Association between serum baseline C1q and IgG levels and the efficacy of combined immunotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: To assess the clinical value of serum complement component 1q (C1q) and immunoglobulin G (IgG) levels in predicting the response to combined immunotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective study of 44 patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who received combined immunotherapy in our hospital. Serum IgG and C1q levels were collected before and three weeks after immunotherapy treatment, together with other data on clinical and demographic characteristics. RESULTS: Twenty seven patients (61.4%) showed partial response (PR), 13 (29.5%) stable disease (SD), and 4 (9.1%) progressive disease (PD). None of the patients presented complete response (CR). The PR group displayed lower IgG and higher C1q levels both before and after immunotherapy than patients showing SD or PD. The IgG reduction (59.3%) and C1q increment (70.3%) in the PR group three weeks post-treatment were significantly larger than those in patients showing SD or PD. Moreover, the pretreatment C1q level and the post-treatment change of C1q levels were strongly associated with the immunotherapy response. CONCLUSIONS: High pre- and post-treatment C1q levels and reduced post-treatment IgG levels correlate with efficacy of combined immunotherapy in patients with esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Serum baseline C1q level may predict immunotherapy response in such patients.

Undibacterium arcticum sp. nov., isolated from arctic alpine soil.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile rod-shaped bacterium, designated 6-67T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Longyearbyen, Svalbard. Its taxonomic position was investigated by genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses. This isolate grew at 4-28 °C (optimum, 20 °C), at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-0.2 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain 6-67T contained Q-8 as a major respiratory quinone and MK-7 as a minor component; the major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified phospholipids and one unidentified aminophospholipid. The polyamines were putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the novel strain 6-67T belonged to the family Oxalobacteraceae within the class Betaproteobacteria. The DNA G+C content of strain 6-67T was 56.21 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain 6-67T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Undibacterium, for which the name Undibacterium arcticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 6-67T (=CCTCC AB 2015162T=KCTC 42986T).

Sphingoaurantiacus polygranulatus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from high-Arctic tundra soil, and emended descriptions of the genera Sandarakinorhabdus, Polymorphobacter and Rhizorhabdus and the species Sandarakinorhabdus limnophila, Rhizorhabdus argentea and Sphingomonas wittichii.

An orange, Gram-reaction-negative and aerobic bacterium, designated MC 3718T, was isolated from a tundra soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard archipelago, Norway (78° N). The cells were motile with either a polar or a subpolar flagellum and reproduced by budding or asymmetrical cell division. Growth occurred at 4-37 °C (optimum 28-30 °C) and at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum pH 9.0). Many cells accumulated poly-ß-hydroxybutyrate granules and contained a single large polyphosphate granule at a pole or in the middle of the cell. Cell walls contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid, and ubiquinone 10 was the main respiratory quinone. Strain MC 3718T contained summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c; 29.49 %), summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 29.38 %), C17 : 1ω6c (10.15 %), C14 : 0 2-OH (9.05 %) and C16 : 0 (6.84 %) as the major cellular fatty acids. The main polar lipids were two sphingoglycolipids, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, three unknown phospholipids and two unknown polar lipids. Carotenoids were detected. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MC 3718T belonged to the family Sphingomonadaceae. The DNA G+C content was 67.2 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain MC 3718T is considered to represent a novel genus and species in the family Sphingomonadaceae, for which the name Sphingoaurantiacus polygranulatus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Sphingoaurantiacus polygranulatus is MC 3718T ( = CCTCC AB 2014274T = LMG 28636T). Emended descriptions of the genera Sandarakinorhabdus, Polymorphobacter and Rhizorhabdus and the species Sandarakinorhabdus limnophila, Rhizorhabdus argentea and Sphingomonas wittichii are also provided.

