Hymenobacter taeanensis sp. nov., radiation resistant bacterium isolated from coastal sand dune.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and light pink-colored bacterial strain, designated TS19T, was isolated from a sand sample obtained from a coastal sand dune after exposure to 3 kGy of gamma radiation. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate was a member of the genus Hymenobacter and was most closely related to H. wooponensis WM78T (98.3% similarity). Strain TS19T and H. wooponensis showed resistance to gamma radiation with D10 values (i.e., the dose required to reduce the bacterial population by tenfold) of 7.3 kGy and 3.5 kGy, respectively. The genome of strain TS19T consists of one contig with 4,879,662 bp and has a G + C content of 56.2%. The genome contains 3,955 protein coding sequences, 44 tRNAs, and 12 rRNAs. The predominant fatty acids of strain TS19T were iso-C15:0, summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso-C17:1 B), summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c), and C16:1 ω5c. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The main respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7. Based on the phylogenetic, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain TS19T represents a novel species, for which the name Hymenobacter taeanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TS19T (= KCTC 72897T = JCM 34023T).

Spirosoma taeanense sp. nov., a radiation resistant bacterium isolated from a coastal sand dune.

An aerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and pale yellow-colored bacterial strain, designated TS118T, was isolated from a sand sample obtained from a coastal sand dune after exposure to 3 kGy of gamma radiation. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate was a member of the genus Spirosoma and most closely related to Spirosoma metallicum PR1014kT (95.1% similarity). The genome of strain TS118T is constituted by one chromosome (5,691,492 bp) and one plasmid (28,440 bp) and has a G + C content of 52.7%. The genome contains 4641 protein coding sequences (CDSs), 38 tRNAs, and 11 rRNAs. The predominant fatty acids of strain TS118T were C16:1 ω5c, iso-C15:0, C16:0, summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω6c and/or C16:1 ω7c), and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified amino lipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The main respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The novel strain showed resistance to gamma radiation with a D10 value (i.e., the dose required to reduce the bacterial population by tenfold) of 4.3 kGy. Based on the phylogenetic, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain TS118T represents a novel species, for which the name Spirosoma taeanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TS118T (=KCTC 72898T =JCM 34024T).

Hymenobacter baengnokdamensis sp. nov., Isolated from the Soil of a Crater Lake in Korea.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and pink-colored bacterial strain, designated BRD72T, was isolated from a crater lake (Baengnokdam) at the top of Mt. Hallasan in the Republic of Korea. Cells were catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate was a member of the genus Hymenobacter and most closely related to Hymenobacter marinus KJ035T (96.2% similarity). The isolate was found to produce carotenoid pigment, but not flexirubin-type pigment. The predominant fatty acids of strain BRD72T were summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c, 21.6%), iso-C15:0 (17.9%), anteiso-C15:0 (13.3%) and summed feature 4 (iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso-C17:1 B, 11.3%). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified amino lipid, and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The main respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7), and the main polyamine was homospermidine. The DNA G+C content was 59.8 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, physiological, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain BRD72T represents a novel species, for which the name Hymenobacter baengnokdamensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BRD72T (= KCTC 72649T = JCM 33837T).

Flagellimonas aquimarina sp. nov., and transfer of Spongiibacterium flavum Yoon and Oh 2012 and S. pacificum Gao et al. 2015 to the genus Flagellimonas Bae et al. 2007 as Flagellimonas flava comb. nov. and F. pacifica comb. nov., respectively.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic and diffusible yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated strain ECD12T was isolated from a seaweed, Ecklonia cava. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ECD12T formed an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of genera Spongiibacterium and Flagellimonas sharing the highest similarity to Flagellimonas eckloniae DOKDO007T (96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) followed by Spongiibacterium pacificum SW169T (96.4 %) and Spongiibacterium flavum DSM 22638T (96.1 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G. The new isolate contained MK-6 as the only isoprenoid quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified amino lipids and two unidentified lipids as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content is 39 mol%. A number of phenotypic characteristics such as the production of diffusible pigment distinguished strain ECD12T from the related species. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Flagellimonas aquimarina sp. nov., is proposed for strain ECD12T (=KCTC 52351T=JCM 32292T). Based on the sequence similarity, phylogenetic relationship and common morphological, physiological and chemical characters among the members of the genera Spongiibacterium and Flagellimonas, it is recommended that the two genera are combined into a single genus. Thus, transfer of S. flavumYoon and Oh 2012 and S. pacificum Gao et al. 2015 to the genus FlagellimonasBae et al. 2007 as Flagellimonas flava comb. nov. and Flagellimonas pacifica comb. nov., respectively, is also proposed.

