Povalibacter uvarum gen. nov., sp. nov., a polyvinyl-alcohol-degrading bacterium isolated from grapes.

Polyvinyl-alcohol-degrading bacteria were isolated from the fruit of a grape in Yokosuka, Japan. The isolated strain, Zumi 37(T), was a Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, motile, non-spore-forming and strictly aerobic chemo-organotroph, showing optimal growth at pH 7.5, 30 °C and 0.1% (w/v) NaCl. The major respiratory quinone was Q-8. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0) and C(16 : 1)ω7c. The major polyamines were homospermidine and putrescine. The predominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 64.2 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain Zumi 37(T) belongs to the family Sinobacteraceae within the class Gammaproteobacteria. Steroidobacter denitrificans DSM 18526(T) was the most closely related species with a validly published name, with 98.0% similarity based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison (and showed less than 87.5% sequence similarity to members of the genera Alkanibacter, Fontimonas, Hydrocarboniphaga, Nevskia and Solimonas with known 16S rRNA gene sequences). Phenotypes for growth under aerobic conditions and on complex media and major fatty acid composition, differed greatly from those of with comparatively high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evidence, it is proposed that strain Zumi 37(T) represents a novel species in a new genus for which the name Povalibacter uvarum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is Zumi 37(T) ( = JCM 18749(T) = DSM 26723(T)).

Parasphingopyxis lamellibrachiae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a marine annelid worm.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, orange-pigmented, slightly halophilic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain JAMH 0132(T), was isolated from the trophosome of a tubeworm in Kagoshima Bay, Japan, and its taxonomic position was investigated using a polyphasic approach. The novel strain grew optimally at 28-30 °C and with about 2.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that Q-10 was the predominant respiratory quinone and that C(18 : 1)ω7c, C(16 : 0) 2-OH and C(16 : 0) were the major fatty acids. Sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine were the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 60.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain JAMH 0132(T) belonged to the family Sphingomonadaceae, within the class Alphaproteobacteria. The novel strain appeared most closely related to Sphingopyxis baekryungensis SW-150(T) (95.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and showed less sequence similarity with representatives of the genera Blastomonas, Sphingomonas, Sphingosinicella and Novosphingobium (<94.8 %). In having no detectable polyamine, strain JAMH 0132(T) differed from members of all genera currently in the family Sphingomonadaceae. On the basis of its phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain JAMH 0132(T) represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Sphingomonadaceae for which the name Parasphingopyxis lamellibrachiae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Parasphingopyxis lamellibrachiae gen. nov., sp. nov. is JAMH 0132(T) (= JCM 15549(T) = NCIMB 14486(T)).

Ameyamaea chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an acetic acid bacterium in the alpha-Proteobacteria.

Two isolates, AC04(T) and AC05, were isolated from the flowers of red ginger collected in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the two isolates were included within a lineage comprised of the genera Acidomonas, Gluconacetobacter, Asaia, Kozakia, Swaminathania, Neoasaia, Granulibacter, and Tanticharoenia, and they formed an independent cluster along with the type strain of Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis. The calculated pair-wise sequence similarities of isolate AC04(T) were 97.8-92.5% to the type strains of the type species of the 11 genera of acetic acid bacteria. The DNA base composition was 66.0-66.1 mol % G+C with a range of 0.1 mol %. A single-stranded, labeled DNA from isolate AC04(T) presented levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 100, 85, 4, and 3% respectively to DNAs from isolates AC04(T) and AC05 and the type strains of Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens. The two isolates were unique morphologically in polar flagellation and physiologically in intense acetate oxidation to carbon dioxide and water and weak lactate oxidation. The intensity in acetate oxidation almost equaled that of the type strain of Acetobacter aceti. The two isolates had Q-10. Isolate AC04(T) was discriminated from the type strains of the type species of the 11 genera by 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis using restriction endonucleases TaqI and Hin6I. The unique phylogenetic, genetic, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics obtained indicate that the two isolates can be classified into a separate genus, and Ameyamaea chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is isolate AC04(T) (=BCC 15744(T), =NBRC 103196(T)), which has a DNA G+C content of 66.0 mol %.

Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., a microcystin-degrading bacterium.

Three strains of bacteria that degrade the cyanobacterial hepatotoxin microcystin, Y2T, MDB2 and MDB3, were isolated from a eutrophic lake, Lake Suwa, and the Tenryu River, Japan, and characterized. These strains were aerobic and chemo-organotrophic and their cells were Gram-negative, non-spore-forming rods, motile by means of single polar flagella. Yellow-pigmented colonies were formed on nutrient agar media. The strains assimilated only citrate among the organic compounds tested as carbon sources. The G+C content of genomic DNA ranged from 63.6 to 63.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the new isolates formed a tight cluster within the family Sphingomonadaceae but were clearly separate from established genera of this family, e.g. Sphingomonas, Sphingobium, Novosphingobium and Sphingopyxis; sequence similarities between the new isolates and type strains from established genera ranged from 90.9 to 94.9 %. Chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data supported the conclusion that these strains were members of the family Sphingomonadaceae. The major components of the cellular fatty acids were 18 : 1omega7c (36-41 %) and 16 : 1omega7c (33-36 %). Hydroxy fatty acids were mainly 2-OH 14 : 0 (11-13 %), and 3-OH fatty acids were absent. Glycosphingolipids were detected. Ubiquinone-10 and homospermidine were present as the major quinine and polyamine, respectively. Thus, it is proposed that the three strains represent a new genus and species of the family Sphingomonadaceae with the name Sphingosinicella microcystinivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is Y2T (= KCTC 12019T = JCM 13185T).

