Characterization of clinical isolates previously identified as Oerskovia turbata: proposal of Cellulosimicrobium funkei sp. nov. and emended description of the genus Cellulosimicrobium

Cellulamides: A New Family of Marine-Sourced Linear Peptides from the Underexplored Cellulosimicrobium Genus

Bioprospecting the secondary metabolism of underexplored Actinomycetota taxa is a prolific route to uncover novel chemistry. In this work, we report the isolation, structure elucidation, and bioactivity screening of cellulamides A and B (1 and 2), two novel linear peptides obtained from the culture of the macroalga-associated Cellulosimicrobium funkei CT-R177. The host of this microorganism, the Chlorophyta Codium tomentosum, was collected in the northern Portuguese coast and, in the scope of a bioprospecting study focused on its associated actinobacterial community, strain CT-R177 was isolated, taxonomically identified, and screened for the production of antimicrobial and anticancer compounds. Dereplication of a crude extract of this strain using LC-HRMS(/MS) analysis unveiled a putative novel natural product, cellulamide A (1), that was isolated following mass spectrometry-guided fractionation. An additional analog, cellulamide B (2) was obtained during the chromatographic process and chemically characterized. The chemical structures of the novel linear peptides, including their absolute configurations, were elucidated using a combination of HRMS, 1D/2D NMR spectroscopy, and Marfey's analysis. Cellulamide A (1) was subjected to a set of bioactivity screenings, but no significant biological activity was observed. The cellulamides represent the first family of natural products reported from the Actinomycetota genus Cellulosimicrobium, showcasing not only the potential of less-explored taxa but also of host-associated marine strains for novel chemistry discovery.

Bioinformatic Approach to Investigate Larvae Gut Microbiota Cellulosimicrobium protaetiae via Whole-Genome Analysis

The insect larvae Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis have recently been researched as a nutritious food source and concentrated on their environmental impacts. Therefore, their gut microbiota has been studied to elucidate their effects and roles on the environment. Of the abundance of bacterial genus identified based on the 16S rRNA genes from isolates of the gut of insect larva Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis, six of the prominent genus were identified as Bacillus (40.2%), Cellulosimicrobium (33.5%), Microbacterium (2.8%), Streptomyces (3%), Krasilnikoviella (17.5%), and Isoptericola (3%) and their similarity of 16S rRNA blast changed from 99 to 100%. Cellulosimicrobium protaetiae BI34T showed strong denitrification and cellulose degradation activity. The newly complete genome sequence of BI34T and the genomes of five species was published in the genus Cellulosimicrobium with emphasis on the denitrification and secondary metabolite genes. In order to elucidate the relationship between the strain BI34T and the host insect larva, the whole-genome sequence was analyzed and compared with the genomes of five strains in the same genus, Cellulosimicrobium, loaded from GenBank. Our results revealed the composition of the gut microbiota of the insect larvae and analyzed the genomic data for the new strain to predict its characteristics and to understand the nitrogen metabolism pathway.

Bacterial community and culturable actinomycetes of Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens rhizosphere

During the course of development plants form tight interactions with microorganisms inhabiting their root zone. In turn, rhizosphere bacteria, in particular members of the phylum Actinomycetota, positively influence the host plant by increasing access to essential nutrients and controlling the pathogenic microorganism's population. Herein, we report the characterisation of the rhizosphere associated actinobacteria community of Phyllostachys viridiglaucescens growing in the Nikitsky Botanical Garden (Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine). The overall composition of the bacterial community was elucidated by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing followed by isolation of culturable microorganisms with the focus on actinomycetes. The metagenomic approach revealed that the representatives of phylum Actinomycetota (57.1%), Pseudomonadota (20.0%), and Acidobacteriota (12.2%) were dominating in the studied microbiome with Ilumatobacter (phylum Actinomycetota) (13.1%) being the dominant genus. Furthermore, a total of 159 actinomycete isolates, belonging to eight genera of Streptomyces, Micromonospora, Nonomuraea, Arthrobacter, Actinomadura, Kribbella, Cellulosimicrobium, and Mumia, were recovered from P. viridiglaucescens rhizosphere. The isolated species were tested for antimicrobial activity. 64% of isolates were active against at least one bacterial test-culture and 7.5% against fungal test culture. In overall, the rhizosphere bacterial communities act as a great source of actinobacterial diversity with the high potential for production of new bioactive compounds.

Comparative genomic analysis of the Dietzia genus: an insight into genomic diversity, and adaptation

Dietzia strains are widely distributed in the environment, presenting an opportunistic role, and some species have undetermined taxonomic characteristics. Here, we propose the existence of errors in the classification of species in this genus using comparative genomics. We performed ANI, dDDH, pangenome and genomic plasticity analyses better to elucidate the phylogenomic relationships between Dietzia strains. For this, we used 55 genomes of Dietzia downloaded from public databases that were combined with a newly sequenced. Sequence analysis of a phylogenetic tree based on genome similarity comparisons and dDDH, ANI analyses supported grouping different Dietzia species into four distinct groups. The pangenome analysis corroborated the classification of these groups, supporting the idea that some species of Dietzia could be reassigned in a possible classification into three distinct species, each containing less variability than that found within the global pangenome of all strains. Additionally, analysis of genomic plasticity based on groups containing Dietzia strains found differences in the presence and absence of symbiotic Islands and pathogenic islands related to their isolation site. We propose that the comparison of pangenome subsets together with phylogenomic approaches can be used as an alternative for the classification and differentiation of new species of the genus Dietzia.

