Factors Affecting Emergency Medical Utilization After Self-harm and Effectiveness of Community-Based Suicide Prevention Provisions in Preventing Self-harm: A Nationwide Registry-Based Study in Korea.

In order to formulate and implement a community-based suicide prevention program, as well as evaluate the effectiveness of these programs, it is necessary to understand the epidemiological characteristics of self-harm. Clinical data were collected from the National Emergency Department Information System (NEDIS) data panel in Korea for patients seen after self-harm episodes. Socioeconomic factors were collected from Statistics Korea. Variables representing SP provisions (SPPs) were collected from the Korea Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Increasing the number of mental health providers resulted in lower annual emergency department visit rate after self-harm (VRSH) in the entire population, as well as in both the young and elderly populations. An increase in the mental health budget led to a significant reduction in VRSHs. However, the number of suicide prevention centers did not have any significant association with the VRSH. This study also provides substantial evidence that community-based SPPs are effective in preventing self-harm.

Brevilactibacter coleopterorum sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus, and Weissella coleopterorum sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the diving beetle Cybister lewisianus.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize two novel bacterial strains, designated as HDW11T and HDW19T, isolated from intestine samples of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus and the diving beetle Cybister lewisianus, respectively. Both isolates were Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic and non-motile. Strain HDW11T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 8 and in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl. Strain HDW19T grew optimally at 25 °C, pH 7 and in the presence of 0.3% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences revealed that strain HDW11T is a member of the genus Brevilactibacter and is closely related to Brevilactibacter flavus VG341T [with 97.9% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 79.1% average nucleotide identity (ANI)], and that strain HDW19T belongs to the genus Weissella and is closely related to W. koreensis KCTC 3621T (with 98.9% 16S rRNA sequence identity and 79.5% ANI). The major cellular fatty acids of strains HDW11T and HDW19T were C18:1 ω9c and anteiso-C15:0, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone of strain HDW11T was MK-9 (H4). The major polar lipid components of strain HDW11T were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol, and the major polar lipid component of strain HDW19T was diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content of strains HDW11T and HDW19T were 72.1 and 37.2 mol%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses suggest that strain HDW11T represents a novel species within the genus Brevilactibacter, and that strain HDW19T represents a novel species within the genus Weissella. We propose the name Brevilactibacter coleopterorum sp. nov. for strain HDW11T (=KACC 21335T=KCTC 49320T=JCM 33680T) and the name Weissella coleopterorum for strain HDW19T (=KACC 21347T=KCTC 43114T=JCM 33684T).

Tessaracoccus coleopterorum sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the dark diving beetle, Hydrophilus acuminatus.

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was used to characterize a novel bacterium, designated as strain HDW20T, isolated from the intestine of the dark diving beetle Hydrophilus acuminatus. The isolate was Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, coccus-shaped, and formed pale orange colonies. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and genome sequences showed that the isolate belonged to the genus Tessaracoccus in the phylum Actinobacteria and was closely related to T. flavescens SST-39T, T. defluvii JCM 17540T, and T. aquimaris NSG39T, with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.5 % and a highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) value of 80.6 %. The major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω9c and anteiso-C15 : 0. The main respiratory quinone was MK-9 (H4). The major polar lipid components were phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The genomic DNA G+C content was 69.0 %. The isolate contains ʟʟ-diaminopimelic acid, ʟ-alanine, and ʟ-lysine as amino acid components, and ribose, glucose, and galactose as sugar components of the cell wall peptidoglycan. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses suggested that strain HDW20T represents a novel species within the genus Tessaracoccus. We propose the name Tessaracoccus coleopterorum sp. nov. The type strain is HDW20T (=KACC 21348T=KCTC 49324T=JCM 33674T).

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics of Bloodstream Infection in Patients Under Extracorporeal Membranous Oxygenation.

