Flavobacterium sediminis sp. nov., a starch-degrading bacterium isolated from tidal flat sediment.

A yellow-pigmented bacterium with the ability to degrade starch, designated MEBiC07310T, was isolated from tidal flat sediment collected in Taean County, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain MEBiC07310T was affiliated with the genus Flavobacterium in the phylum Bacteroidetes and showed that the strain was most closely related to Flavobacterium haoranii LQY-7T (96.8 % similarity), followed by Flavobacterium indicum GPTSA 100-9T (95.2 %) and Flavobacterium urocaniciphilum YIT 12746T (94.6 %). Genome-based analysis of the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) of strain MEBiC07310T compared with F. haoranii LQY-7T and F. indicum GPTSA 100-9T yielded ANI values of 77.0 and 73.3 % and DDH values of 18.0±2.7 and 16.1±3.6 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain MEBiC07310T was 35.2 mol%. Cells of the strain were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative and rod-shaped, and negative for flexirubin-type pigments. Growth was observed at 17-43 °C (optimum 32 °C), at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) of strain MEBiC07310T were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 1 (iso-C15 : 1 H and/or C13 : 0 3-OH) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c). The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-6. Based on its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain MEBiC07310T should be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MEBiC07310T (=KCTC 62132T=JCM 32291T).

Description of Kordiimonas aquimaris sp. nov., isolated from seawater, and emended descriptions of the genus Kordiimonas Kwon et al. 2005 emend. Xu et al. 2011 and of its existing species.

A Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped (0.6-0.9 × 0.7-1.2 µm), motile marine bacterium, designated MEBiC06554(T), was isolated from seawater collected from the East Sea, Korea (also known as the Sea of Japan). 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain MEBiC06554(T) was affiliated to the order Kordiimonadales and showed high similarity to Kordiimonas gwangyangensis GW14-5(T) (95.4 %), but formed a distinct phyletic line. Growth was observed at 10.5-35.0 °C (optimum 20 °C), at pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and with 0-13 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 3.0-3.5 %). The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0) (14.9 %), iso-C(17 : 1)ω9c (44.6 %), iso-C(17 : 0) (6.3 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c; 13.9 %). The DNA G+C content was 50.3 mol%. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. Phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, six unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified lipids and one unidentified aminophospholipid were detected as major polar lipids. On the basis of the data from our polyphasic taxonomic study, strain MEBiC06554(T) should be classified within a novel species of the genus Kordiimonas, as Kordiimonas aquimaris sp. nov. The type strain is MEBiC06554(T) (= KCCM 42940(T) = JCM 16665(T)). Emended descriptions of the genus Kordiimonas and of its species Kordiimonas gwangyangensis and Kordiimonas lacus are also proposed.

Genome sequence of benzo(a)pyrene-degrading bacterium Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1.

Novosphingobium pentaromativorans US6-1 showed a good ability to degrade high-molecular-weight polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. We report the draft genome sequence of strain US6-1, which contains a main chromosome (5,096,413 bp, G+C content of 63.1%) and two plasmids (188,476 and 60,085 bp). The majority of the aromatic-hydrocarbon-degrading genes are encoded in the larger plasmid.