Judicial Opinion 130.

Opinion 130 deals with a Request for an Opinion asking the Judicial Commission to clarify whether the genus name Rhodococcus Zopf 1891 (Approved Lists 1980) is illegitimate. The Request is approved and an answer is given. The name Rhodococcus Zopf 1891 (Approved Lists 1980) is illegitimate because it is a later homonym of the validly published cyanobacterial name Rhodococcus Hansgirg 1884. The Judicial Commission also clarifies that it has the means to resolve such cases by conserving a name over an earlier homonym. It is concluded that the name Rhodococcus Zopf 1891 (Approved Lists 1980) is significantly more important than the name Rhodococcus Hansgirg 1884 and therefore the former is conserved over the latter. This makes the name Rhodococcus Zopf 1891 (Approved Lists 1980) legitimate.

Blastococcus carthaginiensis sp. nov., isolated from a monument sampled in Carthage, Tunisia.

A comprehensive polyphasic investigation was conducted to elucidate the taxonomic position of an actinobacterium, designated BMG 814T, which was isolated from the historic ruins of Carthage city in Tunisia. It grew as pink-orange pigmented colonies and displayed versatile growth capabilities, thriving within a temperature range of 20-40 °C, across a pH spectrum ranging from pH 5.5 to 10 and in the presence of up to 4 % NaCl. Chemotaxonomic investigations unveiled specific cell components, including diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, glycophosphatidylinositol, an unidentified aminoglycophospholipid, six unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified lipid in its polar lipid profile. Furthermore, galactose, glucose and ribose were identified as the primary cell-wall sugars. Major menaquinones identified were MK-9(H4), MK-9(H2) and MK-9, while major fatty acids comprised iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C17 : 1 ω8c and C18 : 1 ω9c. Through phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain was positioned within the genus Blastococcus, with Blastococcus capsiensis BMG 804T showing the closest relationship (99.1 %). In light of this, draft genomes for both strains, BMG 814T and BMG 804T, were sequenced in this study, and comparative analysis revealed that strain BMG 814T exhibited digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values below the recommended thresholds for demarcating new species with all available genomes of type strains of validly names species. Based on the polyphasic taxonomy assessment, strain BMG 814T (=DSM 46848T=CECT 8878T) was proposed as the type strain of a novel species named Blastococcus carthaginiensis sp. nov.

Streptomyces sediminis sp. nov. isolated from crater lake sediment.

A novel actinobacterial strain, MKSP12T, was isolated from coastal sediment of a crater lake in central Anatolia, Turkey. The taxonomic position of the strain was clarified using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MKSP12T is closely related to Streptomyces specialis GW 41-1564T with 97.1% sequence similarity. The strain produces aerial hyphae that differentiate into spiral chains of smooth surfaced spores and grows over a temperature range of 20-37 °C, at pH 7-11 and in the presence of 3% (w/v) sodium chloride. The cell wall amino acid is LL-diaminopimelic acid and the whole cell sugars are glucose and ribose. The polar lipids profile consists of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified glycophospholipid and eight unidentified glycolipids; iso-C16:0, iso-C16:1 G, anteiso-C17:0 and anteiso-C17:1 ω9c were identified as the predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10%). Based on morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, and phylogenetic analyses, the strain is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces sediminis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain MKSP12T (= DSM 100692T = KCTC 39613T).

Mycobacterium eburneum sp. nov., a non-chromogenic, fast-growing strain isolated from sputum.

A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the taxonomic position of a non-chromogenic, rapidly growing Mycobacterium strain that had been isolated from sputum. The strain, CECT 8775T, has chemotaxonomic and cultural properties consistent with its classification in the genus Mycobacterium and was distinguished from the type strains of closely related mycobacterial species, notably from Mycobacterium paraense DSM 46749T, its nearest phylogenetic neighbour, based on 16S rRNA, hsp65 and rpoB gene sequence data. These organisms were also distinguished by a broad range of chemotaxonomic and phenotypic features and by a digital DNA-DNA relatedness value of 22.8 %. Consequently, the strain is considered to represent a novel species of Mycobacterium for which the name Mycobacterium eburneum sp. nov is proposed; the type strain is X82T (CECT 8775T=DSM 44358T).