BACKGROUND: Bloodstream infection (BSI) is an important complication of extracorporeal membranous oxygenation (ECMO) and a major cause of mortality. This study evaluated the epidemiological and clinical characteristics of BSI that occur during ECMO application according to microbial etiology. METHODS: Adult patients who underwent ECMO from January 2009 to December 2016 were retrospectively analyzed for BSI episodes at a 2,700-bed, tertiary center. Epidemiological and clinical characteristics and outcomes of BSI were evaluated and were compared for etiologic groups (gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi groups). Risk factors for 14-day mortality were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 1,100 patients underwent ECMO during the study period, and 65 BSI episodes occurred in 61 patients. The BSI incidence was 8.3 episodes/1,000 ECMO days, which significantly decreased over time (P = 0.03), primarily in gram-positive cocci BSI. Gram-positive cocci, gram-negative rods, and fungi accounted for 38%, 40%, and 22% of the 73 blood isolates, respectively. Baseline characteristics were comparable between groups. Catheter-related infection (CRI) and pneumonia were the most common sources of BSI; 52% of gram-positive cocci BSIs and 79% of fungi BSIs were caused by CRI, and 75% of gram-negative BSIs by pneumonia. Patients with gram-negative rods BSI died more frequently and earlier than those with other BSIs. Independent risk factors for 14-day mortality were older age and gram-negative rods BSI. CONCLUSIONS: The decreased BSI incidence during ECMO was mainly because of the decrease of gram-positive cocci BSI. The high early mortality of gram-negative rods BSI makes prevention and adequate treatment necessary.

Flaviflexus ciconiae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of the oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana.

A novel Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, coccobacillus-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain H23T48T, was isolated from the faecal sample of an oriental stork collected from the Seoul Grand Park Zoo in Seoul, Republic of Korea. Optimal growth of strain H23T48T was observed at 30-37 °C, pH 8 and with 3 % (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain H23T48T was closely related to the genus Flaviflexus, with 97.0 and 96.7 % sequence similarities to Flaviflexus salsibiostraticola EBR4-1-2T and Flaviflexus huanghaiensis H5T, respectively. Strain H23T48T possessed MK-9(H4) as the major menaquinone and C16 : 0 (42.4 %), C18 : 1 ω9c (31.3 %) and C14 : 0 (17.7 %) as the major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified lipids, six unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified glycophospholipids. The amino acid composition of the cell-wall peptidoglycan was l-alanine, l-lysine, d-glutamic acid, l-aspartic acid and glycine. The genomic G+C content of strain H23T48T is 59.5 mol% and the average nucleotide identity value between H23T48T and F. salsibiostraticola KCT C33148T (=EBR4-1-2T) is 75.5 %. Based on the obtained data, strain H23T48T represents a novel species of the genus Flaviflexus, for which the name Flaviflexus ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H23T48T (=KCTC 49253T=JCM 33282T).

Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork.

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain H21T32T, was isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana. Cells formed cocci grouped in pairs, tetrads or conglomerates, and colonies on solid medium were pale yellow. Strain H21T32T belonged to the genus Jeotgalibaca, family Carnobacteriaceae, order Lactobacillales and class Bacilli. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain showed 97.06-97.34, 96.17-96.31 and 95.93-96.07 % similarity to the type strains of Jeotgalibaca arthritidis, J. porci and J. dankookensis, respectively. The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum temperature: 30 °C), with 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum salinity: 0.5 %) and at pH 7-9 (optimum pH: 8). The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Respiratory quinones were not detected. Sugar components of the peptidoglycan were rhamnose, ribose and glucose. Amino acid components of the cell wall were l-alanine, d-glucose, l-lysine, glycine and aspartic acid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity between strain H21T32T and J. arthritidis CECT 9157T was 77.02 %, confirming that strain H21T32T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca, for which the name Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H21T32T (=KCTC 33991T=JCM 33222T).

Tabrizicola piscis sp. nov., isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean indigenous freshwater fish, Acheilognathus koreensis.

