Comparative assessment of urinary oxidative indices in breast and colorectal cancer patients

PURPOSE

This study aimed to use non-invasive methods to assess and compare the levels of oxidative indices and non-enzymatic antioxidants in breast and colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Various studies have reported on lipid peroxidation, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) levels in the serum of cancer patients but this is the first report that highlights the significance of urinary-advanced oxidative protein product (AOPP) in cancer patients.

METHODS

The levels of advanced oxidative protein product (AOPP), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), malondialdehyde (MDA) which is a marker for lipid peroxidation and ferric-reducing antioxidant power (FRAP) were measured in urine samples of breast (n = 101) and colorectal cancer (n = 49) patients attending the Oncology Clinic, University Malaya Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur and were compared with 95 age-matched healthy individuals.

RESULTS

AOPP, H(2)O(2) and MDA levels in the urine were significantly higher in the CRC patients compared to the control subjects and breast cancer patients. In breast cancer patients, only AOPP level was elevated. FRAP level did not differ between breast and colorectal cancer patients but the levels were significantly lower compared to control subjects.

CONCLUSION

Urinary oxidative indices such as AOPP, H(2)O(2), and MDA as well as FRAP could serve as useful non-invasive oxidative stress markers in colorectal cancer but only AOPP serves as a useful urinary oxidative biomarker in breast cancer.

Integrated Diseases Surveillance Project (IDSP) through a consultant's lens

India has long experienced one of the highest burdens of infectious diseases in the world, fueled by factors including a large population, high poverty levels, poor sanitation, and problems with access to health care and preventive services. It has traditionally been difficult to monitor disease burden and trends in India, even more difficult to detect, diagnose, and control outbreaks until they had become quite large. In an effort to improve the surveillance and response infrastructure in the country, in November 2004 the Integrated Disease Surveillance Project (IDSP) was initiated with funding from the World Bank. Given the surveillance challenges in India, the project seeks to accomplish its goals through, having a small list of priority conditions, many of which are syndrome-based at community and sub center level and easily recognizable at the out patients and inpatients care of facilities at lowest levels of the health care system, a simplified battery of laboratory tests and rapid test kits, and reporting of largely aggregate data rather than individual case reporting. The project also includes activities that are relatively high technology, such as computerization, electronic data transmission, and video conferencing links for communication and training. The project is planned to be implemented all over the country in a phased manner with a stress on 14 focus states for intensive follow-up to demonstrate successful implementation of IDSP. The National Institute of Communicable Diseases chosen to provide national leadership may have to immediately address five issues. First, promote surveillance through major hospitals (both in public and private sector) and active surveillance through health system staff and community, second, build capacity for data collation, analysis, interpretation to recognize warning signal of outbreak, and institute public health action, third, develop a system which allows availability of quality test kits at district and state laboratories and/or culture facilities at identified laboratories and a national training program to build capacities for performing testing and obtaining high quality results, fourth, there must be a process established by which an appropriate quality assurance program can be implemented and fifth, encourage use of IT infrastructure for data transmission, analysis, routine communication (E-mail etc) and videoconferencing for troubleshooting, consultations and epidemiological investigations. These five activities must be addressed at the national level and cannot be left up to individual states/districts.

Development of a universal serial bus interface circuit for ion beam current integrators

A universal serial bus (USB) interface circuit has been developed to enable easy interfacing of commercial as well as custom-built ion beam current integrators to personal computer (PC) based automated experimental setups. Built using the popular PIC16F877A reduced instruction set computer and a USB-universal asynchronous receiver-transmitter/first in, first out controller, DLP2232, this USB interface circuit virtually emulates the ion beam current integrators on a host PC and uses USB 2.0 protocol to implement high speed bidirectional data transfer. Using this interface, many tedious and labor intensive ion beam irradiation and characterization experiments can be redesigned into PC based automated ones with advantages of improved accuracy, rapidity, and ease of use and control. This interface circuit was successfully used in carrying out online in situ resistivity measurement of 70 keV O(+) ion irradiated tin thin films using four probe method. In situ electrical resistance measurement showed the formation of SnO(2) phase during ion implantation.

