Chryseobacterium salipaludis sp. nov., isolated at a wild ass sanctuary.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, aerobic bacterium was isolated from a sediment sample obtained from a wild ass sanctuary in Gujarat, India. The strain designated JC490T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and sequence comparison data indicated that strain JC490T was a member of the genus Chryseobacterium and was closely related to Chryseobacterium jeonii AT1047T (96.4 %) and with other members of the genus Chryseobacterium (<96.3 %). The DNA G+C content of strain JC490T was 34 mol%. Strain JC490T had phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and five unidentified polar lipids. Menaquinone-6 was the only respiratory quinone found. Iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH were the major fatty acids of strain JC490T. On the basis of physiological, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, it is concluded that strain JC490T constitutes a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacterium salipaludis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC490T (=KCTC 52835T=LMG 30048T).

Description of a phototrophic bacterium, Thiorhodococcus alkaliphilus sp. nov.

Strain JA878T was purified from a photoheterotrophic enrichment obtained from a sediment sample of a brown pond near Nari Salt Pan, Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India. Cells of the isolate were coccoid, motile by means of single polar flagellum and Gram-stain-negative. The internal photosynthetic membrane architecture was vesicular. Strain JA878T contained bacteriochlorophyll a and spirilloxanthin series of carotenoids with rhodopin (>85 %) as the major component. Strain JA878T grew optimally at pH 10-11, and had no requirement for NaCl (tolerated up to 6 %, w/v) or vitamins for growth. C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c and C16 : 0 were identified as the major fatty acids (>10 %). Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, aminophospholipid and an unknown polar lipid were identified. Q8 was the predominant quinone system in strain JA878T. The DNA G+C content was 62.4 mol%. Highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity through EzTaxon-based blast analysis of strain JA878T was found with the type strains of Thiorhodococcus fuscus (99 %), Thiorhodococcus kakinadensis (98.6 %), Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus (98.4 %), Thiophaeococcus fuscus (97.3 %) and other members of the class Gammaproteobacteria (<97.3 %), revealing a close affiliation to the genera Thiorhodococcus, Thiohalobacter and Thiophaeococcus. However, the phylogenetic treeing firmly placed the strain in the genus Thiorhodococcus. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evidence supported the affiliation of strain JA878T to the genus Thiorhodococcus and not to Thiohalobacter, Thiophaeococcus or other known genera of Chromatiaceae. Distinct physiological, genotypic and chemotaxonomic differences indicate that strain JA878T represents a novel species of the genus Thiorhodococcus, for which the name Thiorhodococcus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA878T (=KCTC 15531T=JCM 31245T).

Description of Lunatimonas salinarum sp. nov.

A Gram-stain-negative, crescent-shaped, non-motile, aerobic bacterium was isolated from a saltern at Nari along the Bhavnagar coast, Gujarat, India. The strain designated JC344T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and sequence comparison data indicated that JC344T represented a member of the genus Lunatimonas and was closely related to the only species of the genus, Lunatimonas lonarensis AK24T (95.5 %). The DNA G+C content of JC344T was 43 mol%. JC344T has phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) and four unidentified polar lipids. MK-7 is the only respiratory quinone. The major (>10 %) fatty acids of strain JC344T are iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). On the basis of physiological, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, we conclude that JC344T represents a novel species of the genus Lunatimonas, for which the name Lunatimonas salinarum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC344T (=KCTC 42988T=LMG 29259T).

Salinicoccus amylolyticus sp. nov., isolated from a saltern.

A Gram-stain-positive coccus, strain JC304T, was isolated from a saltern of Nari along the Bhavnagar Coast, Gujarat, India. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and sequence comparison data indicated that JC304T represented a member of the genus Salinicoccus and was most closely related to Salinicoccus roseus 9T (99.6 %), Salinicoccus luteus YIM 70202T (97.0 %), Salinicoccus hispanicus J-82T (97.0 %) and the remaining species of the genus Salinicoccus (<97 %). Genome relatedness based on DNA-DNA hybridization of JC304T with the type strains of the most closely related species was less than 46 % and the ΔTmwas >5 °C indicating that the strain represents a novel species of the genus Salinicoccus. Independent and concatenated phylogenetic analysis of recA/fusA gene translated product showed a clear distinction of JC304T from its phylogenetic neighbors. Diphosphotidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and three unidentified lipids (L1, L2 and L3) were the polar lipids of JC304T. Iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0 were the major (>10 %) fatty acids in strain JC304T. The cell-wall amino acids were l-lysine and d-glycine. Hopanoids were not detected. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone (MK-6). The DNA G+C content of JC304T was 48 mol%. On the basis of physiological, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain JC304T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Salinicoccus, for which the name Salinicoccusamylolyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC304T (=KCTC 33661T=LMG 28757T).