A novel Gram-negative, obligately aerobic, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium, designated strain K13M18T, was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean indigenous fish, oily bitterling (Acheilognathus koreensis). Strain K13M18T formed creamy-pink colonies on a marine agar plate. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity indicated that strain K13M18T was most closely related to Tabrizicola sediminis DRYC-M-16T, sharing 97.62 % similarity with that strain. Strain K13M18T belonged to the genus Tabrizicola, which formed a cluster with Tabrizicola aquatica RCRI19T, Tabrizicola fusiformis SY72T, Tabrizicola sediminis DRYC-M-16T and Tabrizicola alkalilacus DJCT in a phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences. Strain K13M18T grown optimally in 0 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7 and 30 °C, in a marine broth medium. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c and C18 : 1 ω6c. The major respiratory isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. Polar lipids of strain K13M18T contained phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, six unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid. Based on genome sequencing, the DNA G+C content of strain K13M18T was 64.08 mol %, with an average nucleotide identity value, calculated by a comparative genomic analysis of strains K13M18T and T. sediminis DRYC-M-16T, of 74.82 %. Based on the phylogenetic, genotypic, and phenotypic information, strain K13M18T is proposed to be a novel species of the genus Tabrizicola. The type strain is K13M18T (=KCTC 62659T=JCM 33230T).

Flammeovirga pectinis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the Korean scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, reddish-orange-coloured, gliding bacterial strain, designated L12M1T, was isolated from the gut of the Korean scallop, Patinopecten yessoensis. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain L12M1T formed a monophyletic clade with the strains in the genus Flammeovirga and showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Flammeovirga kamogawensis YS10T (98.66 %). The major cellular fatty acids of strain L12M1T were iso-C15 : 0 and C20 : 4ω6,9,12,15c. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The major polyamines were spermidine, cadaverine and the minor polyamine was putrescine. The DNA G+C content was 32.1 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, biochemical, chemotaxonomic and genotypic results indicated that strain L12M1T represents a novel species of the genus Flammeovirga, for which the name Flammeovirga pectinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L12M1T (=KCTC 62750T=JCM 33169T).

Diagnostic usefulness of differential time to positivity in neutropenic cancer patients with suspected catheter-related candidemia.

Methods for distinguishing catheter-related candidemia (CRC) from non-CRC before catheter removal remain limited. We thus evaluated the diagnostic performance of differential time to positivity (DTP) to diagnose CRC in neutropenic cancer patients with suspected CRC. Of the 35 patients enrolled, 15 (43%) with CRC (six definite and nine probable) and 17 (49%) with non-CRC were finally analyzed. Based on the receiver operating characteristic curve, the optimal cutoff value of DTP for diagnosing CRC was ≥1.45 hours with the sensitivity 80% (95% confidence interval [CI], 51-95) and specificity 100% (95% CI, 80-100), respectively.

Paracoccus tegillarcae sp. nov., isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a blood cockle (Tegillarca granosa).

A novel bacterial isolate, designated as strain BM15T, was isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a blood cockle, Tegillarca granosa, which was collected from the foreshore of Beolgyo-eup, Republic of Korea. Strain BM15T was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic and short-rod-shaped. Optimum growth of the isolate occurred at 20 °C, in the presence of 4 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain BM15T belonged to the genus Paracoccus and had more than 97 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to 'Paracoccus zhejiangensis' J6 (97.40 % similarity) and Paracoccus lutimaris HDM-25T (97.04 %). The polar lipid profile of strain BM15T comprised phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and two unidentified lipids. The predominant respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major cellular fatty acid (>20 %) was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c and/or C18 : 1 ω6c). The complete genome sequence of strain BM15T comprised 3,759,866 bp with 62.2 mol% G+C content. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analyses indicated that strain BM15T represents a novel species in the genus Paracoccus, for which the name Paracoccus tegillarcae is proposed. The type strain is BM15T (=KCTC 72032T=JCM 33289T).