Streptomyces asenjonii sp. nov., isolated from hyper-arid Atacama Desert soils and emended description of Streptomyces viridosporus Pridham et al. 1958.

A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the taxonomic status of Streptomyces strains isolated from hyper-arid Atacama Desert soils. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the isolates showed that they formed a well-defined lineage that was loosely associated with the type strains of several Streptomyces species. Multi-locus sequence analysis based on five housekeeping gene alleles showed that the strains form a homogeneous taxon that is closely related to the type strains of Streptomyces ghanaensis and Streptomyces viridosporus. Representative isolates were shown to have chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with their classification in the genus Streptomyces. The isolates have many phenotypic features in common, some of which distinguish them from S. ghanaensis NRRL B-12104T, their near phylogenetic neighbour. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic data it is proposed that the isolates be recognised as a new species within the genus Streptomyces, named Streptomyces asenjonii sp. nov. The type strain of the species is KNN35.1bT (NCIMB 15082T = NRRL B-65050T). Some of the isolates, including the type strain, showed antibacterial activity in standard plug assays. In addition, MLSA, average nucleotide identity and phenotypic data show that the type strains of S. ghanaensis and S. viridosporus belong to the same species. Consequently, it is proposed that the former be recognised as a heterotypic synonym of the latter and an emended description is given for S. viridosporus.

Actinomadura alkaliterrae sp. nov., isolated from an alkaline soil.

A polyphasic study was undertaken to establish the taxonomic status of an Actinomadura strain isolated from the margin of a saline, alkaline lake in Central Anatolia, Turkey. Strain D310ATT was shown to have chemotaxonomic, cultural and morphological properties consistent with its classification in the genus Actinomadura such as hooked or irregular spiral spore chains, meso-diaminopimelic acid as the major cell wall diaminopimelic acid, and diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol as major polar lipids. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain D310ATT is closely, albeit loosely, associated with Actinomadura darangshiensis DLS-70T with 97.2% sequence similarity, but was readily separated from the latter using diverse phenotypic properties. Consequently, the isolate is considered to represent a new species of Actinomadura for which the name Actinomadura alkaliterrae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain D310ATT (=DSM 101185T = KCTC 39657T).

Streptomyces aridus sp. nov., isolated from a high altitude Atacama Desert soil and emended description of Streptomyces noboritoensis Isono et al. 1957.

A polyphasic study was undertaken to determine the taxonomic status of a Streptomyces strain which had been isolated from a high altitude Atacama Desert soil and shown to have bioactive properties. The strain, isolate H9T, was found to have chemotaxonomic, cultural and morphological properties that place it in the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the isolate forms a distinct branch at the periphery of a well-delineated subclade in the Streptomyces 16S rRNA gene tree together with the type strains of Streptomyces crystallinus, Streptomyces melanogenes and Streptomyces noboritoensis. Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) based on five house-keeping gene alleles showed that isolate H9T is closely related to the latter two type strains and to Streptomyces polyantibioticus NRRL B-24448T. The isolate was distinguished readily from the type strains of S. melanogenes, S. noboritoensis and S. polyantibioticus using a combination of phenotypic properties. Consequently, the isolate is considered to represent a new species of Streptomyces for which the name Streptomyces aridus sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is H9T (=NCIMB 14965T=NRRL B65268T). In addition, the MLSA and phenotypic data show that the S. melanogenes and S. noboritoensis type strains belong to a single species, it is proposed that S. melanogenes be recognised as a heterotypic synonym of S. noboritoensis for which an emended description is given.

Frankia discariae sp. nov.: an infective and effective microsymbiont isolated from the root nodule of Discaria trinervis.

Strain BCU110501T was the first isolate reported to fulfill Koch's postulates by inducing effective nodules on its host plant of origin Discaria trinervis (Rhalmnaceae). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, the strain was found to be most closely related to the type strain of Frankia elaeagni DSM 46783T (98.6%) followed by F. alni DSM 45986T (98.2%), F. casuarinae DSM 45818T (97.8%) and F. inefficacies DSM 45817T (97.8%). Digital DNA:DNA hybridizations (dDDH) between strain BCU110501Tand the type strains of other Frankia species were clearly below the cutoff point of 70%. The G+C content of DNA is 72.36%. The cell wall of strain BCU110501T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the cell sugars were galactose, glucose, mannose, xylose and ribose. Polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol (PI), diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), glycophospholipid (GPL1-3), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and an unknown lipid (L). The major fatty acids of strain BCU110501T consisted of iso-C16:0, C17:1 w8c and C16:0. Major menaquinones were MK9 (H4), MK9 (H6) and MK9 (H2). Based on these analyses, strain BCU110501T (=DSM 46785T=CECT 9042T) should be classified as the type strain of a novel Frankia species, for which the name Frankia discariae sp. nov. is proposed.