Polyamines of primitive apterygotan insects: springtails, silverfish and a bristletail.

Polyamines extracted from whole bodies of four springtails, Tomocerus ishibashii, Hypogastrura communis, Sinella cruviseta and Folsomia candida, a bristletail, Pedetontus nipponicus, and two silverfish, Lepisma saccharina and Thermobia domestica, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography. All seven apterous insect species contained putrescine, cadaverine and spermidine as the common major polyamines, detected at the level of micromol/g wet mass. T. ishibashii also contained spermine, S. cruviseta contained norspermidine and norspermine and H. communis, F. candida and P. nipponicus contained diaminopropane, norspermidine and norspermine, as minor polyamines above the detection limit (0.01 micromol/g wet mass). The occurrence of diaminopropane, norspermidine, norspermine, spermine and thermospermine was confirmed in L. saccharina and T. domestica. The novel polyamines norspermidine, norspermine and thermospermine, widespread in higher insects, were also distributed within the primitive apterygotan insects.

Distribution of two triamines, spermidine and homospermidine, and an aromatic amine, 2-phenylethylamine, within the phylum Bacteroidetes.

Cellular polyamines of the newly additional 19 species belonging to the class Bacteroides of the phylum Bacteroidetes were analyzed by HPLC to display polyamine distribution as a chemotaxonomic marker within the total 41 species. Three profiles, the presence of spermidine, the presence of homospermidine and the absence of both triamines, corresponded to their phylogenetical positions within the four families of the class. The occurrence of an aromatic amine, 2-phenylethylamine, extracted into cellular polyamine fraction, was also determined within the 121 species distributed within the phylum. This aromatic amine was found in Cellulophaga lytica, Cytophaga latercula, Tenacibaculum amylolyticum, Tenacibaculum martimum, Tenacibaculum mesophilum and Psychroflexus torquis belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae of the class Flavobacteria, and Flexibacter flexilis and Microscilla marina belonging to the family Flexibacteraceae of the class Sphingobacteria.

Polyamine analysis for chemotaxonomy of thermophilic eubacteria: Polyamine distribution profiles within the orders Aquificales, Thermotogales, Thermodesulfobacteriales, Thermales, Thermoanaerobacteriales, Clostridiales and Bacillales.

Cellular polyamines of 45 thermophilic and 8 related mesophilic eubacteria were investigated by HPLC and GC analyses for the thermophilic and chemotaxonomic significance of polyamine distribution profiles. Spermidine and a quaternary branched penta-amine, N4-bis(aminopropyl)norspermidine, were the major polyamine in Thermocrinis, Hydrogenobacter, Hydrogenobaculum, Aquifex, Persephonella, Sulfurihydrogenibium, Hydrogenothermus, Balnearium and Thermovibrio, located in the order Aquificales. Thermodesulfobacterium and Thermodesulfatator belonging to the order Thermodesulfobacteriales contained another quaternary penta-amine, N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine. In the order Thermotogales, Thermotoga contained spermidine, norspermidine, caldopentamine and homocaldopentamine. The latter two linear penta-amines were not found in Marinitoga and Petrotoga. In the order Thermales, Thermus and Marinithermus contained homospermidine, norspermine and the linear penta-amines. Meiothermus lacked penta-amines. Vulcanithermus contained linear penta-amines and hexa-amines but not homospermidine. Oceanithermus contained spermine alone. Within the order Thermoanaerobacteriales, the two quaternary branched penta-amines were found in Thermanaeromonas and Thermoanaerobacter. Caldanaerobacter contained N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine. Thermoanaerobacterium lacked penta-amines. Thermaerobacter of the order Clostridiales contained N4-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine and agmatine. Thermosyntropha, Thermanaerovibrio, Thermobrachium ( the order Clostridiales), Sulfobacillus, Alicyclobacillus, Anoxybacillus, Ureibacillus, Thermicanus ( the order Bacillales), Desulfotomaculum, Desulfitobacterium and Pelotomaculum (the family Peptococcaceae) ubiquitously contained spermine. Some thermophiles of Bacillales added linear and branched penta-amines.

Cellular polyamines of the acidophilic, thermophilic and thermoacidophilic archaebacteria, Acidilobus, Ferroplasma, Pyrobaculum, Pyrococcus, Staphylothermus, Thermococcus, Thermodiscus and Vulcanisaeta.

Cellular polyamines of newly isolated acidophilic, thermophilic and thermoacidophilic archaebacteria were investigated for the chemotaxonomic significance of polyamine distribution profiles. In addition to spermidine, spermine and agmatine, a quaternary branched penta-amine, N(4)-bis(aminopropyl)spermidine, was found in thermophilic Thermococcus waiotapuensis, Thermococcus aegaeus and Pyrococcus glycovorans belonging to the order Thermococcales. An acidophilic euryarchaeon, Ferroplasma acidiphilum located in the order Thermoplasmatales, contained spermidine and agmatine. Norspermidine, spermidine, norspermine and spermine were found in thermoacidophilic Acidilobus aceticus and thermophilic Thermodiscus maritimus located in the order Desulfurococcales, and in thermophilic Pyrobaculum arsenaticum, Pyrobaculum oguniense, Vulcanisaeta distributa and Vulcanisaeta souniana belonging to the order Thermoproteales; however, the four genera differ on their tetra- and penta-amine levels. Thermophilic Staphylothermus hellenicus belonging to Desulfurococcales contained caldopentamine, caldohexamine and N1-acetylcaldopentamine in addition to norspermidine, spermidine and norspermine. This is the first report on the occurrence of acetylated penta-amine in nature.