain Brt-AT represents a novel species of the genus Tessaracoccus, for which the name Tessaracoccus terricola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Brt-AT (=KEMB 9005-690T=KACC 19391T=JCM 32157T).

Propioniciclava sinopodophylli sp. nov., isolated from leaves of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum (Royle) Ying.

A Gram-reaction-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterial strain, designated TEYR-7T, was isolated from the leaves of Sinopodophyllum hexandrum collected from the Qinling Mountains in Shaanxi Province, northwest China. Growth of strain TEYR-7T occurred at 15-37 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0-1 %). Propionate and acetate were produced from glucose fermentation. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TEYR-7T was a member of the phylum Actinobacteria, exhibiting the highest sequence similarity to Propioniciclava tarda DSM 22130T (94.3 %). The only respiratory quinone detected in strain TEYR-7T was menaquinone MK-9(H4) and the major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified glycolipids, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol%. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was detected in the peptidoglycan. On the basis of data from the present polyphasic taxonomic study, strain TEYR-7T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Propioniciclava, for which the name Propioniciclava sinopodophylli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TEYR-7T (=CCTCC AB 2015257T=KCTC 33808T).

Kribbella sindirgiensis sp. nov. isolated from soil.

A Kribbella strain FSN23T was isolated from soil sample which was collected from Caygoren Dam lakeside located in Sindirgi, Turkey. The isolate was investigated using a polyphasic approach consisting of numeric, chemotaxonomic and molecular analysis. The isolate indicated chemotaxonomic, morphological and phylogenetic properties associated with members of the genus Kribbella. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA sequence of the strain demonstrated that the strain forms a subclade with K. aluminosa HKI 0478T and K. jejuensis HD9T. The organism formed an extensively branched substrate and aerial hyphae which generated spiral chains of spores with smooth surfaces. The cell wall contained LL-diaminopimelic acid, and the whole cell sugars were glucose and ribose along with trace amounts of mannose. The polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified lipids and five unidentified polar lipids. The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H4). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. Polyphasic taxonomy properties confirm that strain FSN23T represents a novel Kribbella taxon distinguished from closely related type strains. Hence, strain FSN23T (=KCTC 29220T = DSM 27082T) is proposed as the type strain of a novel species with the name Kribbella sindirgiensis sp. nov.

Tessaracoccus arenae sp. nov., isolated from sea sand.

A Gram-stain positive, non-spore-forming, non-motile, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, designated CAU 1319T, was isolated from sea sand and the strain's taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Strain CAU 1319T grew optimally at 30 °C and at pH 7.5 in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis, based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, revealed that strain CAU 1319T belongs to the genus Tessaracoccus, and is closely related to Tessaracoccus lapidicaptus IPBSL-7T (similarity 97.69 %), Tessaracoccus bendigoensis Ben 106T (similarity 95.64 %) and Tessaracoccus flavescens SST-39T (similarity 95.84 %). Strain CAU 1319T had ll-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-9 (H4) as the predominant menaquinone, and anteiso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acid. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified glycolipid. Predominant polyamines were spermine and spermidine. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain CAU 1319T and T. lapidicaptus IPBSL-7T was 24 %±0.2. The DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 69.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties, as well as phylogenetic relatedness, strain CAU 1319Tshould be classified as a novel species of the genus Tessaracoccus, for which the name Tessaracoccus arenae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 1319T(=KCTC 39760T=NBRC 111973T).

Tessaracoccus defluvii sp. nov., isolated from an aeration tank of a sewage treatment plant.

A Gram-positive, non-motile, aerobic, coccus-shaped bacterium, designated strain LNB-140T, was isolated from a sewage treatment plant in the Republic of Korea and was characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain LNB-140T belongs to genus Tessaracoccus in the family Propionibacteriaceae of the phylum Actinobacteria. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain LNB-140T and type strains of the genus, Tessaracoccus flavescens SST-39T and Tessaracoccus rhinocerotis YIM101269T are 97.8 and 97.4 %, respectively. The chemotaxonomic properties of strain LNB-140T are consistent with those of members of the genus Tessaracoccus: a quinone system with MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone; anteiso-C15:0 and iso C15:0 as the predominant cellular fatty acids; and LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic peptidoglycan diamino acid. The major polar lipids were identified as diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 67.1 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties along with low DNA-DNA relatedness (<30 ± 3.2 %) with closely related type strains show that strain LNB-140T is distinct from previously described members of the genus Tessaracoccus and represents a novel species in this genus, for which the name Tessaracoccus defluvii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LNB-140T (=KEMB 5401-076T = JCM 17540T).