Frankia inefficax sp. nov., an actinobacterial endophyte inducing ineffective, non nitrogen-fixing, root nodules on its actinorhizal host plants.

Strain EuI1cT is the first actinobacterial endophyte isolated from Elaeagnus umbellata that was shown to be infective on members of Elaeagnaceae and Morella but lacking the ability to form effective root nodules on its hosts. The strain can be easily distinguished from strains of other Frankia species based on its inability to produce vesicles, the specialized thick-walled structures where nitrogen fixation occurs. Chemotaxonomically, strain EuI1cT contains phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two glycophospholipids and phosphatidylglycerol as phospholipids. The whole cell sugars were composed of glucose, galactose, mannose, ribose, rhamnose and fucose as diagnostic sugars of the species. Major fatty acids were iso-C16:0, C17:1 ω8c and C15:0 and C17:0 and the predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6), MK-9(H8) and MK-9(H4). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain EuI1cT showed 97, 97.4 and 97.9% identity with Frankia elaeagni DSM 46783T, Frankia casuarinae DSM 45818T and Frankia alni DSM 45986T, respectively. Digital DNA:DNA hybridizations with type strains of the three Frankia species with validly/effectively published names are significantly below 70%. These results warrant distinction of EuI1cT (= DSM 45817T = CECT 9037T) as the type strain of a novel species designated Frankia inefficax sp. nov.

Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of the halophyte Arthrocnemum macrostachyum.

A novel, salt-dependent, non-motile, rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative and non-endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain Cs16bT, was isolated from the rhizosphere of Arthrocnemum macrostachyum, a halophytic plant at the Lebrija marshes (Seville, Spain). Strain Cs16bT was catalase- and oxidase-positive, and able to hydrolyse casein. Growth occurred from 15-40 °C, at pH 6.0-10.0 and with 1-6% (w/v) NaCl. Q-8 was identified as the major ubiquinone and the predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:1cis8, iso-C11:0 3-OH, iso-C17:0, C17:0 cyclo and iso-C11:0. The polar lipids profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycophospholipids, an unknown aminoglycophospholipid, an unknown aminophospholipid and an unknown phospholipid. The 16S rRNA gene of strain Cs16bT showed 98.1%, 97.8%, and 97.6% sequence similarity with Microbulbifer maritimus CIP 108504T, Microbulbifer taiwanensis DSM 24146T and Microbulbifer gwangyangensis JCM 17800T, respectively. Based on the phenotypic and genotypic features, it is concluded that strain Cs16bT represents a novel species of the genus Microbulbifer, for which the name Microbulbifer rhizosphaerae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Cs16bT (=DSM 28920T=CECT 8799T).

Geodermatophilus aquaeductus sp. nov., isolated from the ruins of Hadrian's aqueduct.

An orange-black, Gram-positive, aerobic and gamma-ray resistant actinobacterium was isolated from the ruins of a Roman aqueduct located in Northern Tunisia. The optimal growth for the strain was found to be at 25-35 °C and at pH 6.0-9.5. Chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics of the isolate matched those described for members of the genus Geodermatophilus. The peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diaminoacid. The main polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid; MK-9(H4) was found to be the dominant menaquinone and galactose was detected as the diagnostic sugar, with glucose, ribose and mannose also present. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as branched-chain saturated acids iso-C16:0, iso-C15:0 and iso-H-C16:0. The 16S rRNA gene showed 95.4-99.6 % sequence identity with the type strains of the genus Geodermatophilus. DNA-DNA relatedness values with closely related species were 39.9 ± 4.9, 33.9 ± 1.9, 27.0 ± 2.5 and 13.2 ± 1.35 % with Geodermatophilus amargosae, G. normandii, G. saharensis and G. tzadiensis respectively. Based on phenotypic results and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain BMG801(T) (=DSM 46834(T) = CECT 8822(T)) is proposed to represent the type strain of a novel species, Geodermatophilus aquaeductus sp. nov.