Pseudorhodobacter collinsensis sp. nov., isolated from a till sample of an icecap front.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic and non-motile strain, designated 4-T-34T, was isolated from a till sample of Collins icecap front, Antarctica, and its taxonomic position was investigated by genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analysis. The isolate grew at 4-30 °C (optimum 20-25 °C), at pH 6.0-10.0 and with 0-1.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 4-T-34T belonged to the genus Pseudorhodobacter, with the closest relatives being Pseudorhodobacter wandonensis WT-MW11T (96.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Pseudorhodobacter antarcticus ZS3-33T (96.8 %), Pseudorhodobacter ferrugineus IAM 12616T (96.5 %) and Pseudorhodobacter aquimaris HDW-19T (95.4 %). Strain 4-T-34T contained Q-10 as the only ubiquinone and C18 : 1ω7c as the major fatty acid. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, two unidentified aminophospholipids and two unidentified phospholipids. The DNA G+C content of strain 4-T-34T was 61 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain 4-T-34T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Pseudorhodobacter, for which the name Pseudorhodobacter collinsensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 4-T-34T ( = CCTCC AB 2014005T = LMG 28256T).

Chryseobacterium frigidum sp. nov., isolated from high-Arctic tundra soil, and emended descriptions of Chryseobacterium bernardetii and Chryseobacterium taklimakanense.

A yellow, Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated D07T, was isolated from a tundra soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard archipelago, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 4-37 °C (optimum 28-30 °C) and at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0-8.0). The strain produced flexirubin-type pigments. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain D07T belonged to the genus Chryseobacterium in the family Flavobacteriaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 93.83 and 93.31 % sequence similarity, respectively, to those of Chryseobacterium contaminans C26T and Chryseobacterium taklimakanense X-65T. Strain D07T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 (25.91 %), iso-C15 : 0 (16.05 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (9.64 %), iso-C16 : 0 (9.42 %) and iso-C14 : 0 (7.36 %) as the predominant cellular fatty acids, MK-6 as the major respiratory quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, five unknown aminolipids and three unknown lipids as the main polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 49.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain D07T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacterium frigidum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D07T ( = CCTCC AB 2011160T = KCTC 42897T). Emended descriptions of Chryseobacterium bernardetii and Chryseobacterium taklimakanense are also provided.

Flavobacterium collinsense sp. nov., isolated from a till sample of an Antarctic glacier.

A novel rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, non-gliding and aerobic strain surrounded by a multilayer capsule, designated 4-T-2T, was isolated from a till sample of Collins glacier front, Antarctica. The bacterium formed yellow, circular, convex and smooth colonies. Growth occurred at 4-28 °C (optimum18-20 °C), at pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum pH 9.0) and with 0-1 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain 4-T-2T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium. Strain 4-T-2T shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strain of Flavobacterium algicola (96.7 %). The DNA G+C content of strain 4-T-2T was 36.2 mol%. The only menaquinone was MK-6. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C16 : 0 and summed feature 9 (comprising iso-C17 : 1ω9c and/or 10-methyl C16 : 0). Polar lipid profile consisted phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid and one unidentified lipid. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain 4-T-2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium collinsense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 4-T-2T ( = CCTCC AB 2014004T = LMG 28257T).

Roseomonas arcticisoli sp. nov., isolated from Arctic tundra soil.

A pale pink, Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated MC 3624T, was isolated from a tundra soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 25-30 °C) and at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 8.0). The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0 (17.7 %), C18 : 1ω7c 11-methyl (13.4 %), summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) (10.1 %) and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c) (38.3 %). The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10, and the main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and an unidentified aminolipids. The DNA G+C content was 68.9 mol%. Carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series were produced. The nearest neighbour to the novel strain was Roseomonas wooponensis WW53T (94.36 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain MC 3624T represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas arcticisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MC 3624T (=CCTCC AB 2014278T=LMG 28637T).

Roseomonas arctica sp. nov., isolated from arctic glacial foreland soil.