Hymenobacter defluvii sp. nov., isolated from wastewater of an acidic water neutralization facility.

A non-motile, pink-coloured and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain POA9T, was isolated from a wastewater treatment facility, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω5c, iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and anteiso-C15 : 0. The strain contained MK-7 as the only isoprenoid quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The DNA G+C content was 57 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain POA9T forms a distinct evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Hymenobacter, sharing the highest similarity with Hymenobacter actinosclerus CCUG 39621T (95.5 % sequence similarity) followed by Hymenobacterseoulensis 16F7GT (95.5 %), Hymenobactertibetensis XTM003T (95.4 %), Hymenobacterrutilus K2-33028T (95.4 %) and Hymenobacter psychrotolerans Tibet-IIU11T (94.9 %). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain POA9T from the related members of the genus Hymenobacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Hymenobacter defluvii sp. nov., is proposed for strain POA9T (=KCTC 52270T=JCM 31658T).

Sphingomonas limnosediminicola sp. nov. and Sphingomonas palustris sp. nov., isolated from freshwater environments.

Two aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, gliding and yellow-pigmented bacteria, designated strains 03SUJ6T and WM95T were isolated from freshwater sediment of Juam reservoir and freshwater of Woopo wetland, Republic of Korea, respectively. Cells of the two strains are motile by gliding and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between 03SUJ6T and WM95T was 97.7 %, but their DNA-DNA relatedness was 55.1 %. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that 03SUJ6T and WM95T each form independent lineages within the genus Sphingomonas. 03SUJ6T was related distantly to Sphingomonas daechungensis CH15-11T (97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Sphingomonas ginsengisoliGsoil 634T (97.3 %) and Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens DMS 22298T (97.1 %). Closest relatives of strain WM95T were S. daechungensis CH15-11T (98.2 %), Sphingomonasjaspsi DSM 18422T (97.6 %), Sphingomonas sediminicolaDae 20T (97.5 %), Sphingomonaslutea JS5T (97.4 %) and S. ginsengisoliGsoil 634T (97.2 %). The major fatty acids of the two isolates were summed feature 8 and C16 : 0. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and sphingoglycolipid. sym-Homospermidine was the major polyamine of the isolates. Phenotypic characteristics distinguished 03SUJ6T and WM95T from the related species of the genus Sphingomonas. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, the novel species, Sphingomonas limnosediminicola sp. nov. and Sphingomonas palustris sp. nov. are proposed for strain 03SUJ6T (=KCTC 23331T=JCM 17543T) and strain WM95T (=KACC 18738T=JCM 31399T), respectively.

Flavivirga eckloniae sp. nov. and Flavivirga aquimarina sp. nov., isolated from seaweed Ecklonia cava.

Two Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic and yellow-coloured bacterial strains, designated strains ECD14T and EC2D5T, were isolated from a seaweed Eckloniacava. The isolates required sea salts for growth. Flexirubin-type and carotenoid pigment was produced. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the two new strains was 95.5 %. Flavivirga amylovorans JC2681T was the nearest neighbour of strains ECD14T and EC2D5T with 96.5 and 96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. The common major fatty acids and respiratory quinones were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and unknown 13.565 and menaquinone 6 (MK-6), respectively. The common major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown amino lipid and an unknown lipid. The DNA G+C contents of strains ECD14T and EC2D5T were 33 and 31 mol%, respectively. On the basis of the polyphasic characterization of the two strains, it is suggested that the two isolates represent novel species of the genus Flavivirga, for which the names Flavivirga eckloniae sp. nov. (type strain, ECD14T=KCTC 52352T=JCM 31797T) and Flavivirga aquimarina sp. nov. (type strain, EC2D5T=KCTC 52353T=JCM 31796T) are proposed.

