Sphingomonas arenae sp. nov., isolated from desert soil.

Two bacterial strains, designated as SYSU D00720T and SYSU D00722, were isolated from a desert sandy soil sample collected from Gurbantunggut Desert in Xinjiang, north-west China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive and catalase-negative. Colonies were circular, opaque, convex, smooth, orange on Reasoner's 2A (R2A) agar. The isolates were found to grow at 4-45 °C (optimum, 28-30 °C), at pH 6.0-7.0 (optimum, 7.0) and with 0-1.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0%). Growth was observed on R2A agar, Luria-Bertani agar and nutrient agar, but not on trypticase soy agar. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, two unidentified aminolipids, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified aminoglycolipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified lipids. The main fatty acids (>10%) were C17 : 1 ω6c, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c) and C16 : 0. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10 and the major polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 66.0 mol%. Strains SYSU D00720T and SYSU D00722 were nearly identical with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.6 %, and 100.0 % average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values. Phylogenetic analyses clearly demonstrated that these two strains belonged to the same species of the genus Sphingomonas, and had highest sequence similarity to Sphingomonas lutea KCTC 23642T (97.3 %). The ANI, AAI and dDDH values of strains SYSU D00720T and SYSU D00722 to S. lutea KCTC 23642T were both 73.2, 69.9 and 19.2 %, respectively. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic distinctiveness, strains SYSU D00720T and SYSU D00722 represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas arenae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SYSU D00720T (=MCCC 1K05154T=NBRC 115061T).

Induction of Apoptosis in Human Lung Epithelial Cell by Sphingomonas sp. Shah, a Recently Identified Cell Culture Contaminant.

Sphingomonas sp. Shah is a bacterium that was first isolated from mammalian cell cultures. According to ribotyping data it is very much homologous to the clinically important pathogen Sphingomonas paucimobilis, which has generated pseudo-outbreaks. Using a tissue culture system, Sphingomonas sp. Shah was discovered to induce apoptosis in human lung epithelial carcinoma. Apoptosis of infected cells was determined by numerous criteria including (1) visual alterations in cellular morphology, (2) initiation of nuclear marginalization and chromatin compaction condensation, (3) the attendance of a high percentage of cells with subG1 DNA content, and (4) caspase-3 activation. In the current study we demonstrate the induction of apoptosis in mammalian lung epithelial cells upon infection with Sphingomonas sp. Shah and provide insight into the molecular processes triggering apoptosis.

Description of Nocardioides piscis sp. nov., Sphingomonas piscis sp. nov. and Sphingomonas sinipercae sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of fish species Odontobutis interrupta (Korean spotted sleeper) and Siniperca scherzeri (leopard mandarin fish).

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize three novel bacterial strains, designated as HDW12AT, HDW-15BT, and HDW15CT, isolated from the intestine of fish species Odontobutis interrupta or Siniperca scherzeri. All isolates were obligate aerobic, non-motile bacteria, and grew optimally at 30°C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences revealed that strain HDW12AT was a member of the genus Nocardioides, and closely related to Nocardioides allogilvus CFH 30205T (98.9% sequence identities). Furthermore, strains HDW15BT and HDW15CT were members of the genus Sphingomonas, and closely related to Sphingomonas lutea JS5T and Sphingomonas sediminicola Dae 20T (97.1% and 97.9% sequence identities), respectively. Strain HDW12AT contained MK-8 (H4), and strains HDW15BT and HDW15CT contained Q-10 as the respiratory quinone. Major polar lipid components of strain HDW12AT were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylinositol, and those of strains HDW15BT and HDW15CT were sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylcholine. The G + C content of strains HDW12AT, HDW15BT, and HDW15CT were 69.7, 63.3, and 65.5%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses suggest that strain HDW12AT represents a novel species within the genus Nocardioides, and strains HDW15BT and HDW15CT represent two novel species within the genus Sphingomonas. We propose the names Nocardioides piscis for strain HDW12AT (= KACC 21336T = KCTC 49321T = JCM 33670T), Sphingomonas piscis for strain HDW15BT (= KACC 21341T = KCTC 72588T = JCM 33738T), and Sphingomonas sinipercae for strain HDW15CT (= KACC 21342T = KCTC 72589T = JCM 33739T).

Sphingomonas lacunae sp. nov., isolated from a freshwater pond.