Safety evaluation of the food enzyme endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase from the non-genetically modified Cellulosimicrobium funkei strain AE-TN

The food enzyme endo-1,3(4)-β-glucanase (3-(1-3;1-4)-β-d-glucan 3(4)-glucanohydrolase; EC 3.2.1.6) is produced with the non-genetically modified Cellulosimicrobium funkei strain AE-TN by Amano Enzyme Inc. The food enzyme was shown to contain viable cells of the production strain, which belongs to a species that has been implicated in opportunistic infections in humans. The food enzyme is intended to be used in baking processes and yeast processing. Dietary exposure to the food enzyme total organic solids (TOS) was estimated to be up to 1.75 mg TOS/kg body weight (bw) per day in European populations. Genotoxicity tests did not raise a safety concern. The systemic toxicity was assessed by means of a repeated dose 90-day oral toxicity study in rats. The Panel identified a no observed adverse effect level of 1,788 mg TOS/kg bw per day, the highest dose tested, which, when compared with the estimated dietary exposure, resulted in a margin of exposure of at least 1,022. A search for the similarity of the amino acid sequence of the food enzyme to known allergens was made and no match was found. The Panel considered that, under the intended conditions of use, the risk of allergic reactions by dietary exposure cannot be excluded, but the likelihood for this to occur is low. However, due to the presence of viable cells of the production strain in the food enzyme, the Panel concluded that the food enzyme cannot be considered safe.

Microbiological Safety of Cut Melons Sold in Portuguese Retail Markets: A Pilot Study

Due to the increasing consciousness of a healthy diet and pursuit of convenience among consumers, the market for fresh fruit is on the rise, and the melon is among the most welcome of fruits for its sensory attributes and nutritional properties. Consumption safety of cut fruit remains an issue of concern that may affect public health. This study aimed to perform the microbiological characterisation of a melon, Cucumis melo L. var. “Piel de Sapo”, cut by retailers, wrapped in plastic cling film and kept at room temperature in local fruit shops. In addition, the possible transfer of relevant foodborne pathogens, during slicing, from the peel to the interior of the melon, and bacterial growth, were also evaluated when the melon slices were stored at abusive temperatures for 2 days. In this pilot study, a low number of samples were characterised microbiologically (26 cut melons), and some isolates were identified by 16S rRNA sequencing. No Listeria spp. or Salmonella spp. were detected in any of the samples, while Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus were present in four and six out of twenty-six samples, respectively. Following artificial contamination of melons with cocktails of Salmonella spp., E. coli and Listeria monocytogenes, it was observed that, despite the smaller number of L. monocytogenes recovered, all the pathogens were transferred from the contaminated peels to the interior of the melons. Furthermore, over storage time, significant differences were observed (p < 0.05) between the counts obtained from melon slices immediately after cutting (0 h), and after 24 and 48 h at 20 °C, with an increase of about 4 log CFU/g in all the pathogens. In conclusion, some cut melons classified as microbiologically unacceptable or unsatisfactory are being sold in local fruit shops in the Porto Metropolitan Area, Portugal. Although absent in the samples analysed, Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes, if present, can be transferred from the outside to the inside of the fruit by the cutting blade and, if not consumed immediately and stored at abusive temperatures, this ready-to-eat product poses a risk of infection. This pilot study, performed for the first time in Portugal under these conditions, clearly demonstrates the need for education campaigns to alert local sellers and consumers of the risk posed by cut melons.

Cellulosimicrobium protaetiae sp. nov., isolated from the gut of the larva of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis

A Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, yellow-pigmented, non-motile, non-flagellated, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated BI34T, was isolated from the gut of the larva of Protaetia brevitarsis seulensis. Strain BI34T grew at 15–40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.5–9.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and in the presence of 0–7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 %). Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain BI34T belonged to the phylum Actinobacteria and was closely related to Cellulosimicrobium funkei NBRC 104118T (99.3 %), Cellulosimicrobium cellulans NBRC 15516T (99.1 %), Cellulosimicrobium composti BIT-GX5T (99.0 %), Cellulosimicrobium fucosivorans SE3T (99.0 %), Cellulosimicrobium marinum NBRC 110994T (98.4 %) and Cellulosimicrobium terreum DS-61T (97.0 %). The genome to genome relatedness of the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values calculated by the Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator between strain BI34T and its related species mentioned above were lower than the threshold of 95 and 70 % for speciation, respectively. The predominant menaquinone of strain BI34T contained MK-9(H4), and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Strain BI34T had diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids. The whole-cell sugars were galactose, glucose and ribose, and the cell-wall peptidoglycan contained lysine, alanine, aspartic acid and glutamic acid. The DNA G+C content of strain BI34T was 73.8 mol%. The difference in physiological and biochemical characteristics and the below-threshold values of genome-to-genome relatedness indicate that strain BI34T represents a novel species in the genus Cellulosimicrobium , for which the name Cellulosimicrobium protaetiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BI34T (=KCTC 49302T=NBRC 114073T).

A genomic perspective on the potential of termite-associated Cellulosimicrobium cellulans MP1 as producer of plant biomass-acting enzymes and exopolysaccharides

Background

Lignocellulose is a renewable and enormous biomass resource, which can be degraded efficiently by a range of cocktails of carbohydrate-active enzymes secreted by termite gut symbiotic bacteria. There is an urgent need to find enzymes with novel characteristics for improving the conversion processes in the production of lignocellulosic-based products. Although various studies dedicated to the genus Cellulosimicrobium as gut symbiont, genetic potential related to plant biomass-acting enzymes and exopolysaccharides production has been fully untapped to date.