A novel psychrotolerant bacterium, designed strain M6-79T, was isolated from an arctic glacial foreland soil sample collected from Ny-Ålesund in the Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. Cells of strain M6-79T were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and produced a red-pigment. Strain M6-79T was strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-endospore-forming, oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain M6-79T was phylogenetically related to Roseomonas aquatica TR53T (95.2 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Roseomonas lacus TH-G33T (94.3 %), 'Roseomonas sediminicola' FW-3 (94.3 %), Roseomonas terrae DS-48T (94.1 %) and Roseomonas soli 5N26T (94.1 %). The unique isoprenoid quinone detected in strain M6-79T was Q-9. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, one unknown aminolipid and one unknown lipid. Strain M6-79T possessed C18 : 1ω7c, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) as the predominant fatty acids, and the DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol%. Combined data from phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic studies revealed that strain M6-79T represents a novel species of the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas arctica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain M6-79T ( = CCTCC AB 2013101T = LMG 28251T).

Parablastomonas arctica gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from high Arctic glacial till.

A pale yellow, aerobic bacterium, strain M0-2(T), was isolated from a till sample. Its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile. Cells reproduced by budding or asymmetrical cell division. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain M0-2(T) belonged to the family Sphingomonadaceae and was closely related to species of the genera Novosphingobium (96.4-92.0%) and Blastomonas (94.6%), Sphingopyxis witflariensis W-50(T) (94.0%), Sphingosinicella soli KSL-125(T) (93.6%) and Sphingomonas astaxanthinifaciens TDMA-17(T) (93.5%). Ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) was the predominant respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (comprising C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c, 31.9%), summed feature 3 (comprising C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c, 19.8%) and C14:0 2-OH (8.9%). Sphingoglycolipid, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine were the major polar lipids. Spermidine was the major polyamine observed in the cell. The genomic DNA G+C content was 47.5 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic relationships and the low DNA G+C content compared with most other genera of the family Sphingomonadaceae, combined with phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain M0-2(T) is considered to represent a novel species in a new genus in the family Sphingomonadaceae for which the name Parablastomonas arctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Parablastomonas arctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is M0-2(T) ( =CCTCC AB 2012968(T) = NRRL B-59110(T)).

Pedobacter ardleyensis sp. nov., isolated from soil in Antarctica.

A red-pigmented, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain R2-28T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Ardley Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica, and was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The organism grew optimally at 18 °C in TSB. On the basis of phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain R2-28T was most closely related to the genus Pedobacter of the family Sphingobacteriaceae. The highest levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were found with respect to Pedobacter alluvionis NWER-II11T (95.6 %) and Pedobacter terrae DS-57T (95.2 %). The DNA G+C content was 39.9 mol%, and MK-7 was the only respiratory quinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and a sphingolipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c). These chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data supported the allocation of strain R2-28T to the genus Pedobacter. Additionally, the results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain R2-28T from species of the genus Pedobacter with validly published names. Therefore, strain R2-28T represents a novel species within the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter ardleyensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R2-28T ( = CCTCC AB 2013365T = LMG 28255T).

Roseovarius antarcticus sp. nov., isolated from a decayed whale bone.

A pale yellow, ovoid- to rod-shaped and budding bacterium, designated strain M-S13-148(T), was isolated from a decayed bone of whale from the eastern coast of King George Island, South Shetlands, Antarctica. Strain M-S13-148(T) exhibited motility, aerobic growth and was Gram-stain-negative. Strain M-S13-148(T) was positive for catalase and oxidase. Growth was observed at pH 6.0-9.0, at 4-42 °C and with 0-14% (w/v) NaCl. The novel strain contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown phospholipid as the major polar lipids. The dominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), (58.8%) and C16 : 0 (11.7%). The respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the DNA G + C content was 60.9 mol%. Neighbour-joining, maximum-likelihood and minimum-evolution phylogenetic trees, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain M-S13-148(T) belonged to the genus Roseovarius and was most closely related to Roseovarius nanhaiticus CCTCC AB 208317(T) (93.72% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with respect to members of the genus Roseovarius ranged from 91.81 to 93.94%. On the basis of phenotypic, molecular and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain M-S13-148 is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Roseovarius, for which the name Roseovarius antarcticus sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is M-S13-148(T) ( = CCTCC AB2014072(T) = LMG 28420(T)).