Clostridium nitrophenolicum sp. nov., a novel anaerobic p-nitrophenol-degrading bacterium, isolated from a subsurface soil sample

An obligate anaerobic, mesophilic, motile and endospore-forming bacterium, designated 1DT, was isolated from a subsurface soil sample. The young culture of strain 1DT was Gram-positive and formed oval spores that were central in position. Based on the biochemical, chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain 1DT appears to be a member of the genus Clostridium. Strain 1DT was found to be capable of degrading p-nitrophenol (pNP) at a concentration of 0.5 mM under anaerobic conditions as revealed by HPLC analysis. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 (28.02 %), iso-C17 : 1 I/anteiso B (23.05 %) and C14 : 0 (10.02 %). The major polar lipid content was diphosphatidylglycerol. Strain 1DT showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Clostridium aciditolerans JW/YJL-B3T (98.2 %) and similarity was less for Clostridium scatologenes ATCC 25775T (95.1 %), Clostridium drakei SL1T (95.0 %) and Clostridium carboxidivorans P7T (95.0 %). Phylogenetic analysis showed that it formed a coherent cluster with the species belonging to cluster I of the genus Clostridium. The DNA G+C content was 35.5 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization analysis indicated a mean value of 36.4 % between strain 1DT and its closest relative C. aciditolerans. Several phenotypic differences from the closely related species were also revealed. On the basis of the polyphasic characteristics, strain 1DT represents a novel species of the genus Clostridium, for which the name Clostridium nitrophenolicum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1DT (=MTCC 7832T=JCM 14030T).

Planococcus columbae sp. nov., isolated from pigeon faeces

An orange-pigmented, Gram-positive bacterial strain, designated PgEx11T, was isolated from pigeon faeces. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate indicated that it had 94.2–98.2 % sequence identity with respect to those of seven recognized species of the genus Planococcus. The strain PgEx11T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 as a major cellular fatty acid and MK-7 and MK-8 as the major menaquinones. The DNA G+C content of strain PgEx11T was 50.5 mol%. Furthermore, analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated high levels of similarity with Planococcus rifietoensis (98.2 %), Planococcus maitriensis (97.6 %), Planococcus citreus (97.5 %) and Planococcus maritimus (97.1 %). However, the mean value for DNA–DNA relatedness between PgEx11T and these four closely related species was in the range 45.4–16.8 %, respectively. Moreover, strain PgEx11T also differs from its close relatives with regard to biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic differences, strain PgEx11T represents a novel species of the genus Planococcus, for which the name Planococcus columbae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PgEx11T (=MTCC 7251T=DSM 17517T).

Effluviibacter roseus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from muddy water, belonging to the family "Flexibacteraceae"

A Gram-negative bacterial isolate (designated SRC-1(T)) was isolated from an occasional drainage system and characterized by a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences affiliated strain SRC-1(T) with the family "Flexibacteraceae" of the phylum Bacteroidetes. It showed greatest sequence similarity to Pontibacter actiniarum KMM 6156(T) (95.5 %) followed by Adhaeribacter aquaticus MBRG1.5(T) (89.0 %) and Hymenobacter roseosalivarius DSM 11622(T) (88.9 %), but it differed from these micro-organisms in many phenotypic characteristics. Strain SRC-1(T) was an obligate aerobe and its cells were non-motile, irregular rods. The major fatty acids included mainly unsaturated and hydroxy fatty acids, including 17 : 1 iso I/anteiso B (36.7 %), 15 : 0 iso (15.8 %) and 17 : 0 iso 3-OH (10.3 %), and the DNA G+C content was 59.5 mol%. From the phenotypic and genotypic analyses it was clear that strain SRC-1(T) was quite different from members other genera in the family '"Flexibacteraceae". Therefore we conclude that strain SRC-1(T) represents a novel genus, for which the name Effluviibacter gen. nov., containing a single species Effluviibacter roseus sp. nov., is proposed. The type species of the genus is Effluviibacter roseus, the type strain of which is strain SRC-1(T) (=MTCC 7260(T)=DSM 17521(T)).

Agrococcus lahaulensis sp. nov., isolated from a cold desert of the Indian Himalayas

The taxonomic position of a lemon-yellow-pigmented actinobacterium, strain K22-21T, isolated from a soil sample from Lahaul-Spiti Valley in the Indian Himalayas, was determined using a polyphasic approach. The strain had phenotypic and chemical properties that were consistent with its classification in the genusAgrococcus. Alignment of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain K22-21Twith sequences fromAgrococcus jenensisDSM 9580T,Agrococcus baldriDSM 14215TandAgrococcus citreusDSM 12453Trevealed similarities of 98.5, 96.8 and 96.6 %, respectively. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain K22-21TandA. jenensiswas 55.1 %. The novel strain could be distinguished from type strains of the three species of the genusAgrococcususing DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic data. Based on these differences, strain K22-21T(=MTCC 7154T=DSM 17612T) should be classified as the type strain of a novel species ofAgrococcus, for which the nameAgrococcus lahaulensissp. nov. is proposed.