A novel bacterial strain, designated CSW-10T, isolated from a freshwater pond in Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and formed yellow-coloured colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 7, and in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that strain CSW-10T formed a phylogenetic lineage in the genus Sphingomonas. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain CSW-10T was most closely related to Sphingomonas fonticola TNR-2T (97.6%). Strain CSW-10T showed 69.8-70.7% average nucleotide identity and 19.0-23.0% digital DNA-DNA hybridization identity with the strains of other related Sphingomonas species. The major fatty acids of strain CSW-10T were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c) and C17:1 ω6c. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidyldimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one uncharacterized sphingoglycolipid, five uncharacterized aminophospholipids, one uncharacterized phospholipid and one uncharacterized lipid. The predominant polyamines were homospermidine and spermidine. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. Genomic DNA G+C content of strain CSW-10T was 62.0 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference, strain CSW-10T should represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas lacunae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CSW-10T (=BCRC 81190T =LMG 31340T).

Sphingomonas palmae sp. nov. and Sphingomonas gellani sp. nov., endophytically associated phyllosphere bacteria isolated from economically important crop plants.

In this study, two endophytic bacterial strains designated JS21-1T and S6-262T isolated from leaves of Elaeis guineensis and stem tissues of Jatropha curcas respectively, were subjected for polyphasic taxonomic approach. On R2A medium, colonies of strains JS21-1T and S6-262T are orange and yellow, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole-genome sequences placed the strains in distinct clades but within the genus Sphingomonas. The DNA G + C content of JS21-1T and S6-262T were 67.31 and 66.95%, respectively. Furthermore, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of strains JS21-1T and S6-262T with phylogenetically related Sphingomonas species were lower than 95% and 70% respectively. The chemotaxonomic studies indicated that the major cellular fatty acids of the strain JS21-1T were summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c), C16:0, and C14:0 2OH; strain S6-262T possessed summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH) and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω6c and/or C18:1 ω7c). The major quinone was Q10, and the unique polyamine observed was homospermidine. The polar lipid profile comprised of mixture of sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and certain uncharacterised phospholipids and lipids. Based on this polyphasic evidence, strains JS21-1T and S6-262T represent two novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the names Sphingomonas palmae sp. nov. and Sphingomonas gellani sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strain of Sphingomonas palmae sp. nov. is JS21-1T (= DSM 27348T = KACC 17591T) and the type strain of Sphingomonas gellani sp. nov. is S6-262T (= DSM 27346T =  KACC 17594T).

Sphingomonas parva sp. nov., isolated from soil in Jeju Island.

A Gram staining-negative, yellow-colored, rod-shaped, non-motile and aerobic, designated strain 17J27-24T was isolated from a soil sample in Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain 17J27-24T was related to the members of the family Sphingomonadaceae and formed a distinct monophyletic cluster within the genus Sphingomonas with Sphingomonas deserti (98.3% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Growth was observed at 30 °C (optimum), at pH 7.0 (optimum), and in the absence of NaCl (%). The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (18:1 ω7c and/or 18:1 ω6c) and C17:1 ω6c. The major respiratory quinone was Q10. The polar lipids profile comprised of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and sphingoglycolipid (SGL). The DNA G + C content was 77.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values between 17J27-24T and its phylogenetically closest Sphingomonas deserti (KCTC 62411T) were below the established cut-off < 94% (ANI) and < 70% (dDDH) for species delineation. Moreover, the results of the polyphasic approach confirmed that strain 17J27-24T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas within the family Sphingomonadaceae, for which the name Sphingomonas parva sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this species is 17J27-24T (= KCTC 62208T = JCM 3896T). An emended description of the species Sphingomonas parva is provided.

Sphingomonas montanisoli sp. nov., isolated from mountain soil.

A soil bacterium, designated ZX9611T, was isolated from Taihang Mountain in Henan province, PR China. The strain was Gram-stain-negative and strictly aerobic. The cells were motile, rod-shaped and formed light pink-colored colonies. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of ZX9611T shared the highest similarities with those of Sphingomonas crocodyli CCP-7T (97.0%), Sphingomonas jatrophae S5-249T (96.6%) and Sphingomonas starnbergensis 382T (95.9%). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that ZX9611T clustered with S. crocodyli CCP-7T, S. jatrophae S5-249T and S. starnbergensis 382T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between ZX9611T and two type strains (S. crocodyli BCRC 81096T and S. jatrophae DSM 27345T) were 88.3 and 68.6% respectively. ZX9611T exhibited genome-sequence-based digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of 53.3 % and 15.3 %, compared with S. crocodyli BCRC 81096T and S. jatrophae DSM 27345T, respectively. ZX9611T had a genome size of 4.12 Mb and an average DNA G+C content of 64.8 %. ZX9611T had major fatty acids (>5 %) including summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c), C14 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), and the major polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The only respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and sphingoglycolipid. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain ZX9611T represents a novel species of genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas montanisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZX9611T (=KCTC 72622T=CCTCC AB 2019350T).