Methods

The cellulolytic bacterial strain MP1 was isolated from termite guts and identified to the species level by phenotypic, phylogenetic, and genomic analysis. To further explore genes related to cellulose and hemicellulose degradation, the draft genome of strain MP1 was obtained by using whole-genome sequencing, assembly, and annotation through the Illumina platform. Lignocellulose degrading enzymes and levan production in the liquid medium were also examined to shed light on bacterial activities.

Results

Among 65 isolates obtained, the strain MP1 was the most efficient cellulase producer with cellulase activity of 0.65 ± 0.02 IU/ml. The whole genome analysis depicted that strain MP1 consists of a circular chromosome that contained 4,580,223 bp with an average GC content of 73.9%. The genome comprises 23 contigs including 67 rRNA genes, three tRNA genes, a single tmRNA gene, and 4,046 protein-coding sequences. In support of the phenotypic identification, the 16S rRNA gene sequence, average nucleotide identity, and whole-genome-based taxonomic analysis demonstrated that the strain MP1 belongs to the species Cellulosimicrobium cellulans. A total of 30 genes related to the degradation of cellulases and hemicellulases were identified in the C. cellulans MP1 genome. Of note, the presence of sacC1-levB-sacC2-ls operon responsible for levan and levan-type fructooligosaccharides biosynthesis was detected in strain MP1 genome, but not with closely related C. cellulans strains, proving this strain to be a potential candidate for further studies. Endoglucanases, exoglucanases, and xylanase were achieved by using cheaply available agro-residues such as rice bran and sugar cane bagasse. The maximum levan production by C. cellulans MP1 was 14.8 ± 1.2 g/l after 20 h of cultivation in media containing 200 g/l sucrose. To the best of our knowledge, the present study is the first genome-based analysis of a Cellulosimicrobium species which focuses on lignocellulosic enzymes and levan biosynthesis, illustrating that the C. cellulans MP1 has a great potential to be an efficient platform for basic research and industrial exploitation.

Cellulosimicrobium composti sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from compost

A Gram-stain-positive, yellow-pigmented, non-motile actinobacterial strain, designated as BIT-GX5^T, was isolated from a sesame husks compost collected in Beijing, PR China. This bacterium was found to be able to grow in the temperature range from 16 to 50 °C and had an optimal growth temperature at 45 °C. Its taxonomic position was analysed using a polyphasic approach. The 16S rRNA gene sequence (1482 bp) of strain BIT-GX5^T was most similar to Cellulosimicrobium funkei ATCC BAA-886^T (99.45%), Cellulosimicrobium cellulans LMG 16121^T (99.17%) and Cellulosimicrobium marinum RS-7-4^T (98.75%). The results of phylogenetic analyses, based on the 16S rRNA gene, concatenated sequences of five housekeeping genes (gyrB, rpoB, recA, atpD and trpB) and genome sequences, placed strain BIT-GX5^T in a separate lineage among the genus Cellulosimicrobium within the family Promicromonosporaceae. The major polar lipids of strain BIT-GX5^T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, aminophospholipid and aminolipid. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9(H₄), while the cell-wall sugars were galactose, rhamnose, glucose and mannose. The peptidoglycan type was A4α l-Lys-d-Ser-d-Asp. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_15: 0, which were similar to other members in the genus Cellulosimicrobium. Results of in silico DNA-DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity calculations plus physiological and biochemical tests exhibited the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain BIT-GX5^T from the other members of the genus Cellulosimicrobium. Therefore, strain BIT-GX5^T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Cellulosimicrobium, for which the name Cellulosimicrobium composti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BIT-GX5^T (= CGMCC 1.17687^T = KCTC 49391^T).

Cellulosimicrobium fucosivorans sp. nov., isolated from San Elijo Lagoon, contains a fucose metabolic pathway linked to carotenoid production

Cellulosimicrobium strain SE3^T was isolated from the San Elijo coastal lagoon near San Diego. A whole genome-based phylogenetic comparison shows great heterogeneity within the Cellulosimicrobium genus. Based on average nucleotide identity, whole genome-based comparison, and the presence of a unique L-fucose metabolic pathway, strain SE3^T was shown to belong to a novel species within the genus, together with five other strains. The name Cellulosimicrobium fucosivorans sp. nov. is proposed, with strain SE3^T as the type strain. The strain encodes a unique alpha-L-fucosidase and the L-fucose metabolic pathway is homologous to the one recently described in Campylobacter jejuni. C. fucosivorans is able to grow on L-fucose, and interestingly, the biosynthesis of the yellow carotenoid is dependent on the presence of L-fucose in the media. The ability to metabolize fucose and the linked production of carotenoids are expected to provide C. fucosivorans with a competitive advantage in the sunny coastal lagoon area.

Performance and Application of 16S rRNA Gene Cycle Sequencing for Routine Identification of Bacteria in the Clinical Microbiology Laboratory