Kocuria himachalensis sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from the Indian Himalayas

A reddish orange bacterium, strain K07-05T, was isolated from soil during a study of the bacterial diversity of a cold desert of the Indian Himalayas and was studied by using a polyphasic approach. The organism had morphological and chemotaxonomic properties consistent with its classification in the genus Kocuria. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain K07-05T was closely related to Kocuria rosea DSM 20447T and Kocuria polaris MTCC 3702T (98.1 and 97.8 % sequence similarity, respectively), whereas the sequence similarity values with respect to the other Kocuria species with validly published names were between 96.4 and 94.2 %. However, the genomic relatedness, as shown by DNA–DNA hybridization, of strain K07-05T and K. polaris MTCC 3702T is 49.5 % and that with K. rosea MTCC 2522T is 24.0 %. The DNA G+C content of the strain is 75.3 mol%. The above data in combination with the phenotypic distinctiveness of K07-05T clearly indicate that the strain represents a novel species, for which the name Kocuria himachalensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K07-05T (=MTCC 7020T=DSM 44905T=JCM 13326T).

Dietzia kunjamensis sp. nov., isolated from the Indian Himalayas

A coral-red-pigmented actinobacterium, strain K30-10T, was isolated from a soil sample from a cold desert of the Indian Himalayas. Chemical and phenotypic properties of strain K30-10T were consistent with its classification in the genus Dietzia. It showed 97.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Dietzia maris MTCC 7011T; similarities to the type strains of three other species of the genus, Dietzia natronolimnaea, Dietzia psychralcaliphila and Dietzia cinnamea, were 94.4–96.0 %. The DNA–DNA relatedness between K30-10T and the closely related strain D. maris MTCC 7011T was 59.2 %. The DNA G+C content of strain K30-10T was 67.0 mol%. Based on physiological and biochemical tests and genotypic differences between strain K30-10T and its closest phylogenetic relatives, it is proposed that this strain represents a novel species, Dietzia kunjamensis sp. nov.; the type strain is K30-10T (=MTCC 7007T=DSM 44907T=JCM 13325T).

Bacillus aerius sp. nov., Bacillus aerophilus sp. nov., Bacillus stratosphericus sp. nov. and Bacillus altitudinis sp. nov., isolated from cryogenic tubes used for collecting air samples from high altitudes

Four novel bacterial strains were isolated from cryogenic tubes used to collect air samples at altitudes of 24, 28 and 41 km. The four strains, 24KT, 28KT, 41KF2aT and 41KF2bT, were identified as members of the genus Bacillus. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that three of the strains, 24KT, 28KT and 41KF2aT, are very similar to one another (>98 % sequence similarity) and show a similarity of 98–99 % with Bacillus licheniformis and 98 % with Bacillus sonorensis. DNA–DNA hybridization studies showed that strains 24KT, 28KT and 41KF2aT exhibit <70 % similarity with each other and with B. licheniformis and B. sonorensis. Differences in phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics between the novel strains and B. licheniformis and B. sonorensis further confirmed that these three isolates are representatives of three separate novel species. Strain 41KF2bT showed 100 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Bacillus pumilus, but differed from its nearest phylogenetic neighbour in a number of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics and showed only 55 % DNA–DNA relatedness. Therefore, the four isolates represent four novel species for which the names Bacillus aerius sp. nov. (type strain, 24KT=MTCC 7303T=JCM 13348T), Bacillus aerophilus sp. nov. (type strain, 28KT=MTCC 7304T=JCM 13347T), Bacillus stratosphericus sp. nov. (type strain, 41KF2aT=MTCC 7305T=JCM 13349T) and Bacillus altitudinis sp. nov. (type strain, 41KF2bT=MTCC 7306T=JCM 13350T) are proposed.

Ornithinimicrobium kibberense sp. nov., isolated from the Indian Himalayas

A buff-yellow-pigmented bacterium, strain K22-20T, which was isolated from a cold desert of the Indian Himalayas, was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Phenotypic and chemical properties of strain K22-20T were consistent with its classification in the genus Ornithinimicrobium. The major fatty acids of the strain were iso-C17 : 1 ω9c (cis-15-methyl 7-hexadecenoic acid), iso-C15 : 0 (13-methyl tetradecanoic acid), iso-C16 : 0 (14-methyl pentadecanoic acid) and iso-C17 : 0 (15-methyl hexadecanoic acid). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 71 mol%. According to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain K22-20T was closely related to Ornithinimicrobium humiphilum HKI 0124T (97.7 %). However, genomic relatedness between strain K22-20T and O. humiphilum MTCC 6406T, as revealed by DNA–DNA hybridization, was 64.5 %. Based on the polyphasic data, strain K22-20T (=MTCC 6545T=DSM 17687T=JCM 12763T) represents a novel species of the genus Ornithinimicrobium, for which the name Ornithinimicrobium kibberense sp. nov. is proposed.

Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in blood of rheumatoid arthritis patients

The main objective of the study was to assess the oxidative stress in plasma and erythrocytes of rheumatoid arthritis patients by measuring the levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), non-enzymatic antioxidants (vitamin E, C and reduced glutathione) and enzymatic antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx)]. This study has been conducted on twenty-two adult female rheumatoid arthritis patients and an equal number of healthy subjects. Elevated lipid peroxidation and multidirectional changes in the antioxidant defence system were noticed in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. The enhanced lipid peroxidation accompanied by disturbance in antioxidant status indicates that rheumatoid arthritis patients are more prone to free radical mediated oxidative damage.

Lipid peroxidation & antioxidants status in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma

BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVE

Overproduction of lipid peroxidation byproducts and disturbances in antioxidant defense system have been implicated in the pathogenesis of several diseases including oral cancer. Though several studies have been done on the level of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants in oral cancer patients, there are no reports in patients with various clinical stages of oral squamous cell carcinoma. We carried out this study to assess the level of oxidative stress in oral cancer patients with various clinical stages.

METHODS

Blood samples of 48 adult male oral cancer patients with various clinical stages of oral cancer (stage II to stage IV, 16 of each) and 16 age and sex matched healthy subjects were collected. Plasma and erythrocytes levels of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), vitamin E, reduced glutathione (GSH), and activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were assayed using specific colorimetric methods. The statistical comparisons were performed by one way analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Student's t-test.

RESULTS

Elevated lipid peroxidation and decline in non-enzymatic and enzymatic antioxidants status were noticed in oral cancer patients as compared to healthy subjects. The TBARS levels were gradually increased whereas antioxidants were gradually reduced from stage II to stage IV of oral cancer patients.

INTERPRETATION & CONCLUSION

The altered lipid peroxidation in plasma and erythrocytes of oral cancer patients may be related to their compensatory changes in the antioxidants defense system.

Viable blastocystis cysts in Scottish and Malaysian sewage samples

Blastocystis cysts were detected in 38% (47/123) (37 Scottish, 17 Malaysian) of sewage treatment works. Fifty percent of influents (29% Scottish, 76% Malaysian) and 28% of effluents (9% Scottish, 60% Malaysian) contained viable cysts. Viable cysts, discharged in effluent, provide further evidence for the potential for waterborne transmission of Blastocystis.

Pedobacter himalayensis sp. nov., from the Hamta glacier located in the Himalayan mountain ranges of India

Strain HHS 22(T) was isolated from a glacial water sample from the snout of the Hamta glacier located in the Himalayan mountain ranges of India. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses established the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Pedobacter. HHS 22(T) exhibits high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Pedobacter cryoconitis (98 %). However, the level of DNA-DNA relatedness between HHS 22(T) and P. cryoconitis is only 42 %. Furthermore, HHS 22(T) differs from P. cryoconitis and the four other recognized species of Pedobacter in a number of phenotypic characteristics. These data suggest that HHS 22(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter, for which the name Pedobacter himalayensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HHS 22(T) (= JCM 12171(T) = MTCC 6384(T)).

Marinobacter maritimus sp. nov., a psychrotolerant strain isolated from sea water off the subantarctic Kerguelen islands

A psychrotolerant, Gram-negative, motile bacterium, designated CK 47T, was isolated from sea water off the subantarctic Kerguelen islands (50° 40′ S 68° 25′ E). The isolate grew optimally at 22 °C and minimum and maximum temperature of growth were 4 and 37 °C, respectively. It required Na+ for growth and exhibited optimum growth at pH 8·5 and 4 % NaCl. It utilized hexane, heptane and petroleum ether as sole sources of carbon. Strain CK 47T had Q9 as the major respiratory quinone and C16 : 0 (21·7 %), C17 : 0 (21·3 %), C18 : 0 (5·7 %), C18 : 1 ω7c (9·0 %) and C18 : 1 ω9c (31·4 %) as predominant fatty acids. The G+C content of the DNA was 58 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that CK 47T formed a coherent cluster within the genus Marinobacter. It exhibited highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96·8 % with Marinobacter lipolyticus. However, the level of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain CK47T and M. lipolyticus was only 55 %. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, and phylogenetic and genotypic distinctiveness, strain CK 47T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Marinobacter. The name Marinobacter maritimus sp. nov. is proposed, with CK 47T (=JCM 12521T=MTCC 6519T) as the type strain.