Iodobacter ciconiae sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from feces of oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, non-violet-pigmented, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain H11R3T, was isolated from the feces of Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana, collected from Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that H11R3T formed a monophyletic clade with Iodobacter fluviatilisDSM 3764T, Iodobacter arcticusDSM 100243T, and Iodobacter limnosediminisDSM 103822T, with sequence similarities of 98.8, 98.6 and 98.4 %, respectively. H11R3T grew optimally at 15 °C, pH 8, with 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8), and polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, four unidentified phospholipids, and two unidentified aminophospholipids. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 and C16 : 0, and the DNA G+C content of the genome is 48.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains H11R3T and I. fluviatilis NCTC 11159T (=DSM 3764T) is 83.7 %. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain H11R3T represents a novel species of the genus Iodobacter for which the name Iodobacterciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H11R3T (=KCTC 62666T=JCM 33283T).

Undibacterium piscinae sp. nov., isolated from Korean shiner intestine.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, obligate aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, and flagellated bacterium, designated S11R28T, was isolated from the intestinal tract of a Korean shiner, Coreoleuciscus splendidus. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain S11R28T was identified as member of the genus Undibacterium in class Betaproteobacteria, and was closely related to Undibacterium parvum DSM 23061T (98.49 %). The isolate grew at 4-25 °C, pH 6-9, with 0 % (w/v) NaCl, and grew optimally at 20 °C, pH 8, in the absence of NaCl. The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 and summed features 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). The strain possessed diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine as predominant polar lipids, and ubiquinone Q-8 as a respiratory quinone. The polyamine profile composed of 2-hydroxyputrescine, spermidine, putrescine, and benzoic acid. A genomic DNA G+C content was 51.4 mol%. The average nucleotide identity between strains S11R28T and U. parvum DSM 23061T was 78.66 %. Thus, Undibacterium piscinae can be considered a novel species within the genus Undibacterium with the type strain S11R28T (=KCTC 62668T=JCM 33224T).

Tumebacillus avium sp. nov., isolated from the gut of a cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus.

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively aerobic, spore-forming, oxidase-positive, catalase- and DNase-negative, rod-shaped and motile bacterial strain, AR23208T, was isolated from the gut of a cinereous vulture (Aegypius monachus), collected at Seoul Grand Park Zoo (Republic of Korea). Strain AR23208T grew optimally at 25-30 °C, at pH 7 and in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain AR23208T shared 98.2 and 97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Tumebacillus algifaecis THMBR28T and Tumebacilluslipolyticus NIO-S10T, respectively. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain AR23208T were iso-C15 : 0, summed feature 4 (anteiso-C17 : 1 B and/or iso-C17 : 1 I) and anteiso-C15 : 0 and the primary isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, six unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid and ten unidentified lipids. The sugar components of the cell wall peptidoglycan were ribose and arabinose. The amino acids of the cell wall peptidoglycan were l-alanine, aspartic acid, meso-diaminopimelic acid, l-glutamic acid, glycine and l-lysine. The OrthoANI value based on the complete genome sequence of strain AR23208T and the closest related strain, T. algifaecis THMBR28T, was 80.4 %. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain AR23208T was 56.0 mol%. Based on the data presented in the current study, strain AR23208T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Tumebacillus, for which the name Tumebacillus avium sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AR23208T (=KCTC 33929T=JCM 32188T).

Oceanisphaera avium sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the cinereous vulture, Aegypius monachus.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-shaped, flagellated bacterial strain, designated AMac2203T, was isolated from the gut of the cinereous vulture, Aegypiusmonachus, collected from the Seoul Grand Park Zoo, Republic of Korea. Strain AMac2203T grew optimally at 15-25 °C, pH 7-8 and in the presence of 3-5 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis revealed 97.4-97.9 % and 96.9-97.3 % sequence similarities of the 16S rRNA genes to its counterparts in Oceanisphaera profunda SM1222T and Oceanisphaera ostreae T-w6T, respectively. The predominant fatty acids (>10 %) of strain AMac2203T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 0ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c, 33.6 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c, 24.5 %) and C16 : 0 (19.9 %). The primary isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-8. Polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified amino lipid and an unidentified lipid. Based on complete genome sequencing of strain AMac2203T and the closest related type strain, O. profunda, the OrthoANI value is 77.5 %, which is below the 95 % cut-off for species demarcation. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain AMac2203T is 47.1 mol%. Thus, strain AMac2203T represents a novel species candidate of the genus Oceanisphaera. We propose the name Oceanisphaeraavium sp. nov., with strain AMac2203T (=KCTC 62118T=JCM 32207T) as the type strain.