This review provides a state-of-the-art description of the performance of Sanger cycle sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene for routine identification of bacteria in the clinical microbiology laboratory. A detailed description of the technology and current methodology is outlined with a major focus on proper data analyses and interpretation of sequences. The remainder of the article is focused on a comprehensive evaluation of the application of this method for identification of bacterial pathogens based on analyses of 16S multialignment sequences. In particular, the existing limitations of similarity within 16S for genus- and species-level differentiation of clinically relevant pathogens and the lack of sequence data currently available in public databases is highlighted. A multiyear experience is described of a large regional clinical microbiology service with direct 16S broad-range PCR followed by cycle sequencing for direct detection of pathogens in appropriate clinical samples. The ability of proteomics (matrix-assisted desorption ionization-time of flight) versus 16S sequencing for bacterial identification and genotyping is compared. Finally, the potential for whole-genome analysis by next-generation sequencing (NGS) to replace 16S sequencing for routine diagnostic use is presented for several applications, including the barriers that must be overcome to fully implement newer genomic methods in clinical microbiology. A future challenge for large clinical, reference, and research laboratories, as well as for industry, will be the translation of vast amounts of accrued NGS microbial data into convenient algorithm testing schemes for various applications (i.e., microbial identification, genotyping, and metagenomics and microbiome analyses) so that clinically relevant information can be reported to physicians in a format that is understood and actionable. These challenges will not be faced by clinical microbiologists alone but by every scientist involved in a domain where natural diversity of genes and gene sequences plays a critical role in disease, health, pathogenicity, epidemiology, and other aspects of life-forms. Overcoming these challenges will require global multidisciplinary efforts across fields that do not normally interact with the clinical arena to make vast amounts of sequencing data clinically interpretable and actionable at the bedside.

Biodegradation of biodiesel-oil by Cellulosimicrobium sp. Isolated from Colombian Caribbean soils

Biodiesel is considered to be a natural substitute for fossil fuel. The comparatively low toxicity of biodiesel and its susceptibility to microbial biodegradation could reduce its environmental impact. Currently, biodiesel is sold previously mixed with petroleum-based hydrocarbons. The aim of this work was to measure the biodegradation potential of commercially available biodiesel, using bacterial strains (BBCOL-001, BBCOL-002, and BBCOL-003) isolated from a tropical forest soils in the Colombian Caribbean. According to nucleotide sequencing of the gene encoding for 16S rRNA, the strains belong to members of the genus Cellulosimicrobium. GC-MS analysis showed that biodiesel-oil alkanes were degraded by an average of 81.5% with optical density reaching 0.2-0.3 in minimal salt media at 37°C for 5 days. Individual diesel-oil alkanes were degraded by the strains at rates between 64.9% to 100%. The increase in bacterial biomass confirmed the use of the substrates by the microorganisms, suggesting these hydrocarbons are a carbon source. Changes in the biochemical behaviour of the strains suggested their capacity to adapt to environmental conditions might be an important resource for bioremediation.

Antribacter gilvus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Promicromonosporaceae from a karstic cavern

A novel actinobacterium, designated strain CFH 30434^T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a karst cave in Luoyang, Henan Province, PR China. The taxonomic position of the strain was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. Cells of the strain were aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, non-motile and coccoid or short rods. The strain was found to be oxidase-positive and weakly catalase-positive. Strain CFH 30434^T grew optimally at 28 °C, pH 7.0-9.0 and in the presence of up to 0-1.5 % NaCl (w/v). The whole-cell sugars were glucose, mannose and rhamnose. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-9(H₈) and the major fatty acids (>10 % of the total fatty acids compositions) were anteiso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_15:0 and iso-C_14 : 0. The polar lipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, an unidentified phosphoglycolipid, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content was determined to be 72.3 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that CFH 30434^T clustered within the family Promicromonosporaceae, and closely with the type strains of Xylanimicrobium pachnodae DSM 12657^T, Myceligenerans crystallogenes DSM 17134^T and Promicromonospora xylanilytica CCTCC AA 208046^T (97.3 %, 96.2 and 95.9 % sequence similarities, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis showed that strain CFH 30434^T formed a separate evolutionary branch, and was parallel to other related genera of Promicromonosporaceae. Its phylogenetic distinctiveness and distinguishing phenotypic characteristics supported that strain CFH 30434^T represents a novel genus of the family Promicromonosporaceae, for which the name Antribacter gilvus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH 30434^T (=CGMCC 1.13856^T=KCTC 49093^T).

Cellulosimicrobium cellulans aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis

Introduction.

Invasive infections due to Cellulosimicrobium spp. (a Gram-positive coryneform) are extremely rare. Only a few cases of bloodstream infections and endocarditis have been described, as bacteraemia due to coryneforms is usually discarded as blood culture contamination.

Case presentation.

A 66-year-old female, with a history of aortic valve replacement, presented with fever, left leg purpura and acute kidney injury. Multiple repeated blood cultures were positive for Cellulosimicrobium cellulans, and targeted therapy was started. At first, endocarditis was excluded by echocardiograms, and the acute nephritis was interpreted as an atypical presentation of Henoch–Shönlein purpura. High-dose prednisone was started, and after 10 weeks the patient presented again with fever, mental confusion and acute left arm ischaemia. A subsequent echocardiogram and radiolabelled leukocyte scintigraphic evaluation revealed aortic prosthetic valve endocarditis with periprosthetic abscess and arterial brachial thrombosis. The patient deceased, and the autoptic examination confirmed an aortic valve periprosthetic abscess and revealed multiple arterial thromboses and septic embolisms in the kidneys, brain, spleen and myocardium.

Conclusion.

Isolation of coryneform bacteria on blood culture should not always be discarded as blood culture contamination. In the case of endocarditis due to Cellulosimicrobium spp., the removal of any prosthetic material, along with prolonged in vitro active antimicrobial therapy, should be pursued in order to reduce persistence or relapses of infection.

Infections due to Cellulosimicrobium species: case report and literature review

Background

Cellulosimicrobium species, formely known as Oerskovia species, are gram-positive bacilli belonging to the order Actinomycetales. They rarely cause human infections. The genus comprises two pathogenic species in humans: C. cellulans and C. funkei. Based on a case report, we provide a review of the literature of infections caused by Cellulosimicrobium/Oerskovia, in order to improve our knowledge of this unusual infection.