Sphingomonas edaphi sp. nov., a novel species isolated from beach soil in the Republic of Korea.

A yellow-coloured, Gram-negative, motile, strictly aerobic bacterial strain, designated strain DAC4T, was isolated from a soil sample collected at Ahnmok Beach (Busan, Republic of Korea). The cells of strain DAC4T were rod-shaped and the colonies that formed were round and convex. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain DAC4T revealed that the bacterium belongs to the genus Sphingomonas, family Sphingomonadaceae, and that it was most closely related to Sphingomonas jaspsi DSM 18422T (98.01 %), Sphingomonas rhizophila KACC 19189T (97.76 %), Sphingomonas mesophila KCTC 62179T(97.30 %), Sphingomonas sedimincola KCTC 12629T (97.16 %) and Sphingomonas oryziterrae KCTC 22476T (97.05 %). The major respiratory quinone was Q-10, and the major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18  :  1ω7c) and summed feature 3 (C16  :  1ω7c/C16  :  1ω6c). The whole genome DNA G+C content of strain DAC4T was 62.16 mol%. Phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, sphingoglycolipids, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, four undefined glycolipids and an undefined lipid were detected in strain DAC4T, and the strain had sym-homospermidine as a major polyamine. The in silico DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain DAC4T and the closely related taxa S. jaspsi and S. mesophila were 75.5/23.5 % and 73.5 /18.5%, respectively. The fluorimetric DNA-DNA hybridization results showed that strain DAC4T and S. rhizophila, S. sediminicola and S. oryziterrae have 37.1, 35.2 and 32.2 % DNA similarity, respectively. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic distinctiveness, strain DAC4T (=KCTC 62107T=JCM 32377T) is classified as a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas edaphi sp. nov. is proposed.

Sphingomonas gilva sp. nov., isolated from mountain soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, yellow, rod-shaped bacterium, designated ZDH117T, was isolated from soilsampled atthe Danxialandformin Guangdong Province, PR China. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain ZDH117T had highest similarityvalues to Sphingomonas adhaesivaDSM 7418T (97.5 %), SphingomonasdesiccabilisCP1DT (97.3 %) and Sphingomonas ginsenosidimutans KACC 14949T (97.2 %). However, phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that strain ZDH117T clustered with Sphingomonas zeicaulis 541T (96.17 %) and Sphingomonas sanxanigenens DSM 19645T (95.95 %). The genomic average nucleotide identity values of ZDH117T with S. adhaesiva DSM 7418T, S. desiccabilis CP1DTand S. ginsenosidimutans KACC TT were 75.1, 75.2 and 75.0 %, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 67.6 mol%. Strain ZDH117T was characterized to have ubiquinone-10 as the predominant respiratory quinone, sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c), C14 : 0-2OH, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) as the major cellular fatty acids (>5 % of total). The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified lipids. On the basis of its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain ZDH117T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas gilva sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZDH117T (=KCTC 62894T=CCTCCAB 2018262T).

Sphingomonas crocodyli sp. nov., isolated from a crocodile pond.

Strain CCP-7T, isolated from a freshwater pond in Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that strain CCP-7T formed a phylogenetic lineage in the genus Sphingomonas. Strain CCP-7T was most closely related to Sphingomonas starnbergensis 382T and Sphingomonas naphthae DKC-5-1T with 96.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Strain CCP-7T showed 65.5-76.7 % average nucleotide identity and 20.2-22.5 % digital DNA-DNA hybridization identity with the strains of other related Sphingomonas species. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped and formed light orange-coloured colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 6 and in the absence of NaCl. The major fatty acid of strain CCP-7T was C18 : 1ω7c. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, three uncharacterized sphingoglycolipids, two uncharacterized phospholipids and six uncharacterized lipids. The predominant polyamine was homospermidine. The only isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. Genomic DNA G+C content of strain CCP-7T was 64.5 %. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference, strain CCP-7T should be classified in a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas crocodyli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCP-7T (=BCRC 81096T=LMG 30311T=KCTC 62190T).