Hymenobacter tenuis sp. nov., isolated from wastewater of an acidic water neutralization facility.

A non-motile, red-pink-coloured, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain POB6T, was isolated from a wastewater treatment facility, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B). The strain contained menaquinone MK-7 as the only isoprenoid quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The DNA G+C content was 61 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain POB6T forms a distinct evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Hymenobacter, sharing the highest similarity with Hymenobacterrigui WPCP131T (97.5 %) followed by Hymenobacter xinjiangensis X2-1gT (97.2 %), Hymenobacter perfusus A1-12T (97.2 %) and Hymenobacter gelipurpurascens Txg-1T (97.1 %). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain POB6T from related members of the genus Hymenobacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Hymenobacter tenuis sp. nov., is proposed, with POB6T (=KCTC 52271T=JCM 31659T) as the type strain.

Lutibacter agarilyticus sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from shallow coastal seawater.

A Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain KYW566(T), was isolated from seawater of the Suncheon Bay, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. The cells contained MK-6 as the only respiratory quinone and contained iso-C15 : 0 (13.8 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (13.1 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (9.3 %), iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (8.7 %), iso-C15 : 1 G (6.3 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) (6.0 %) as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain KYW566(T) was 41.6 ± 0.8 mol% (mean ± sd of three determinations). A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KYW566(T) forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Lutibacter with Lutibacter flavus IMCC1507(T) as its nearest neighbour (96.7 % sequence similarity). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain KYW566(T) from described members of the genus Lutibacter. On the basis of the evidences presented in this study, strain KYW566(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Lutibacter agarilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW566(T) ( = KCTC 23842(T) = JCM 18281(T)).

Algibacter aquimarinus sp. nov., isolated from a marine environment, and reclassification of Pontirhabdus pectinivorans as Algibacter pectinivorans comb. nov.

An orange-coloured, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative and aerobic bacterial strain, designated KYW589(T), was isolated from seawater collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Gliding motility was observed. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Major cellular fatty acids (>10% of the total) were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, iso-C15:1 G, C16:0, iso-C15:0 3-OH and C18:0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 38.6 ± 0.7 mol% (mean ± sd of three determinations). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain KYW589(T) belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae, and was related to the genus Algibacter. Based on data from a study using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, it is proposed that strain KYW589(T) represents a novel species belonging to the genus Algibacter, for which the name Algibacter aquimarinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW589(T) (=KCTC 23928(T) =JCM 18287(T)). Reclassification of Pontirhabdus pectinivorans Yi et al. 2011 to the genus Algibacter, as Algibacter pectinivorans comb. nov. (type strain JC2675(T) =KACC 14153(T) =JCM 17107(T)), is also proposed.

Sphingopyxis rigui sp. nov. and Sphingopyxis wooponensis sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater, and emended description of the genus Sphingopyxis.

Two yellow-pigmented, Gram-reaction-negative strains, designated 01SU5-P(T) and 03SU3-P(T), were isolated from the freshwater of Woopo wetland, Republic of Korea. Both strains were aerobic, non-motile and catalase-negative. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two isolates belong to the genus Sphingopyxis, showing the highest level of sequence similarity with respect to Sphingopyxis witflariensis W-50(T) (95.4-95.7 %). The two novel isolates shared 99.4 % sequence similarity. DNA-DNA hybridization between the isolates and the type strain of S. witflariensis clearly suggested that strains 01SU5-P(T) and 03SU3-P(T) represent two separate novel species in the genus Sphingopyxis. The two strains displayed different fingerprints after PCR analysis using the repetitive primers BOX, ERIC and REP. Several phenotypic characteristics served to differentiate these two isolates from recognized members of the genus Sphingopyxis. The data from the polyphasic study presented here indicated that strains 01SU5-P(T) and 03SU3-P(T) should be classified as representing novel species in the genus Sphingopyxis, for which the names Sphingopyxis rigui sp. nov. and Sphingopyxis wooponensis sp. nov., respectively, are proposed. The type strain of Sphingopyxis rigui sp. nov. is 01SU5-P(T) ( = KCTC 23326(T) = JCM 17509(T)) and the type strain of Sphingopyxis wooponensis sp. nov. is 03SU3-P(T) ( = KCTC 23340(T) = JCM 17547(T)).