Case presentation

An 82-year-old woman with aortic prosthetic valve presented to the hospital with fever and heart failure. Further work up revealed the diagnosis of C. cellulans infective endocarditis (IE). The strain was identified by MALDI-TOF MS, API Coryne and 16S rRNA sequencing. The patient was deemed not to be an operative candidate and died despite the antibiotic therapy 35 days after admission.

Conclusions

Reviewing cases of Cellulosimicrobium species infections and communicating the successful and unsuccessful clinical experiences can assist future healthcare providers. Our case and those previously reported indicate that Cellulosimicrobium species usually infect immunocompromised patients or foreign body carriers. The most frequent pattern of infection is central venous catheter related bacteremia. The optimal treatment should include foreign body removal and valve surgery should be considered in case of IE.

HW. Post-Traumatic Endophthalmitis Caused by <b><i>Oerskovia turbata</i></b>

Purpose

To present a previously unreported cause of bacterial endophthalmitis manifesting as delayed post-traumatic endophthalmitis ultimately responsive to total capsulectomy.

Case Report

A patient presented with chronic endophthalmitis that occurred after ocular trauma with organic material and Oerskovia turbata was eventually isolated. After a prolonged treatment course, including two pars plana vitrectomies and total capsulectomy, the patient achieved 20/80 visual acuity at 1-year follow-up.

Conclusion

This is the first reported patient with endophthalmitis due to O. turbata, a Gram-positive bacillus found in soil that rarely causes human infection. The infection had a delayed presentation despite early prophylactic antibiotics and was ultimately eliminated with total capsulectomy. Removal of lens and lens capsule may be necessary in the management of post-traumatic endophthalmitis unresponsive to more conservative therapy, particularly in cases involving atypical organisms and lens capsule violation.

Genome-Based Taxonomic Classification of the Phylum Actinobacteria

The application of phylogenetic taxonomic procedures led to improvements in the classification of bacteria assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria but even so there remains a need to further clarify relationships within a taxon that encompasses organisms of agricultural, biotechnological, clinical, and ecological importance. Classification of the morphologically diverse bacteria belonging to this large phylum based on a limited number of features has proved to be difficult, not least when taxonomic decisions rested heavily on interpretation of poorly resolved 16S rRNA gene trees. Here, draft genome sequences of a large collection of actinobacterial type strains were used to infer phylogenetic trees from genome-scale data using principles drawn from phylogenetic systematics. The majority of taxa were found to be monophyletic but several orders, families, and genera, as well as many species and a few subspecies were shown to be in need of revision leading to proposals for the recognition of 2 orders, 10 families, and 17 genera, as well as the transfer of over 100 species to other genera. In addition, emended descriptions are given for many species mainly involving the addition of data on genome size and DNA G+C content, the former can be considered to be a valuable taxonomic marker in actinobacterial systematics. Many of the incongruities detected when the results of the present study were compared with existing classifications had been recognized from 16S rRNA gene trees though whole-genome phylogenies proved to be much better resolved. The few significant incongruities found between 16S/23S rRNA and whole genome trees underline the pitfalls inherent in phylogenies based upon single gene sequences. Similarly good congruence was found between the discontinuous distribution of phenotypic properties and taxa delineated in the phylogenetic trees though diverse non-monophyletic taxa appeared to be based on the use of plesiomorphic character states as diagnostic features.

Draft Genome Sequence of Multidrug-Resistant Cellulosimicrobium sp. Strain KWT-B, Isolated from Feces of Hirundo rustica

Migratory birds have been postulated as potential spreaders of antibiotic resistance. Multidrug-resistant Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain KWT-B was isolated from the feces of Hirundo rustica. A draft genome sequence indicated that the strain harbors multidrug-resistant transporters, multidrug efflux pumps, a vancomycin-resistant protein, and metallo-beta-lactamases.

Evaluation of Cr(VI) reduction mechanism and removal by Cellulosimicrobium funkei strain AR8, a novel haloalkaliphilic bacterium

The present study, a novel haloalkaliphilic Cr(VI) tolerant bacterial strain, Cellulosimicrobium funkei AR8, was isolated and characterized for its high Cr(VI) reduction. In batch experiments, Cr(VI) reduction was evaluated under different parametric conditions which include different pH (5-9), temperature (25-45°C), NaCl (0-3%) and Cr(VI) concentrations (100-250μg/ml). Variations in the cell surface functional groups and morphology of the bacterial cells after Cr(VI) reduction were characterized by FT-IR and SEM-EDX. FT-IR analysis revealed that cell surface functional groups such as alkanes, amide and amines are involved in chromium biosorption and SEM-EDX results showed that biosorption and immobilization of chromium species on the cell surface. Bioconversion of Cr(VI) into Cr(III) by strain AR8 was confirmed by XRD and Raman spectroscopy analysis. Intracellular localization of reduced product (Cr(III)) was visualized by TEM analysis. Various instrumentation analysis verified that Cr(VI) removal mechanism of C. funkei AR8 strain was achieved by both extra and intracellular reducing machinery. Toxicity study revealed that the bacterially reduced product exerted less toxic effects on phenotypic, survival (91.31%), hatching (84.04%) and heart function (115±1.03 beats/min) of zebrafish (Danio rerio) embryos. Higher Cr(VI) reducing ability of the strain under haloalkaliphilic condition suggests the C. funkei AR8 as a novel and efficient strain for remediating Cr(VI) contaminated industrial effluents with high salinity and alkalinity.