Risungbinella pyongyangensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a mesophilic member of the family Thermoactinomycetaceae isolated from an agricultural soil sample.

A mesophilic strain, designed MC 210T, was isolated from an agricultural soil sample from Pyongyang, Democratic People's Republic of Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. The novel strain grew well on PYI medium, and no diffusible pigments were produced. The optimum temperature for growth was 37 °C. The aerial mycelium was well developed, but not fragmented. The strain was Gram-reaction-positive and non-motile and formed endospores on the aerial mycelium. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain MC 210T belongs to the family Thermoactinomycetaceae. Strain MC 210T showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 92.90 and 92.54% to the type strains of Geothermomicrobium terrae and Shimazuella kribbensis, respectively. The cell wall of strain MC 210T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glutamic acid and alanine as the diagnostic amino acids, and whole-cell hydrolysates contained glucose, arabinose and galactose. Strain MC 210T contained anteiso-C13 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, C14 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C13 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unknown aminophospholipids, an unknown aminolipid, three unknown phospholipids and five unknown polar lipids. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7.The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.1 mol%. On the basis of our phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain MC 210T is considered to represent a novel genus and species, for which we propose the name Risungbinella pyongyangensis gen. nov., sp. nov., in the family Thermoactinomycetaceae. The type strain of Risungbinella pyongyangensis is MC 210T (CCTCC AA 2013021T = NRRL B-59118T).

Luteolibacter arcticus sp. nov., isolated from high Arctic tundra soil, and emended description of the genus Luteolibacter.

A pale yellow, Gram-reaction-negative, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, designated MC 3726T, was isolated from a tundra soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway (78 °N). Growth occurred at 4-37 °C (optimum 25-30 °C) and at pH 5.0-9.0 (optimum pH 8.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain MC 3726T belonged to the genus Luteolibacter in the family Verrucomicrobiaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 93.18, 92.54 and 92.44 % similarity to those of Luteolibacter cuticulihirudinis E100T, Luteolibacter pohnpeiensis A4T-83T and Luteolibacter yonseiensis EBTL01T, respectively. The cell wall of strain MC 3726T contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic amino acid. Strain MC 3726T contained iso-C14:0 (38.28 %), C16:0 (15.89 %), C16:1ω9c (14.24 %), iso-C16:0 (10.42 %) and anteiso-C15:0 (5.75 %) as the predominant cellular fatty acids, MK-9 and MK-10 as the major respiratory quinones, and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol as the main polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 60.7 mol %. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain MC 3726T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Luteolibacter, for which the name Luteolibacter arcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MC 3726T ( = CCTCC AB 2014275T = LMG 28638T). An emended description of the genus Luteolibacter is also provided, along with emended descriptions of Luteolibacter cuticulihirudinis, Luteolibacter yonseiensis and Luteolibacter pohnpeiensis.

Comparative genomic analysis of Klebsiella pneumonia (LCT-KP214) and a mutant strain (LCT-KP289) obtained after spaceflight.