Sphingomonas lenta sp. nov., a slowly growing bacterium isolated from an abandoned lead-zinc mine.

A novel slowly growing member of the genus Sphingomonas, designated 1PNM-20T, was isolated from an abandoned lead-zinc mine in Meizhou, Guangdong Province, PR China. A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed to characterize the novel strain. Growth occurred on Reasoner's 2A (R2A) agar and peptone-yeast extract (PYE) agar, but not in liquid R2A or PYE media. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and motile with a polar flagellum (monotrichous). 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison showed that it shared the highest similarity with Sphingomonas carriPR0302T (97.2 %), followed by Sphingomonas spermidinifaciens 9NM-10T (97.0 %), Sphingomonas floccifaciens FQM01T (97.0 %) and other species of Sphingomonas (<97 %). Phylogenetic analyses clearly showed that strain 1PNM-20T fell into the cluster of Sphingomonas, and was most closely related to S. carri. The draft genome sequence was 3.76 Mb in length with a DNA G+C content of 69.8 mol%. Major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c, with C14 : 0 2-OH as the main hydroxy fatty acid. Ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) was the predominant respiratory quinone, and sym-homospermidine was displayed as the major polyamine. The polar lipids were composed of sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic results supported the hypothesis that strain 1PNM-20T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas lenta sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1PNM-20T (=GDMCC 1.660T=DSM 27572T).

Sphingomonas pokkalii sp. nov., a novel plant associated rhizobacterium isolated from a saline tolerant pokkali rice and its draft genome analysis.

Three strains L3B27T, 3CNBAF, L1A4 isolated from a brackish cultivated pokkali rice rhizosphere were characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA and recA gene sequences revealed that these strains were highly similar among each other and formed a separate monophyletic cluster within the genus Sphingomonas with Sphingomonas pituitosa DSM 13101T, Sphingomonas azotifigens DSM 18530T and Sphingomonas trueperi DSM 7225T as their closest relatives sharing 97.9-98.3% 16S rRNA similarity and 91.3-94.0% recA similarity values, respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) values between L3B27T (representative of the novel strains) and its phylogenetically closest Sphingomonas species were well below the established cut-off <94% (ANI/AAI) and <70% (dDDH) for species delineation. Further, the novel strains can be distinguished from its closest relatives based on several phenotypic traits. Thus, based on the polyphasic approach, we describe a novel Sphingomonas species for which the name Sphingomonas pokkalii sp. nov (type strain L3B27T=KCTC 42098T=MCC 3001T) is proposed. In addition, the novel strains were characterised for their plant associated properties and found to possess several phenotypic traits which probably explain its plant associated lifestyle. This was further confirmed by the presence of several plant associated gene features in the genome of L3B27T. Also, we could identify gene features which may likely involve in brackish water adaptation. Thus, this study provides first insights into the plant associated lifestyle, genome and taxonomy of a novel brackish adapted plant associated Sphingomonas.

Sphingomonas floccifaciens sp. nov., isolated from subterranean sediment.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-sporulating, rod-shaped, orange-pigmented bacterium, designated strain FQM01T, was isolated from a subterranean sediment sample in the Mohe permafrost area, China. Strain FQM01T grew optimally at 25 °C, pH 7.0 and NaCl concentration of 0 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FQM01T belonged to the genus Sphingomonas. The closest phylogenetic relative was Sphingomonas spermidinifaciens GDMCC 1.657T (97.6 %), followed by Sphingomonas mucosissima DSM 17494T (97.2 %). The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 66.9 mol%. Strain FQM01T contained Q-10 as the predominant ubiquinone, and C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0, C14 : 0 2-OH and C18 : 1ω7c 11 methyl as the major fatty acids. Major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, sphingoglycolipid and an unidentified glycolipid. Only sym-homospermidine was detected as the polyamine. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic data, strain FQM01T is considered to represent a novel species of Sphingomonas for which the name Sphingomonasfloccifaciens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FQM01T (=CGMCC 1.15797T=KCTC 52630T).