Promicromonospora kermanensis sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from soil

A novel strain belonging to the genus Promicromonospora, designated HM 533T, was isolated from soil in Kerman Province, Iran. It produced long and branched hyphae on ISP 2 medium that developed into a large number of irregular-shaped spores. It showed optimal growth at 25-30 °C and pH 5.0-8.0 with 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl. The peptidoglycan type of strain HM 533T was A4α l-Lys-l-Ala-d-Glu. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain HM 533T contained the sugars ribose, glucose and galactose. The main phospholipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, two unknown glycolipids and an unknown phospholipid. MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2) were the predominant menaquinones. The fatty acids pattern was mainly composed of the saturated branched-chain acids anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the highest pairwise sequence identity (99.5-97.1 %) with the members of the genus Promicromonospora. Based on phenotypic and genotypic features, strain HM 533T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Promicromonospora, for which the name Promicromonospora kermanensis is proposed with strain HM 533T (=DSM 45485T=UTMC 00533T=CECT 8709T) as the type strain.

(Meta)genomic insights into the pathogenome of Cellulosimicrobium cellulans

Despite having serious clinical manifestations, Cellulosimicrobium cellulans remain under-reported with only three genome sequences available at the time of writing. Genome sequences of C. cellulans LMG16121, C. cellulans J36 and Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain MM were used to determine distribution of pathogenicity islands (PAIs) across C. cellulans, which revealed 49 potential marker genes with known association to human infections, e.g. Fic and VbhA toxin-antitoxin system. Oligonucleotide composition-based analysis of orthologous proteins (n = 791) across three genomes revealed significant negative correlation (P < 0.05) between frequency of optimal codons (F_opt) and gene G+C content, highlighting the G+C-biased gene conversion (gBGC) effect across Cellulosimicrobium strains. Bayesian molecular-clock analysis performed on three virulent PAI proteins (Fic; D-alanyl-D-alanine-carboxypeptidase; transposase) dated the divergence event at 300 million years ago from the most common recent ancestor. Synteny-based annotation of hypothetical proteins highlighted gene transfers from non-pathogenic bacteria as a key factor in the evolution of PAIs. Additonally, deciphering the metagenomic islands using strain MM’s genome with environmental data from the site of isolation (hot-spring biofilm) revealed (an)aerobic respiration as population segregation factor across the in situ cohorts. Using reference genomes and metagenomic data, our results highlight the emergence and evolution of PAIs in the genus Cellulosimicrobium.

Metagenomic sequencing of bile from gallstone patients to identify different microbial community patterns and novel biliary bacteria

Despite the high worldwide prevalence of gallstone disease, the role of the biliary microbiota in gallstone pathogenesis remains obscure. Next-generation sequencing offers advantages for systematically understanding the human microbiota; however, there have been few such investigations of the biliary microbiome. Here, we performed whole-metagenome shotgun (WMS) sequencing and 16S rRNA sequencing on bile samples from 15 Chinese patients with gallstone disease. Microbial communities of most individuals were clustered into two types, according to the relative enrichment of different intestinal bacterial species. In the bile samples, oral cavity/respiratory tract inhabitants were more prevalent than intestinal inhabitants and existed in both community types. Unexpectedly, the two types were not associated with fever status or surgical history, and many bacteria were patient-specific. We identified 13 novel biliary bacteria based on WMS sequencing, as well as genes encoding putative proteins related to gallstone formation and bile resistance (e.g., β-glucuronidase and multidrug efflux pumps). Bile samples from gallstone patients had reduced microbial diversity compared to healthy faecal samples. Patient samples were enriched in pathways related to oxidative stress and flagellar assembly, whereas carbohydrate metabolic pathways showed varying behaviours. As the first biliary WMS survey, our study reveals the complexity and specificity of biliary microecology.

Cellulosimicrobium aquatile sp. nov., isolated from Panagal reservoir, Nalgonda, India

A Gram-stain positive, non-spore forming, non-motile, yellow-pigmented, rod shaped and coccoid aerobic strain designated 3bp(T) was isolated from Panagal reservoir, at Nalgonda, Telangana, India. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis it was identified that strain 3bp(T) belongs to the class Actinobacteria and is closely related to Cellulosimicrobium funkei VTT E-072700(T), Cellulosimicrobium cellulans LMG16221(T) and Cellulosimicrobium terreum KCTC 19206(T). The DNA-DNA relatedness data demonstrated that strain 3bp(T) is distinguishable from the above three species of the genus. Further, the chemotaxonomic properties of strain 3bp(T) were consistent with those of the genus Cellulosimicrobium: MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15:0,  anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso- C16:0 were the predominant cellular fatty acids and the cell-wall peptidoglycan contains L-lysine. The DNA G+C content of strain 3bp(T) was 73.8 mol%. The results of the polyphasic analysis allowed a clear differentiation of strain 3bp(T) from all other members of the genus Cellulosimicrobium. Strain 3bp(T) is thus considered to represent a novel member of the genus Cellulosimicrobium, for which the name Cellulosimicrobium aquatile sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 3bp(T) (=KCTC 39527(T) = MCC 2761(T) = LMG 28646(T)).