BACKGROUND: With the development of space science, it is important to analyze the relationship between the space environment and genome variations that might cause phenotypic changes in microbes. Klebsiella pneumoniae is commonly found on the human body and is resistant to multiple drugs. To study space-environment-induced genome variations and drug resistance changes, K. pneumoniae was carried into outer space by the Shenzhou VIII spacecraft. RESULTS: The K. pneumoniae strain LCT-KP289 was selected after spaceflight based on its phenotypic differences compared to the ground-control strain. Analysis of genomic structural variations revealed one inversion, 25 deletions, fifty-nine insertions, two translocations and six translocations with inversions. In addition, 155 and 400 unique genes were observed in LCT-KP214 and LCT-KP289, respectively, including the gene encoding dihydroxyacetone kinase, which generates the ATP and NADH required for microbial growth. Furthermore, a large number of mutant genes were related to transport and metabolism. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that most genes in these two strains had a dN/dS value greater than 1, indicating that the strain diversity increased after spaceflight. Analysis of drug-resistance phenotypes revealed that the K. pneumoniae strain LCT-KP289 was resistant to sulfamethoxazole, whereas the control strain, LCT-KP214, was not; both strains were resistant to benzylpenicillin, ampicillin, lincomycin, vancomycin, chloramphenicol and streptomycin. The sulfamethoxazole resistance may be associated with sequences in Scaffold7 in LCT-KP289, which were not observed in LCT-K214; this scaffold contained the gene sul1. In the strain LCT-KP289, we also observed a drug-resistance integron containing emrE (confers multidrug resistance) and ant (confers resistance to spectinomycin, streptomycin, tobramycin, kanamycin, sisomicin, dibekacin, and gentamicin). The gene ampC (confers resistance to penicillin, cephalosporin-ii and cephalosporin-i) was present near the integron. In addition, 30 and 26 drug-resistance genes were observed in LCT-KP289 and LCT-KP214, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Comparison of a K. pneumoniae strain obtained after spaceflight with the ground-control strain revealed genome variations and phenotypic changes and elucidated the genomic basis of the acquired drug resistance. These data pave the way for future studies on the effects of spaceflight.

Psychroglaciecola arctica gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from Arctic glacial foreland soil.

A novel pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic strain, designated M6-76T, was isolated from glacial foreland soil near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. Cells of strain M6-76T were rod-shaped (0.4-0.7×0.8-2.0 µm), Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and motile by a single polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 4-28 °C (optimum 18 °C) and at pH 5-8 (optimum pH 7). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain M6-76T belonged to the family Methylobacteriaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the novel strain showed 94.6%, 94.0% and 93.9% sequence similarity to those of Methylobacterium salsuginis MRT, Methylobacterium organophilum ATCC 27886T and Microvirga subterranea FaiI4T, respectively. Cells could utilize methanol as the sole source of carbon and energy but not formate. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and two unknown polar lipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c), summed feature 3 (C16:1ω6c and/or C16:1ω7c) and C16:0. The DNA G+C content was 67 mol%. The polyphasic data presented in this study indicated that the isolate should be classified as representing a novel species of a new genus within the family Methylobacteriaceae. The name Psychroglaciecola arctica gen. nov., sp. nov. is therefore proposed for the isolate. The type strain of the type species is M6-76T (=CCTCC AB 2013033T=KACC 17684T).

Hymenobacter arcticus sp. nov., isolated from glacial till.

A novel, red-pink-pigmented strain, designated R2-4(T), was isolated from a till sample near Ny-Alesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. Cells were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative and rod-shaped. Growth occurred at 4-30 °C (optimum, 20-22 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-1% NaCl added to R2A agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R2-4(T) belonged to the genus Hymenobacter. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain R2-4(T) and the type strains of related species of the genus ranged from 94.51 to 96.05%. Strain R2-4(T) contained iso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0), summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)ω6c and/or C(16 : 1)ω7c), summed feature 4 (C(17 : 1) anteiso B and/or iso I) and C(16 : 1)ω5c as the major cellular fatty acids, MK-7 as the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminophospholipids, unknown aminolipids and unknown lipids as the main polar lipids. The polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The DNA G+C content of strain R2-4(T) was 61.6 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain R2-4(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter arcticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R2-4(T) ( = CCTCC AB 2012104(T) = KACC 16881(T)).

Spirosoma arcticum sp. nov., isolated from high Arctic glacial till.