Description of Jeotgalibacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov., isolated from a solar salt pan, and Jeotgalibacillus terrae sp. nov., a name to replace 'Jeotgalibacillus soli' Chen et al. 2010.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium (strain JC303T) isolated from a salt pan was identified based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis as a member of the genus Jeotgalibacillus. It was related most closely to Jeotgalibacillus salarius ASL-1T (99.1 % similarity), Jeotgalibacillusalimentarius YKJ-13T (97.9 %), Jeotgalibacillussoli JSM 081008 (97.9 %), Jeotgalibacillusmalaysiensis D5T (97.8 %), Jeotgalibacillusmarinus DSM 1297T (96.3 %), Jeotgalibacilluscampisalis SF-57T (96.1 %) and J. soli P9T (94.9 %). Genomic relatedness based on DNA-DNA hybridization of strain JC303T with the type strains of the closest related species was less than 40 %. Diphosphatidylglycerol, three aminophospholipids, an unidentified aminoglycolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and an unidentified lipid were the polar lipids of strain JC303T. Major (>10 %) fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. Cell-wall amino acids contained peptidoglycan with l-lysine as the diagnostic diamino acid. Strain JC303T contained MK-7 as the predominant (96 %) menaquinone with the presence of a significant amount (4 %) of MK-8. The DNA G+C content was 43 mol%. On the basis of morphological, physiological, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain JC303T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibacillus, for which the name Jeotgalibacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC303T (=KCTC 33662T=LMG 28756T). In addition, we propose to rename J. soli (Chen et al., 2010), an illegitimate homonym of the validly published name Jeotgalibacillus soli(Cunha et al., 2012) as Jeotgalibacillus terrae sp. nov. with type strain JSM 081008T (=DSM 22174T=KCTC 13528T).

Rhodovulum aestuarii sp. nov., isolated from a brackish water body.

A yellowish brown, phototrophic, purple non-sulfur bacterium, strain JA924T, was isolated in pure culture from a brackish water sample collected from an estuary. Single cells were oval to rod-shaped, non-motile and Gram-stain-negative and had a vesicular architecture of intracellular photosynthetic membranes. Bacteriochlorophyll-a and carotenoids of the spheroidene series were present as photosynthetic pigments. Photolithoautotrophy, chemo-organoheterotrophy and photo-organoheterotrophy were the growth modes observed. Strain JA924T had complex growth requirements. Strain JA924T was mesophilic and moderately halophilic. The DNA G+C content was 64 mol% (HPLC). The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C18 : 0. The major quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10). Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, sulfolipid and an aminolipid were the main polar lipids of strain JA924T. EzTaxon-e blast searches based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of JA924T revealed highest similarity with Rhodovulum mangrovi AK41T (98.19 %) and other members of the genus Rhodovulum ( < 95.71 %). Strain JA924T was further identified to be distantly related to Rhodovulum mangrovi AK41T ( < 29 % based on DNA-DNA hybridization and ΔTm (>5 °C). Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular differences indicate that strain JA924T represents a novel species of the genus Rhodovulum, for which the name Rhodovulum aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA924T ( = LMG 29031T = KCTC 15485T).

Thiorhodococcus fuscus sp. nov., isolated from a lagoon.

A brown, moderately halophilic, photoautotrophic bacterium designated strain JA363T was purified from a photoheterotrophic enrichment obtained from sediment from Chilika lagoon, Odisha, India. Cells of the isolate were coccoid, motile by means of single polar flagellum and Gram-stain-negative. Strain JA363T had an obligate requirement for NaCl and could tolerate up to 7 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain JA363T had complex growth factor requirements. Internal photosynthetic membranes were present as vesicles. Strain JA363T contained bacteriochlorophyll a and spirilloxanthin series carotenoids with rhodopin as a major (>85 %) component. C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c, C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids and phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine were the major polar lipids. Q8 was the predominant quinone system of strain JA363T. The DNA G+C content was 64 mol%. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain JA363T was found with the type strains of Thiorhodococcus kakinadensis (98.7 %), Thiohalobacter thiocyanaticus (98.2 %), Thiophaeococcus fuscus (97.4 %) and Thiorhodococcus bheemlicus (96.3 %). However, the phylogenetic trees generated firmly placed strain JA363T in the genus Thiorhodococcus, which was further supported by phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evidence. Consequently, strain JA363T is described as representing a novel species of the genus Thiorhodococcus as Thiorhodococcus fuscus sp. nov. The type strain is JA363T ( = KCTC 5701T = NBRC 104959T).