Bacillus arsenicus sp. nov., an arsenic-resistant bacterium isolated from a siderite concretion in West Bengal, India

Strain Con a/3T is a Gram-positive, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and arsenic-resistant bacterium, which was isolated from a concretion of arsenic ore obtained from a bore-hole. The bacterium grew in the presence of 20 mM arsenate and 0·5 mM arsenite. Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell wall peptidoglycan, MK-7 was the major menaquinone, and iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 1(δ7cis) were the major fatty acids. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, strain Con a/3T was identified as a member of the genus Bacillus. It exhibited maximum similarity (97 %) at the 16S rRNA gene level with Bacillus barbaricus (DSM 14730T); however, the DNA–DNA relatedness value with B. barbaricus was 60 %. Strain Con a/3T also exhibited a number of phenotypic differences from B. barbaricus (DSM 14730T). Strain Con a/3T was therefore identified as representing a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus arsenicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Con a/3T (=MTCC 4380T=DSM 15822T=JCM 12167T).

Study of bacterial, fungal, and parasitic contaminaiton of currency notes in circulation

A total of 100 currency notes of various denominations in circulation were randomly studied for bacterial, fungal and protozoal contamination. All except four notes yielded one or more bacteria. Bacterial culture yielded single isolate in 33 notes, two in 44 notes, three in 12 notes and four in 7 notes. The predominant bacterial isolate was Bacillus sps followed by Coagulase negative Staphylococci and Micrococcus sps. Other bacteria that are either potential or confirmed pathogens included K. pneumoniae, E. coli, S. aureus, Pseudomonas sps and S. typhi. Only two notes were positive for Acid fast bacilli. 28 samples did not yield any fungal growth. Overall 118 fungal isolates were isolated, of which 34 could not be identified. All the fungi isolated were saprophytes. Saline and Iodine wet mount did not reveal any parasitic forms. We recommend that currency notes must be handled with caution.

Marinomonas ushuaiensis sp. nov., isolated from coastal sea water in Ushuaia, Argentina, sub-Antarctica

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped, psychrophilic, motile, non-spore-forming bacterium, strain U1T, was isolated from Ushuaia located at the southernmost tip of Argentina. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain U1T was found to be closely related to Marinomonas communis (DSM 5604T) and Marinomonas primoryensis (IAM 15010T). At the DNA–DNA level, however, the values for similarity were 41 and 25 %, respectively. The major fatty acids present were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c, iso-C17 : 1 and C18 : 1 ω7c and the G+C content of the DNA was 43·6 mol%. All of the above characteristics support the affiliation of strain U1T to the genus Marinomonas. Furthermore, on the basis of phenotypic features, chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence, it appears that strain U1T is distinct from the four Marinomonas species with validly published names. Strain U1T, therefore, represents a novel species, for which the name Marinomonas ushuaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of M. ushuaiensis is U1T (=MTCC 6143T=DSM 15871T=JCM 12170T).

Altered pattern of lipids in plasma and erythrocyte membranes of rheumatoid arthritis patients

The present study has investigated the levels of lipids, lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL and LDL cholesterol), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and vitamin E in plasma and erythrocyte membranes of twenty two clinically diagnosed adult rheumatoid arthritis patients and an equal number of age matched healthy subjects. The levels of lipids and lipoprotein cholesterol were markedly reduced in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as compared to healthy subjects. The altered lipid pattern may be related to decreased lipoprotein cholesterol, fatty acids and impairment in antioxidant defence mechanism.

Planococcus stackebrandtii sp. nov., isolated from a cold desert of the Himalayas, India

The taxonomic position of a bacterium isolated from a cold desert of the Himalayas, India, was analysed by using a polyphasic approach. The isolated strain, designated K22-03T, had phenotypic characteristics that matched those of the genus Planococcus and it represents a novel species. The almost-complete 16S rRNA gene sequence (1464 bases) of the novel strain was compared with those of previously studied Planococcus type strains and confirmed that the strain belongs to the genus Planococcus. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain K22-03T differs from all other species of Planococcus by at least 2·5 %. DNA–DNA hybridization showed that it had low genomic relatedness with Planomicrobium mcmeekinii (MTCC 3704T, 23 %), Planococcus psychrophilus (MTCC 3812T, 61 %), Planococcus antarcticus (MTCC 3854T, 45 %) and Planomicrobium okeanokoites (MTCC 3703T, 51 %), the four species with which it was most closely related based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis (97–97·5 % similarity). Therefore, strain K22-03T should be recognized as a novel species, for which the name Planococcus stackebrandtii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K22-03T (=MTCC 6226T=DSM 16419T=JCM 12481T).