Aquimarina gracilis sp. nov., isolated from the gut microflora of a mussel, Mytilus coruscus, and emended description of Aquimarina spongiae.

An orange-coloured and slender rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain PSC32(T), was isolated from the gut microflora of a mussel collected from Gwangyang Bay, South Sea (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The only isoprenoid quinone of strain PSC32(T) was MK-6 and the DNA G+C content was 36.9 mol%. Phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified polar lipids were found as major polar lipids. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PSC32(T) forms an evolutionary lineage within the genus Aquimarina and is closely related to Aquimarina spongiae A6(T) (97.0 % similarity) and to other members of the genus Aquimarina (94.4-96.5 %). Genomic DNA-DNA relatedness between strain PSC32(T) and A. spongiae A6(T) was 40.7 %. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain PSC32(T) from described members of the genus Aquimarina. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain PSC32(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Aquimarina gracilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PSC32(T) ( = KCTC 23301(T) = JCM 17453(T)). An emended description of Aquimarina spongiae is given.

Marinivirga aestuarii gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, isolated from marine environments, and emended descriptions of the genera Hyunsoonleella, Jejuia and Pontirhabdus and the species Hyunsoonleella jejuensis, Jejuia pallidilutea and Pontirhabdus pectinivorans.

Two orange, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic bacterial strains devoid of flagella and gliding motility, designated strains KYW371(T) and KS18 were isolated from a seawater sample and a shellfish Ruditapes philippinarum, respectively, collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae; and that strain KYW371(T) was most closely related to Algibacter mikhailovii LMG 23988(T) (96.7 % sequence similarity), Pontirhabdus pectinivorans JC2675(T) (96.3 %), Postechiella marina M091(T) (95.6 %) and Hyunsoonleella jejuensis CNU004(T) (95.3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.8 %) and DNA-DNA relatedness (78.1 %) between strains KYW371(T) and KS18 indicated that these two strains represented a single species. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain KYW371(T) were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. MK-6 was the only isoprenoid quinone and the DNA G+C content was 34.8-36.6 mol%. Data from this taxonomic study employing a polyphasic approach suggested that the isolates represent a novel species in a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Marinivirga aestuarii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW371(T) ( = KCTC 23449(T) = JCM 17452(T)), and an additional strain of the species is KS18 ( = KCTC 23128 = JCM 16845). Emended descriptions of the genera Hyunsoonleella, Jejuia and Pontirhabdus and the species Hyunsoonleella jejuensis, Jejuia pallidilutea and Pontirhabdus pectinivorans are also proposed.

Roseomonas riguiloci sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A non-motile, coccobacillus-shaped and pink pigmented bacterium, designated strain 03SU10-P(T), was isolated from wetland freshwater (Woopo wetland, Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram reaction-negative and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids (>10% of total) were C(18:1)ω7c and summed feature 3 (iso-C(15:0) 2-OH and/or C(16:1)ω7c). The predominant respiratory lipoquinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 68 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and an unknown aminolipid. Spermidine, putrescine and 1,3-diaminopropane were the major polyamines. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain 03SU10-P(T) formed an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Roseomonas. The nearest neighbour to the novel strain was Roseomonas stagni HS-69(T) (96.3% gene sequence similarity). The evidence provided by the polyphasic taxonomic approach used in this study indicated that strain 03SU10-P(T) could not be assigned to any recognized species; therefore a novel species is proposed, Roseomonas riguiloci sp. nov., with 03SU10-P(T) ( = KCTC 23339(T) = JCM 17520(T)) as the type strain.