Caenispirillum deserti sp. nov., a spheroplast-forming bacterium isolated from a salt desert.

A Gram-stain-negative, vibrio-shaped, spheroplast-forming, motile, aerobic bacterium was isolated from the soil of a salt desert in Kutch, Gujarat, India. The strain, designated JC232(T), was oxidase- and catalase-positive. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain JC232(T) was a member of the genus Caenispirillum and was related most closely to Caenispirillum salinarum AK4(T) (98.9% similarity) and Caenispirillum bisanense K92(T) (96.8%). Genome relatedness based on DNA-DNA hybridization of strain JC232(T) with the type strains of closely related species was less than 40%. The DNA G+C content of strain JC232(T) was 70 mol%. Phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphotidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified amino lipids (AL1 and 2) and four unidentified lipids (UL1-4) were the polar lipids of strain JC232(T). C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, C16 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c were the major (>15%) fatty acids of strain JC232(T), with minor amounts of C12 : 0, C14 : 0 3-OH/iso-C16 : 0 I, C18 : 1 2-OH, C18 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH and C19 : 0cycloω8c. Although strain JC232(T) shared the predominant ubiquinone system (Q10) with the type strains of C. salinarum and C. bisanense, it differed from the latter in polar lipid profile, NaCl growth range and other phenotypic/physiological properties. On the basis of morphological, physiological, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses, strain JC232(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Caenispirillum, for which the name Caenispirillum deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC232(T) ( = KCTC 42064(T) = NBRC 110150(T)).

Thiophaeococcus fuscus sp. nov., isolated from a lagoon.

A brown-coloured bacterium, designated strain JA633(T), was purified from a photoheterotrophic enrichment culture obtained from black sand of a lagoon. Cells of strain JA633(T) were coccoid-spherical, Gram-stain-negative and motile by means of polar flagella. Strain JA633(T) had an obligate requirement for NaCl and could tolerate up to 4% (w/v) NaCl. Internal photosynthetic membranes were present as vesicles. Photo-organoheterotrophy was the only growth mode observed. Strain JA633(T) contained bacteriochlorophyll a and a major (>85%) unidentified carotenoid of the spirilloxanthin series. Thiamine and p-aminobenzoic acid were required for growth. Major fatty acids were C(18 : 1)ω7c/C(18 : 1)ω6c, C(16 : 0) and C(16 : 1)ω7c/C(16 : 1)ω6c. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphotidylcholine and an unknown aminophospholipid were the major polar lipids in strain JA633(T). The DNA G+C content of strain JA633(T) was 64.5 mol%. Strain JA633(T) shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of Thiorhodococcus kakinadensis (96.9%), Thiophaeococcus mangrovi (96.3%) and Thiorhodococcus bheemlicus (96.2%), which belonged to the class Gammaproteobacteria. However, phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA633(T) formed a separate clade along with Thiophaeococcus mangrovi JA304(T) whereas the members of the genus Thiorhodococcus remained as two distinct phylogenetic lineages. Based on morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and molecular evidence, strain JA633(T) was significantly different from the type strain of Thiophaeococcus mangrovi of the family Chromatiaceae. It is thus proposed that the strain be classified as a representative of a novel species, for which the name Thiophaeococcus fuscus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA633(T) ( = KCTC 15337(T) = NBRC 109958(T)).

Reclassification of Rhodospirillum photometricum Molisch 1907, Rhodospirillum sulfurexigens Anil Kumar et al. 2008 and Rhodospirillum oryzae Lakshmi et al. 2013 in a new genus, Pararhodospirillum gen. nov., as Pararhodospirillum photometricum comb. nov., Pararhodospirillum sulfurexigens comb. nov. and Pararhodospirillum oryzae comb. nov., respectively, and emended description of the genus Rhodospirillum.

The genus Rhodospirillum is represented by four species, with three of them showing phylogenetic divergence compared to the type species, Rhodospirillum rubrum. Differences in the major diagnostic properties such as internal photosynthetic membranes, quinones, fatty acids, carotenoid composition and a few other phenotypic properties warrant the reclassification of members of this genus. Resultantly, a new genus, Pararhodospirillum gen. nov., is proposed based on the analysis of nine strains to accommodate Rhodospirillum photometricum, Rhodospirillum sulfurexigens and Rhodospirillum oryzae as Pararhodospirillum photometricum comb. nov., Pararhodospirillum sulfurexigens comb. nov. and Pararhodospirillum oryzae comb. nov., respectively. The type species of the genus is Pararhodospirillum photometricum comb. nov. An emended description of the genus Rhodospirillum is also proposed.