Viral community predicts the geographical origin of fermented vegetable foods more precisely than bacterial community.

Fermented foods are considered as an integral part of the global human diet. Fermented foods also have unique microbial communities such as bacteria, archaea, fungi, and viruses that are essential to the fermentation process and affect final product characteristics. Despite the ecological importance of virus, little is known about the diversity and ecological role of virus in the food ecosystem. In this study, the viral and host bacterial communities from 10 representative samples of Korean and Chinese kimchi were analyzed in triplicate using next-generation sequencing technology. The overall structures of bacterial and viral communities were dominated by lactic acid bacteria in phylum Firmicutes and bacteriophages in order Caudovirales, respectively. For the single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses, bacteriophage in family Microviridae were dominant in Korean kimchi. After correction for multiple comparisons using false discovery rate (FDR, P < 0.05), the relative abundances of 6 bacterial taxa and 33 viral host taxa at the genus level were significantly different between Korean and Chinese kimchi. Notably, in beta-diversity analysis, viral communities were much more clearly separated according to their geographical origin (PERMANOVA pseudo-F = 11.57, P < 0.001 in Bray-Curtis PCoA) than bacterial communities (pseudo-F = 4.75, P < 0.001 in unweighted UniFrac PCoA). Thus, viral metagenomics represents a potentially useful in-depth analytical method for determining the geographical origins of fermented foods.

Kushneria konosiri sp. nov., isolated from the Korean salt-fermented seafood Daemi-jeot.

A halophilic bacterial strain, X49T, was isolated from the Korean traditional salt-fermented seafood Daemi-jeot. X49T was an obligately aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, motile, oval or rod-shaped (0.5-1.0×1.2-3.2 µm) bacterium. After 2 days of growth, colonies on Marine agar medium were orange and circular with entire margins. X49T growth was detected at 10-37 °C and pH 4.5-8.5 in the presence of 0-26 % (w/v) NaCl. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain X49T was most similar to that of the type strain of Kushneria marisflavi SW32T and shared a sequence similarity of 94.7-98.6 % with type strains of species of the genus Kushneria. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C12 : 0 3OH. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q9 (93 %), and minor quinones were Q8 (4 %) and Q10 (3 %). The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylserine, two unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified phospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 59.1 mol%. The level of the ANI value between strain X49T and K. marisflavi SW32T, the most closely related species of the genus Kushneria, was 89.32 %. Based on the low ANI value, strain X49T and its reference strains represent genotypically distinct species. Based on this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, strain X49T represents a novel species of the genus Kushneria. The name Kushneria konosiri sp. nov. is proposed and the type strain is X49T (=KACC 14623T=JCM 16805T).

Paenibacillus apis sp. nov. and Paenibacillus intestini sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the honey bee Apis mellifera.

Three strains, CBM1T, CBH23 and LAH16T, belonging to the genus Paenibacillus were isolated from the midgut and hindgut of Apis mellifera. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and phenotypic characteristics, the three strains represent two novel species. Strains CBM1T and CBH23 formed a group with Paenibacillus puldeungensis CAU 9324T, and strain LAH16T belonged to the Paenibacillusamylolyticus NRRL NRS-290T subgroup of the genus Paenibacillus. The DNA G+C contents of strains CBM1T, CBH23 and LAH16T were 47.7, 48.1 and 46.1 mol%, respectively. The three strains possessed diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine as polar lipids. The predominant quinone in the three strains was MK-7, but strains CBM1T and CBH23 contained an additional major quinone, MK-8(H2). While strain LAH16T and most species of the genus Paenibacillus possessed anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids, strains CBM1T and CBH23 possessed C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C18 : 1ω7c and C19 : 0cyclo ω8c. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strains CBM1T and CBH23 and the strain LAH16T represent novel species in the genus Paenibacillus, for which the names Paenibacillus apis sp. nov. and Paenibacillus intestini sp. nov. are proposed, with CBM1T (=KCTC 33844T=JCM 31620T) and LAH16T (=KCTC 33832T=JCM 31621T) as the type strains, respectively.