Microlunatus nigridraconis sp. nov., an actinobacterium from rhizosphere soil.

An actinobacterium, designated strain CPCC 203993T, was isolated from a rhizosphere soil sample collected from Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, and was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and non-endospore-forming cocci. The 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of strain CPCC 203993T with members of the genus Microlunatus yielded 93.9 % to 97.8 % similarities. In the phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain CPCC 203993T was affiliated to the clade of the genus Microlunatus next to Microlunatus parietis DSM 22083T, while the DNA-DNA hybridization value of 31.5 % (±1.8 %) between strain CPCC 203993T and Microlunatus. parietis DSM 22083T was far below 70 %. This result indicated that strain CPCC 203993T represented a different genomic species from M. parietis. Chemotaxonomically, the strain contained ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, MK-9(H4) as the only menaquinone, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, three unidentified glycolipids and one unidentified phospholipid in the polar lipids extracts, and anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids, without mycolic acids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.04 mol%. The above evidence from the polyphasic study merit the recognition of strain CPCC 203993T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Microlunatus, for which Microlunatus nigridraconis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CPCC 203993T (=DSM 29529T=NBRC 110715T=KCTC 29689T).

Mumia xiangluensis sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn.

During an investigation of microbial diversity in medicinal herbs, a novel actinobacterium, strain NEAU-KD1(T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of Peucedanum praeruptorum Dunn collected from Xianglu Mountain in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China and characterized using a polyphasic approach. The organism was found to have the typical chemotaxonomic and morphological characteristics of the genus Mumia. Cells were observed to be non-spore-forming and irregular cocci. The cell wall was found to contain LL-diaminopimelic acid as the cell wall diamino acid. The whole-cell sugars were detected as galactose and rhamnose and the predominant menaquinone was identified as MK-9(H4). The polar lipids were found to consist of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphoglycolipid and five unidentified phospholipids. The major cellular fatty acids were determined to be composed of C16:0, 10-methyl C18:0 and C18:1ω7c. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence also indicated that strain NEAU-KD1(T) belongs to the genus Mumia and with high sequence similarity to Mumia flava NBRC 109973(T) (97.6 % sequence similarity). The results of DNA-DNA hybridization and the phenotypic characteristics indicated that strain NEAU-KD1(T) could be distinguished from its close phylogenetic relative. Thus, strain NEAU-KD1(T) can be concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Mumia, for which the name Mumia xiangluensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-KD1(T) (=CGMCC 4.7305(T) = DSM 101040(T)).

Microlunatus endophyticus sp. nov., an endophytic actinobacterium isolated from bark of Bruguiera sexangula.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, coccoid, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain S3Af-1T, was isolated from surface-sterilized bark of Bruguiera sexangula collected from Dongzhaigang National Nature Reserve in Hainan, China, and examined using a polyphasic approach to clarify its taxonomic position. This bacterium did not produce substrate mycelia or aerial hyphae, and no diffusible pigments were observed on the media tested. Strain S3Af-1T grew optimally without NaCl, at 28-30 °C and at pH 7.0.Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S3Af-1T belonged to the genus Microlunatus and shared highest similarity with 'Microlunatus terrae' BS6 (97.43 %) and Microlunatus soli CC-12602T (97.08 %). DNA-DNA hybridization results indicated that the level of relatedness between strain S3Af-1T and M. soli CC-12602T was less than 70 %. The DNA G+C content of strain S3Af-1T was 67.1 mol%. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained ll-2,6-diaminopimelic acid. MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H4) were the predominant menaquinones. Phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and other lipids were detected in the polar lipid extracts. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, and phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain S3Af-1T represents a novel species of the genus Microlunatus, for which the name Microlunatus endophyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S3Af-1T ( = DSM 100019T = CGMCC 4.7306T).

[Reactivating factor of Luteococcus japonicus subsp. casei: isolation and characterization].

It has been shown that a producer strain of reactivating factor (RF) is identical to a typical strain of Luteococcus japonicus DSM 10546 from the Propionibacteriaceae family according to the physiological and biochemical properties and the sequencing of 16S rRNA fragments. A number of phenotypical differences from the model strain allowed the producer strain to be considered a subspecies of Luteococcus japonicus, and it was named Luteococcus japonicus subsp. casei. At cultivation of the producer, RF is secreted into the medium and plays the role of a signaling molecule. RF antioxidant activities towards various organic radicals may be a possible mechanism of its protective and reactivating effects. Metabolites secreted by the L. casei producer strain into the culture medium were separated by a combination of liquid chromatographies. Four components possessing biological activities were found. The most active one was studied by MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry, which revealed that it is a polypeptide. Primary identification of some amino acid residues was performed. Sugar residues were found in the structure.