A novel strain of Cellulosimicrobium funkei can biologically detoxify aflatoxin B1 in ducklings

Two experiments were conducted to screen microorganisms with aflatoxin B1 (AFB1 ) removal potential from soils and to evaluate their ability in reducing the toxic effects of AFB1 in ducklings. In experiment 1, we screened 11 isolates that showed the AFB1 biodegradation ability, and the one exhibited the highest AFB1 removal ability (97%) was characterized and identified as Cellulosimicrobium funkei (C. funkei). In experiment 2, 80 day-old Cherry Valley ducklings were divided into four groups with four replicates of five birds each and were used in a 2 by 2 factorial trial design, in which the main factors included administration of AFB1 versus solvent and C. funkei versus solvent for 2 weeks. The AFB1 treatment significantly decreased the body weight gain, feed intake and impaired feed conversion ratio. AFB1 also decreased serum albumin and total protein concentration, while it increased activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase and liver damage in the ducklings. Supplementation of C. funkei alleviated the adverse effects of AFB1 on growth performance, and provided protective effects on the serum biochemical indicators, and decreased hepatic injury in the ducklings. Conclusively, our results suggest that the novel isolated C. funkei strain could be used to mitigate the negative effects of aflatoxicosis in ducklings.

Measuring the Level of Agreement Between Cloacal Gram's Stains and Bacterial Cultures in Hispaniolan Amazon Parrots ( Amazona ventralis )

Cloacal or fecal Gram's stains and bacterial cultures are routinely performed during avian physical examinations to assess the microbial flora of the gastrointestinal tract. Although cloacal or fecal Gram's stains and bacterial cultures are considered routine diagnostic procedures, the level of agreement between the individual tests has not been determined. To investigate the level of agreement between results from Gram's stain and bacterial culture when used to assess cloacal or fecal samples from psittacine birds, samples were taken from 21 clinically healthy Hispaniolan Amazon parrots ( Amazona ventralis ) and tested by Gram's stain cytology and bacterial culture. Most bacteria (97.2%) identified by Gram's stain were gram positive. However, gram-negative organisms were identified in 7 of 21 (33.3%; 95% confidence interval: 13.3%-53.3%) birds. Escherichia coli was the only gram-negative organism identified on culture. Agreement between results of Gram's stain and culture was fair (weighted κ = 0.27). The results of this study suggest that Gram's stains and bacterial culture may need to be performed with a parallel testing strategy to limit the likelihood of misclassifying the microbial flora of psittacine patients.

CAPD peritonitis caused by co-infection with Cellulosimicrobium cellulans (Oerskovia xanthineolytica) and Enterobacter cloacae: a case report and literature review

A 50-year-old woman with end-stage renal disease on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis was admitted with abdominal pain, fever and cloudy peritoneal fluid. The diagnosis was peritonitis, and the causative bacteria were Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Enterobacter cloacae. She was subsequently treated with the administration of intraperitoneal antibiotics and removal of the infected indwelling catheter. We herein report a case of Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Enterobacter cloacae co-infection in a patient with peritonitis and review the relevant literature.

Identification of non-Listeria spp. bacterial isolates yielding a β-D-glucosidase-positive phenotype on Agar Listeria according to Ottaviani and Agosti (ALOA)

Agar Listeria according to Ottaviani and Agosti (ALOA) is the mandatory medium used for the detection and enumeration of Listeria monocytogenes in foods according to the official International Organization for Standardization (ISO) methods. On ALOA, Listeria spp. appear as bluish-green colonies due to the production of β-D-glucosidase, an enzyme that cleaves 5-bromo-4-chloro-3-indolyl-β-D-glucopyranoside, a chromogenic substrate included in the formulation of the medium. The present work reports on bacterial isolates (n=64) from ready-to-eat soft cheeses, which are able to grow on ALOA, forming bluish-green colonies and therefore phenotypically resemble Listeria spp. All isolates were also capable of growing on the selective media PALCAM and RAPID L'mono. The isolates were characterised with biochemical tests including those specified in the ISO standards for the confirmation of Listeria spp. and identified via partial sequencing of their 16S rRNA gene. According to sequencing results the isolates represented 12 different bacterial species or species-groups belonging to seven different genera: Bacillus spp. (B. circulans, B. clausii, B. licheniformis and B. oleronius), Cellulosimicrobium spp. (C. funkei), Enterococcus spp. (E. faecalis, E. faecium/durans), Kocuria spp. (K. kristinae), Marinilactibacillus spp. (M. psychrotolerans), Rothia spp. (R. terrae) and Staphylococcus spp. (S. sciuri and S. saprophyticus subsp. saprophyticus/xylosus). Cellulosimicrobium spp. have never been previously isolated from foods. These results significantly extend the list of bacteria previously known as capable of growing on ALOA as bluish-green colonies and suggest that there may be room for further improvement in the medium's inhibitory properties towards non-Listeria spp., Gram-positive bacteria present in foods.

Draft Genome Sequence of Cellulosimicrobium sp. Strain MM, Isolated from Arsenic-Rich Microbial Mats of a Himalayan Hot Spring

Microbial mats situated at the Manikaran hot springs (>95°C) are characterized by their high arsenic content (140 ppb), qualifying as a stressed niche. Here, we report the annotated draft genome (3.85 Mb) of Cellulosimicrobium sp. strain MM, isolated from these microbial mats, consisting of 3,718 coding sequences, with an average % G+C of 74.4%.