Sphingomonas deserti sp. nov., isolated from Mu Us Sandy Land soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as strain GL-C-18T, was isolated from soil sample collected at Mu Us Sandy Land, China, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. Growth was observed in the presence of 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %), pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0) and 20-37 °C. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain GL-C-18T belonged to the family Sphingomonadaceae and was most closely related to Sphingosinicella vermicomposti YC7378T (95.7 %), Sphingomonas oligophenolica S213T (95.0 %) and Sphingobium boeckii 301T (94.8 %). The draft genome of strain GL-C-18T was 6.09 Mb, and the G+C content was 66.0 %. The average nucleotide identity value to Sphingosinicella vermicomposti YC7378T was 83.7 %. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-10. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), C16:0 and C14 : 0 2OH. The main polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. On the basis of chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, strain GL-C-18T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonasdeserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GL-C-18T (=ACCC 60076T=KCTC 62411T).

Sphingomonas oleivorans sp. nov., isolated from oil-contaminated soil.

Strain FW-11T was isolated from oil-contaminated soil from Panjin in Liaoning, China. It was a Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium. The strain was confirmed to be a member of the genus Sphingomonas based on phylogenetic inference and phenotypic characteristics. The best growth of strain FW-11T occurred at 30 °C and pH 6.0-7.0. The strain was non-spore-forming, catalase-negative and oxidase-negative. The main polar lipids were sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and unidentified lipids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain FW-11T included alanine, glycine, glutamic acid, aspartic acid and meso-diaminopimelate. The predominant isoprenoid quinones were ubiquinone Q-10 (93.2 %) and Q-9 (6.8 %). The fatty acid profile (>5 %) included C18 : 1ω6c (43.1 %), C16 : 0 (14.6 %), C17 : 1ω6c (14.0 %) and C14 : 0 2-OH (11.1 %). The most similar neighbours of FW-11T were Sphingomonas fennica K101T (97.4 %) and Sphingomonas haloaromaticamans A175T (97.0 %). The average nucleotide identity relatedness values between strain FW-11T and the two type strains (S. fennica K101T and S. haloaromaticamans A175T) were 73.2 and 75.3 %, respectively. The genome size of FW-11T was 3.8 Mbp, comprising 3735 predicted genes with a DNA G+C content of 64.0 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain FW-11T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas oleivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FW-11T (=LMG 29274T=HAMBI 3659T).

Sphingomonas aeria sp. nov., isolated from air.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, non-motile, yellow-pigmented and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated B093034T, was isolated from air at the foot of Xiangshan mountain, located in Beijing, China. Cells of strain B093034T were oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Growth was observed at 4-41 °C, at pH 4.5-10.0 and at 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl. The isolate contained Q-10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone, summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0 and C14 : 02-OH as the major fatty acids, sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine, and sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, aminolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified polar lipids as the polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 67.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain B093034T grouped with members of the genus Sphingomonas and was closely related to Sphingomonas sanguinis IFO 13937T (96.49 % similarity), Sphingomonas pseudosanguinis G1-2T (96.37 %), Sphingomonas ginsenosidimutansGsoil 1429T (95.99 %) and Sphingomonas endophytica YIM 65583T (95.78 %). On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented here, strain B093034T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonasaeria sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B093034T (=CFCC 13949T=LMG 30133T).

Sphingomonas tabacisoli sp. nov., a member of the genus Sphingomonas, isolated from rhizosphere soil of Nicotiana tabacum L.

A Gram-staining-negative, aerobic, motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain X1-8T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Nicotiana tabacum L. collected from the tobacco produce base located in Kunming, south-west PR China. Cells showed oxidase-negative and catalase-positive reactions and were motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Growth occurred at 25-40 °C and pH 6.0-8.0 with optimal growth at 30-35 °C, pH 7.0. The major respiratory lipoquinone was Q-10. C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c) were identified as major cellular fatty acids. The profile of polar lipids contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylcholine and one unidentified glycolipid. The major polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 66.5 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that X1-8T should be affiliated to the genus Sphingomonasand formed a clade with most closely related species Sphingomonas changbaiensisNBRC 104936T. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequences similarity analysis indicated that X1-8T had the highest similarity with S. changbaiensisNBRC 104936T (98.4 %) and lower than 96.0 % with other species of the genus Sphingomonas. DNA-DNA hybridization data indicated that X1-8T represented a novel genomic species of the genus Sphingomonas. The characteristics determined in the polyphasic taxonomic study indicated that X1-8T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas tabacisoli sp. nov. (type strain X1-8T=KCTC 62032T=CGMCC 1.16275T) is proposed.