A novel orange-pigmented strain, designated R2-35(T), was isolated from a glacier till near Ny-Alesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. The cells were aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped and sometimes filamentous. Growth occurred at 4-28 °C (optimum, 20 °C), at pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and with 0-1% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R2-35(T) belonged to the genus Spirosoma with sequence similarity to related species ranging from 91.65 to 95.19%. Strain R2-35(T) contained C16 : 0 (10.7%), C18 : 0 (9.2%), C16 : 1ω5c (16.5%) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) (24.6%) as the major cellular fatty acids, MK-7 as the major respiratory quinone, and phosphatidylethanolamine as the main polar lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain R2-35(T) was 54.9 mol%. On the basis of phylogenetic, physiological and chemotaxonomic data, strain R2-35(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma arcticum sp. nov., is proposed, The type strain is R2-35(T) ( = CCTCC AB 2012849(T) = LMG 28141(T)).

Pedobacter huanghensis sp. nov. and Pedobacter glacialis sp. nov., isolated from Arctic glacier foreland.

Two psychrotolerant, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strains, designed M1-27(T) and 8-24(T), were subjected to polyphasic taxonomic studies. Strain M1-27(T) was isolated from the foreland of the Midtre Lovénbreen glacier, whereas strain 8-24(T) was isolated from the foreland of the Austre Lovénbreen glacier. Both were Arctic glacier forelands, near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. Strains M1-27(T) and 8-24(T) exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 91.0-96.0% and 92.3-96.7%, respectively, to type strains of recognized species of the genus Pedobacter. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the two strains were grouped with members of the genus Pedobacter, but represented distinct taxa. Both strains contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The DNA G+C contents of strains M1-27(T) and 8-24(T) were 43.8% and 39.4%, respectively. The phenotypic characteristics, biochemical properties and polygenetic analysis, clearly indicated that strains M1-27(T) ( = CCTCC AB 2012936(T) = LMG 28205(T)) and 8-24(T) ( = CCTCC AB 2012941(T) = NRRL B-59993(T)) represent two novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the names Pedobacter huanghensis sp. nov. and Pedobacter glacialis sp. nov., respectively, are proposed.

Terrimonas arctica sp. nov., isolated from Arctic tundra soil.

A novel, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated R9-86(T), was isolated from tundra soil collected near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 4-28 °C (optimum, 22-25 °C) and at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0). Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain R9-86(T) belonged to the genus Terrimonas in the family Chitinophagaceae. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain R9-86(T) and the type strains of species of the genus Terrimonas with validly published names ranged from 93.7 to 95.0%. Strain R9-86(T) contained iso-C(15:1)-G (25.7%), iso-C(15:0) (24.5%), iso-C(17:0)-3OH (18.3%) and summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c, 8.7%) as its major cellular fatty acids; phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown polar lipid as its main polar lipids, and MK-7 as its predominant respiratory quinone. The DNA G+C content was 48.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain R9-86(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Terrimonas, for which the name Terrimonas arctica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R9-86(T) ( =CCTCC AB 2011004(T) =NRRL B-59114(T)).

Desertibacter xinjiangensis sp. nov., isolated from the soil of a Euphrates poplar forest, and emended description of the genus Desertibacter.

A pale pink and strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain M71(T), was isolated from the soil of a Euphrates poplar forest in Xingjiang, PR China. Cells of the strain were Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum pH 7.0-8.0) and with 0-2.0% NaCl (w/v, optimum 0%). Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, indicated that strain M71(T) belongs to the genus Desertibacter in the family Rhodospirillaceae. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of this strain showed 96.2% sequence similarity with the type strain of Desertibacter roseus 2262(T). The respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the predominant cellular fatty acids were C(18:1)ω7c (53.2%), C(16:1)ω5c (11.0%), summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c, 10.2%) and C(16:0) (8.5%). The DNA G+C content was 71.2 mol% (HPLC). The strain contained phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylethanolamine as the predominant polar lipids. On the basis of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain M71(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Desertibacter, for which the name Desertibacter xinjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is M71(T) ( =CCTCC AB 209291(T) =CIP 110127(T)).