Bombella apis sp. nov., an acetic acid bacterium isolated from the midgut of a honey bee.

As part of a study to investigate the microbial diversity in the intestine of Apis mellifera, we isolated strain MRM1T from the midgut. MRM1T was a Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-spore forming and rod-shaped bacteria. Creamy beige-coloured colonies were circular with entire margins in Lactobacilli MRS agar. The strain grew at 25-37 °C (optimum, 30-37 °C) and at a pH range of 4.0 to 9.0 (optimum pH, 7.0-8.5). The strain tolerated 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal growth occurred in the absence of NaCl). On the basis of the results of a phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, we determined that MRM1T represents a member of the genus Bombella with the highest sequence similarity to Bombella intestini LMG 28161T (98.8 %). The major quinone was Q10, and dominant fatty acids (>10 %) were C19 : 0cyclo ω8c (33.6 %), C16 : 0 (22.2 %), C18 : 1ω7c (15.9 %) and C14 : 0 (12.5 %). The polar lipid profile of MRM1T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of MRM1T was 59.5 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, MRM1T represents a novel species of the genus Bombella, for which the name Bombella apis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain MRM1T (=KCTC 52452T=JCM 31623T).

Microbulbifer echini sp. nov., isolated from the gastrointestinal tract of a purple sea urchin, Heliocidaris crassispina.

A novel bacterium, designated as strain AM134T, was isolated from the gut of a purple sea urchin (Heliocidaris crassispina) gathered from the coastal waters of Dokdo, Korea. Strain AM134T was Gram-stain-negative, both catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic and showed a rod-coccus cell cycle. Optimum growth occurred at 30 °C, in the presence of 2 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain AM134T belonged to the genus Microbulbifer in the family Alteromonadaceae and had high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (>97 %) with Microbulbifer epialgicus F-104T (98.9 % similarity) and Microbulbifer variabilis Ni-2088T (98.6 % similarity). The polar lipid profile of strain AM134T was composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, three unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified amino lipid and six unidentified lipids. The major respiratory quinone was identified as ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 0. The DNA-DNA hybridization analysis showed that the strain shared less than 28 % genomic relatedness with Microbulbifer epialgicus DSM 18651T (27±3 %) and Microbulbifer variabilis ATCC 700307T (15±1 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 56.1 mol%. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analyses suggest that strain AM134T represents a novel species in the genus Microbulbifer, for which the name Microbulbifer echini is proposed. The type strain is AM134T (=KACC 18258T=JCM 30400T).

Arthrobacter echini sp. nov., isolated from the gut of a purple sea urchin, Heliocidaris crassispina.

A novel strain, designated AM23T, was isolated from the gut of a purple sea urchin Heliocidaris crassispina collected from the coastal waters of the Korean island Dokdo. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain AM23T belonged to the genus Arthrobacter in the family Micrococcaceae and shared highest sequence similarity with Arthrobacter agilis DSM 20550T (98.77%). Strain AM23T was catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and grew optimally at 20 °C, in the presence of 1% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7. The isolate was a Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, strictly aerobic and coccus-shaped bacterium. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. The polar lipids of strain AM23T were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, one unidentified glycolipid and four unidentified lipids. The components of the cell-wall peptidoglycan were lysine, glutamic acid and alanine and the predominant cell-wall sugars were galactose, mannose, rhamnose and ribose. The major respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone MK-9(H2). The genomic DNA G+C content was 67.3 mol% and the DNA-DNA hybridization values showed the strain shared less than 29% genomic relatedness with A. agilis DSM 20550T. The results of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genotypic analysis indicate that strain AM23T represents a novel species in the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter echini sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AM23T (=KACC 18260T=DSM 29493T).