Sphingomonas montis sp. nov., Isolated from Forest Soil of Low-Altitude Mountain.

Strain DRJ-4T was isolated from forest soil of a low-altitude mountain and was taxonomically characterized by a polyphasic approach. This strain was yellow-colored, Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile, non-sporulating, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, and rod-shaped. Strain DRJ-4T was able to grow at 20-42 °C, pH 6.5-10.0, and 0-1.0% (w/v) NaCl concentration. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DRJ-4T formed a distinct lineage within the members of the family Sphingomonadaceae of the phylum Proteobacteria and moderately related to Sphingomonas faucium E62-3T (96.67% sequence similarity), 'Sphingosinicella ginsenosidimutans' BS11 (96.45% sequence similarity), Sphingosinicella vermicomposti YC7378T (96.27% sequence similarity), and Sphingobium boeckii 469T (95.82% sequence similarity). The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone Q-10 and the major polyamine was homospermidine. The polar lipid profile revealed the presence of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, and sphingoglycolipid. The predominant fatty acids of strain DRJ-4T were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c), C16:0, and C17:1ω6c. The genomic DNA G + C was 64.0 mol %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, and phylogenetic analysis, strain DRJ-4T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas montis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sphingomonas montis is DRJ-4T (= KEMB 9005-708T = NBRC 113142T).

Sphingomonas colocasiae sp. nov., isolated from taro (Colocasia esculanta).

A polyphasic approach was used to characterize an aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium (designed as strain CC-MHH0539T) isolated from the chopped tuber of taro (Colocasia esculanta) in Taiwan. Strain CC-MHH0539T was able to grow at 15-30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, 7.0) and with 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain CC-MHH0539T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Sphingomonas laterariae LNB2T (96.8 %), Sphingobium boeckii 469T (96.5 %), Sphingomonas faucium E62-3T (96.4 %) and Sphingosinicella vermicomposti YC7378T (96.2 %) and <96.1 % similarity to other sphingomonads. Strain CC-MHH0539T was found to cluster mainly with the clade that accommodated members of the genus Sphingomonas. The dominant cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, C14 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, two sphingoglycolipids and two unidentified phospholipids were detected in strain CC-MHH0539T. The DNA G+C content was 69.5 mol%. The respiratory quinone system and predominant polyamine was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) and sym-homospermidine, respectively, which is in line with Sphingomonas representatives. Based on the distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits, strain CC-MHH0539T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas colocasiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-MHH0539T (=BCRC 80933T=JCM 31229T).

Sphingomonas jatrophae sp. nov. and Sphingomonas carotinifaciens sp. nov., two yellow-pigmented endophytes isolated from stem tissues of Jatropha curcas L.

Two yellow-pigmented isolates, S5-249T and L9-754T, originating from surface-sterilized plant tissues of Jatropha curcas L. (Jatropha) cultivars were characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strains S5-249T and L9-754T had 16S rRNA genes sharing 94.2 % sequence similarity with each other and 91.6-97.2 % sequence similarity with those of other species in the genus Sphingomonas, suggesting that they represent two potentially novel species. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains S5-249T and L9-754T shared the highest similarity to that of Sphingomonas sanguinis NBRC 13937T (96.1 and 97.2 %, respectively). The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains S5-249T and L9-754T were 66.9 and 68.5 mol%, respectively. The respiratory quinone was determined to be Q-10, and the major polyamine was homospermidine. Strains S5-249T and L9-754T contained summed feature 7 (comprising C18 : 1ω7c, C18 : 1ω9t and/or C18 : 1ω12t), C16 : 1, C14 : 0 2-OH and summed feature 4 (C16 : 1ω7t, iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and C16 : 1ω7c) as the major cellular fatty acids. The predominant polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingoglycolipid. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between S. sanguinis NBRC 13937T and the two type strains (S5-249T and L9-754T) were 72.31 and 77.73 %, respectively. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) studies between the novel strains (S5-249T and L9-754T) and other species of the genus Sphingomonas were well below the thresholds used to discriminate between bacterial species. The results of dDDH and physiological tests allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of the strains from each other as well as from the species of the genus Sphingomonas with validly published names. These data strongly support the classification of the strains as representatives of novel species, for which we propose the names Sphingomonas jatrophae sp. nov. (type strain S5-249T=DSM 27345T=KACC 17593T) and Sphingomonas carotinifaciens sp. nov. (type strain L9-754T=DSM 27347T=KACC 17595T).