Description of Geodermatophilus bullaregiensis sp. nov.

The taxonomic position of an aerobic actinobacterial strain, BMG841(T), isolated from the Bulla Regia monument (Tunisia) and exhibiting a high resistance to gamma-radiation (D10 ~9 kGy) was determined using polyphasic approach. The optimal growth range was found to be 25-35 °C at pH of 7.0-8.5. The strain was observed to form black dry colonies. Chemotaxonomic characteristics of the isolate showed a cell wall type III, with galactose and glucose as diagnostic sugars; phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified glycolipid as main polar lipids; and MK-9(H4) as the predominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as iso-C16:0 and iso-C15:0. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain BMG841(T) represents a novel member of the genus Geodermatophilus with high 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with Geodermatophilus saharensis (98.28 %). Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic analysis, strain BMG841(T) is proposed as the type strain (=DSM 46841(T) = CECT 8821(T)) of a novel species, Geodermatophilus bullaregiensis.

Geodermatophilus poikilotrophi sp. nov.: a multitolerant actinomycete isolated from dolomitic marble.

A novel Gram-reaction-positive, aerobic actinobacterium, tolerant to mitomycin C, heavy metals, metalloids, hydrogen peroxide, desiccation, and ionizing- and UV-radiation, designated G18T, was isolated from dolomitic marble collected from outcrops in Samara (Namibia). The growth range was 15-35°C, at pH 5.5-9.5 and in presence of 1% NaCl, forming greenish-black coloured colonies on GYM Streptomyces agar. Chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics of the isolate matched those described for other representatives of the genus Geodermatophilus. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as diagnostic diaminoacid. The main phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol, and small amount of diphosphatidylglycerol. MK-9(H4) was the dominant menaquinone and galactose was detected as diagnostic sugar. The major cellular fatty acids were branched-chain saturated acids iso-C16:0 and iso-C15:0 and the unsaturated C17:1 ω8c and C16:1 ω7c. The 16S rRNA gene showed 97.4-99.1% sequence identity with the other representatives of genus Geodermatophilus. Based on phenotypic results and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain G18T is proposed to represent a novel species, Geodermatophilus poikilotrophi. Type strain is G18T (=DSM 44209T=CCUG 63018T). The INSDC accession number is HF970583. The novel R software package lethal was used to compute the lethal doses with confidence intervals resulting from tolerance experiments.

Geodermatophilus siccatus sp. nov., isolated from arid sand of the Saharan desert in Chad.

A novel Gram-positive, aerobic, actinobacterial strain, CF6/1(T), was isolated in 2007 during environmental screening of arid desert soil in the Sahara near to Ourba, Chad. The isolate was found to grow best in a temperature range of 20-37 °C and at pH 6.0-8.5 and showed no NaCl tolerance, forming black-coloured and nearly circular colonies on GYM agar. Chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics determined for the isolate match those previously described for members of the genus Geodermatophilus. The DNA G + C content of the novel strain was determined to be 74.9 mol %. The peptidoglycan was found to contain meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The main phospholipids were determined to be phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol and traces of phosphatidylglycerol; MK-9(H(4)) was identified as the dominant menaquinone and galactose as the diagnostic sugar. The major cellular fatty acids were found to be the branched-chain saturated acids iso-C(16:0) and iso-C(15:0), as well as C(17:1ω8c). The 16S rRNA gene sequence shows 97.5-97.9 % sequence identity with the four validly named or at least effectively published members of the genus: Geodermatophilus obscurus (97.5 %), Geodermatophilus arenarius (97.7 %), Geodermatophilus ruber (97.9 %) and Geodermatophilus nigrescens (97.9 %). Based on the results from this polyphasic taxonomic analysis and DNA-DNA hybridizations with all type strains of the genus, we propose that strain CF6/1(T) represents a novel species, Geodermatophilus siccatus, with the type strain CF6/1(T) = DSM 45419(T) = CCUG 62765(T) = MTCC 11414(T).