Luteococcus sediminum sp. nov., isolated from deep subseafloor sediment of the South Pacific Gyre.

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, coccus-shaped, non-motile, yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain XH208(T), was isolated from a deep subseafloor sediment sample collected from the South Pacific Gyre (41° 58' S 163° 11' W) during the Integrated Ocean Drilling Program (IODP) Expedition 329. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain XH208(T) belonged to the genus Luteococcus and showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with Luteococcus peritonei CCUG 38120(T) (96.9%), Luteococcus japonicus DSM 10546(T) (95.4%) and Luteococcus sanguinis CCUG 33897(T) (95.2%). The DNA G+C content of strain XH208(T) was 66.9 mol%. The cell wall of strain XH208(T) possessed a type A3γ peptidoglycan (ll-diaminopimelic acid-glycine), and ribose, glucose and galactose as the major whole-cell sugars. The major fatty acids were C(17 : 1)ω8c, C(17 : 1)ω6c, and C(16 : 1)ω6c and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c (summed feature 3). The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-9(H4). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. On the basis of data from the polyphasic analysis, strain XH208(T) is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Luteococcus, for which the name Luteococcus sediminum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XH208(T) ( = DSM 27277(T) = JCM 19259(T)).

Mariniluteicoccus flavus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Propionibacteriaceae, isolated from a deep-sea sediment.

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-motile, irregular coccus, designated strain YIM M13146(T), was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea at a depth of 2439 m, and its taxonomic position was determined by a polyphasic approach. Optimal growth of the strain was observed at 30 °C (range 5-40 °C), pH 7.0 (pH 6.0-9.0) and 0-1% NaCl (0-6%, w/v) on/in tryptic soy agar/broth. Strain YIM M13146(T) had the major cellular fatty acid anteiso-C15:0, the predominant respiratory menaquinone MK-9(H4), peptidoglycan type A3γ (ll-DAP-Gly) containing alanine, glycine, glutamic acid and ll-diaminopimelic acid (ll-DAP) and the polar lipids phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unknown phospholipid and several glycolipids. The G+C content of the DNA was 67.2 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics together with 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that strain YIM M13146(T) was distinct from its close phylogenetic relatives in the genera Propioniferax and Granulicoccus of the family Propionibacteriaceae. Hence, a new genus and species, Mariniluteicoccus flavus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Mariniluteicoccus flavus is YIM M13146(T) ( = DSM 25892(T) = CCTCC AB 2012055(T)).

Nocardioides panaciterrulae sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field, with ginsenoside converting activity.

A Gram-positive, coccoid to rod-shaped, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated Gsoil 958(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field located in Pocheon province in South Korea. This bacterium was characterized in order to determine its taxonomic position by using a polyphasic approach. Strain Gsoil 958(T) was observed to grow well at 25-30 °C and at pH 7.0 on R2A and nutrient agar without NaCl supplementation. Strain Gsoil 958(T) was determined to have ß-glucosidase activity and the ability to transform ginsenoside Rb1 (one of the dominant active components of ginseng) to F2 via gypenoside XVII and Rd. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain Gsoil 958(T) was shown to belong to the family Nocardioidaceae and related most closely to Nocardioides koreensis MSL-09(T) (97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Nocardioides aquiterrae GW-9(T) (97.0 %), and Nocardioides sediminis MSL-01(T) (97.0 %). The sequence similarities with other validly named species within the genus Nocardioides were less than 96.8 %. Strain Gsoil 958(T) was characterized chemotaxonomically as having LL-2,6-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-8(H4) as the predominant menaquinone, and iso-C16:0, iso-C16:1 H, iso-C14:0, iso-C15:0 were identified as the major fatty acids. The G + C content of genomic DNA was determined to be 70.8 mol %. The chemotaxonomic properties and phenotypic characteristics supported the affiliation of strain Gsoil 958(T) to the genus Nocardioides. The results of both physiological and biochemical tests allowed for differentiation of strain Gsoil 958(T) from the recognized Nocardioides species. Therefore, strain Gsoil 958(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nocardioides, for which the name Nocardioides panaciterrulae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain Gsoil 958(T) (KACC 14271(T) = KCTC 19471(T) = DSM 21350(T)).