Reclassification of Bacillus beijingensis Qiu et al. 2009 and Bacillus ginsengi Qiu et al. 2009 as Bhargavaea beijingensis comb. nov. and Bhargavaea ginsengi comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Bhargavaea.

We have carried out a polyphasic taxonomic characterization of Bacillus beijingensis DSM 19037(T) and Bacillus ginsengi DSM 19038(T), which are closely related phylogenetically to Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411(T). All three strains are Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, moderately halotolerant and non-spore-forming. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses showed that the strains constituted a coherent cluster, with sequence similarities between 99.7 and 98.7 %. The percentage similarity on the basis of amino acid sequences deduced from partial gyrB gene nucleotide sequences of these three type strains was 96.1-92.7 %. Phylogenetic trees based on the 16S rRNA gene and GyrB amino acid sequences, obtained by using three different algorithms, were consistent and showed that these three species constituted a deeply rooted cluster separated from the clades represented by the genera Bacillus, Planococcus, Planomicrobium, Sporosarcina, Lysinibacillus, Viridibacillus, Kurthia and Geobacillus, supporting their placement in the genus Bhargavaea. All three type strains have menaquinone MK-8 as the major respiratory quinone and showed similar fatty acid profiles. The main polar lipids present in the three type strains were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the three strains showed peptidoglycan type A4α with L-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. The DNA G+C contents of Bacillus beijingensis DSM 19037(T), Bacillus ginsengi DSM 19038(T) and Bhargavaea cecembensis LMG 24411(T) were 53.1, 50.2 and 53.7 mol%, respectively. The level of DNA-DNA hybridization among the three strains was 57-39 %, indicating that they are members of different species of the genus Bhargavaea. The phenotypic data are consistent with the placement of these three species in a single genus and support their differentiation at the species level. On the basis of these data, we have emended the description of the genus Bhargavaea and propose the reclassification of Bacillus beijingensis and Bacillus ginsengi to the genus Bhargavaea, as Bhargavaea beijingensis comb. nov. (type strain ge10(T)  = DSM 19037(T)  = CGMCC 1.6762(T)) and Bhargavaea ginsengi comb. nov. (type strain ge14(T)  = DSM 19038(T)  = CGMCC 1.6763(T)).

Characterization of alginate lyase gene using a metagenomic library constructed from the gut microflora of abalone.

A metagenomic fosmid library was constructed using a genomic DNA mixture extracted from the gut microflora of abalone. The library gave an alginate lyase positive clone (AlyDW) harboring a 31.7-kbp insert. The AlyDW insert consisted of 22 open reading frames (ORFs). The deduced amino acid sequences of ORFs 11-13 were similar to those of known alginate lyase genes, which are found adjacent in the genome of Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. aerogenes, Vibrio splendidus, and Vibrio sp. belonging to the phylum Gammaproteobacteria. Among the three recombinant proteins expressed from the three ORFs, alginate lyase activity was only observed in the recombinant protein (AlyDW11) coded by ORF 11. The expressed protein (AlyDW11) had the highest alginate lyase activity at pH 7.0 and 45°C in the presence of 1 mM AgNO(3). The alginate lyase activity of ORF 11 was confirmed to be endolytic by thin-layer chromatography. AlyDW11 preferred poly(ß-D: -mannuronate) as a substrate over poly(α-L: -guluronate). AlyDW11 contained three highly conserved regions, RSEL, QIH, and YFKAGVYNQ, which may act to stabilize the three-dimensional conformation and function of the alginate lyase.

Aquimarina mytili sp. nov., isolated from the gut microflora of a mussel, Mytilus coruscus, and emended description of Aquimarina macrocephali.

An orange, rod-shaped, gliding bacterium, designated strain PSC33(T), was isolated from the gut microflora of a mussel collected from Gwangyang Bay, South Sea (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15:0), iso-C(17:0) 3-OH, iso-C(15:1) G, C(15:0) 3-OH and iso-C(17:1)ω9c. The only isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The DNA G+C content of strain PSC33(T) was 37.9 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PSC33(T) formed an evolutionary lineage within the radiation encompassing members of the genus Aquimarina with Aquimarina macrocephali JAMB N27(T) as its nearest neighbour (96.3% sequence similarity). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain PSC33(T) from recognized members of the genus Aquimarina. On the basis of the data presented in this study, strain PSC33(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Aquimarina, for which the name Aquimarina mytili sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PSC33(T) ( = KCTC 23302(T) = JCM 17454(T)). An emended description of A. macrocephali is also provided.

Gaetbulibacter aestuarii sp. nov., isolated from shallow coastal seawater, and emended description of the genus Gaetbulibacter.

A rod-shaped, yellow and strictly aerobic marine bacterium, designated KYW382(T), was isolated from seawater collected from the South Sea, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-negative and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C(15:1) G, iso-C(15:0), iso-C(17:0) 3-OH, iso-C(15:0) 3-OH and anteiso-C(15:0). The DNA G+C content was 32.4 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KYW382(T) constituted an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Gaetbulibacter. The closest neighbour was Gaetbulibacter saemankumensis SMK-12(T) (96.1% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain KYW382(T) from the described members of the genus Gaetbulibacter. On the basis of the data presented in this study, strain KYW382(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Gaetbulibacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW382(T) (=KCTC 23303(T) =JCM 17455(T)). An emended description of the genus Gaetbulibacter is also given.

Paenibacillus wooponensis sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A rod-shaped, endospore-forming, Gram-reaction-positive bacterium, designated strain WPCB018(T), was isolated from a fresh water sample collected from Woopo wetland, Korea. The isolate was identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic inference based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and unknown aminophospholipids. The diamino acid found in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0) (32.2 %), C(16 : 0) (20.1 %) and C(18 : 0) (18.1 %). The DNA G+C content was 56.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain WPCB018(T) belongs to a cluster comprising species of the genus Paenibacillus, its closest neighbours being Paenibacillus humicus PC-147(T) (97.5 %) and Paenibcillus pasadenensis SAFN-007(T) (96.2 %). Genomic DNA-DNA hybridizations performed with strain WPCB018(T) and type strains of the species P. humicus, P. pinihumi, P. phyllosphaerae, P. pasadenensis and P. tarimensis showed relatedness values of only 10, 17, 18, 19 and 20 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, molecular and genetic evidence, strain WPCB018(T) represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus wooponensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the novel species is WPCB018(T) ( = KCTC 13280(T) = JCM 16350(T)).

Altererythrobacter namhicola sp. nov. and Altererythrobacter aestuarii sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

Two non-motile, orange- or yellow-pigmented bacteria, designated strains KYW48(T) and KYW147(T), were isolated from seawater collected from the South Sea, Republic of Korea. Cells of both strains were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids of strain KYW48(T) were C(18 : 1)ω7c (35.3 %), summed feature 3 (iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c) (22.7 %), C(17 : 1)ω6c (19.8 %), C(14 : 0) 2-OH (7.4 %) and C(16 : 0) (5.9 %), and those of strain KYW147(T) were C(18 : 1)ω7c (36.0 %), summed feature 3 (18.3 %), C(16 : 0) (14.7 %), 11-methyl C(18 : 1)ω7c (10.7 %), C(16 : 0) 2-OH (9.1 %) and C(18 : 1)ω9c (8.0 %). The predominant isoprenoid quinone of both strains was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10). The DNA G+C contents of strains KYW48(T) and KYW147(T) were 63.8 and 67.2 mol%, respectively. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains KYW48(T) and KYW147(T) were grouped with the members of the family Erythrobacteraceae and formed a distinct clade with the members of the genus Altererythrobacter (<95.7 % sequence similarity). On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, the novel species Altererythrobacter namhicola sp. nov. (type strain KYW48(T)  = KCTC 22736(T)  = JCM 16345(T)) and Altererythrobacter aestuarii sp. nov. (type strain KYW147(T)  = KCTC 22735(T)  = JCM 16339(T)) are proposed.