Promicromonospora iranensis sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from rhizospheric soil

A novel strain of the genus Promicromonospora, designated HM 792(T), was isolated from soil in Fars Province, Iran. On ISP 2 medium, the yellow-pigmented isolate produced long and branched hyphae that developed into a large number of irregularly shaped spores. It showed growth at 25-30 °C and pH 6.0-9.0 with 0-8 % (w/v) NaCl. Chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics of the isolate matched those described for members of the genus Promicromonospora. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain HM 792(T) contained the amino acids d-glutamic acid, l-alanine and l-lysine along with the sugars glucose and ribose. The main polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids, two unknown glycolipids and two unknown phosphoglycolipids, complemented by minor concentrations of phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylglycerol. MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone. The fatty-acid pattern was composed mainly of the saturated branched-chain acids anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed the highest pairwise sequence identity (96.6-99.0 %) with the members of the genus Promicromonospora. Based on phenotypic and genotypic features, strain HM 792(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Promicromonospora, for which the name Promicromonospora iranensis sp. nov. is proposed. Strain HM 792(T) ( = DSM 45554(T) = UTMC00792(T) = CCUG 63022(T)) is the type strain.

Draft genome sequence of the novel enteric bacterium Galloisinimonas intestini B14T KCTC 32180, isolated from the gut of a Galloisiana species (Notoptera: Grylloblattidae) fossil insect

We report the 3.74-Mb genome sequence of Galloisinimonas intestini B14(T), isolated from the gut of one of the world's rarest insect species, Galloisiana sp., collected at a Mosan cave, Moonkyung, Gyungsangbook-do, South Korea. Strain B14(T) is a novel genus candidate of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

The genus corynebacterium and other medically relevant coryneform-like bacteria

Catalase-positive Gram-positive bacilli, commonly called "diphtheroids" or "coryneform" bacteria were historically nearly always dismissed as contaminants when recovered from patients, but increasingly have been implicated as the cause of significant infections. These taxa have been underreported, and the taxa were taxonomically confusing. The mechanisms of pathogenesis, especially for newly described taxa, were rarely studied. Antibiotic susceptibility data were relatively scant. In this minireview, clinical relevance, phenotypic and genetic identification methods, matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight (MALDI-TOF) evaluations, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing involving species in the genus Corynebacterium and other medically relevant Gram-positive rods, collectively called coryneforms, are described.

Septic arthritis due to Cellulosimicrobium cellulans

Cellulosimicrobium cellulans has been reported as a rare cause of human pathogenesis. Infections mainly occur in immunocompromised patients and very often are associated with a foreign body. We report the first case of septic arthritis caused by C. cellulans in an immunocompetent patient. Our patient suffered a penetrating palm tree thorn injury to his left knee 8 weeks before admission. Although no foreign objects were found, they were suspected because previous reports suggest a frequent association with this microorganism, and open debridament was performed. Removal of foreign bodies related to this organism must be considered a high-priority treatment in these patients to achieve a complete recovery.

Cellulosimicrobium funkei: first report of infection in a nonimmunocompromised patient and useful phenotypic tests for differentiation from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Cellulosimicrobium terreum

Cellulosimicrobium funkei is a rare, opportunistic pathogen. We describe a case of bacteremia and possibly prosthetic valve endocarditis by this organism in a nonimmunocompromised patient. Useful phenotypic tests for differentiating C. funkei from Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Cellulosimicrobium terreum include motility, raffinose fermentation, glycogen, D-xylose, and methyl-α-D-glucopyranoside assimilation, and growth at 35°C.

Koreibacter algae gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from seaweed

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped actinomycete, designated strain DSW-2T, was isolated from a seaweed sample collected around Mara Island, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain DSW-2T belongs to the suborder Micrococcineae and forms a distinct clade separated from representatives of the several families of this order. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the novel strain and members of this suborder were lower than 96.4 %. The peptidoglycan type is A3α with Lys–Ser as the interpeptide bridge. Whole-cell sugars are glucose and galactose. The major menaquinone is MK-9(H4). The predominant fatty acid is ai-C15 : 0. The polar lipids are phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylinositol. The DNA G+C content was 68.3 mol%. On the basis of the chemotaxonomic markers and phylogenetic distinctiveness presented here, it is evident that the isolate represents a novel taxon within the suborder Micrococcineae. The name Koreibacter algae gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain DSW-2T (=KCTC 13436T =DSM 22126T).

An update of the structure and 16S rRNA gene sequence-based definition of higher ranks of the class Actinobacteria, with the proposal of two new suborders and four new families and emended descriptions of the existing higher taxa

The higher ranks of the class Actinobacteria were proposed and described in 1997. At each rank, the taxa were delineated from each other solely on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic clustering and taxon-specific 16S rRNA signature nucleotides. In the past 10 years, many novel members have been assigned to this class while, at the same time, some members have been reclassified. The new 16S rRNA gene sequence information and the changes in phylogenetic positions of some taxa influence decisions about which 16S rRNA nucleotides to define as taxon-specific. As a consequence, the phylogenetic relationships of Actinobacteria at higher levels may need to be reconstructed. Here, we present new 16S rRNA signature nucleotide patterns of taxa above the family level and indicate the affiliation of genera to families. These sets replace the signatures published in 1997. In addition, Actinopolysporineae subord. nov. and Actinopolysporaceae fam. nov. are proposed to accommodate the genus Actinopolyspora, Kineosporiineae subord. nov. and Kineosporiaceae fam. nov. are proposed to accommodate the genera Kineococcus, Kineosporia and Quadrisphaera, Beutenbergiaceae fam. nov. is proposed to accommodate the genera Beutenbergia, Georgenia and Salana and Cryptosporangiaceae fam. nov. is proposed to accommodate the genus Cryptosporangium. The families Nocardiaceae and Gordoniaceae are proposed to be combined in an emended family Nocardiaceae. Emended descriptions are also proposed for most of the other higher taxa.

Cellulosimicrobium terreum sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-positive, yellow-pigmented, non-motile and rod-shaped or coccoid bacterial strain, DS-61T, was isolated from soil from Dokdo, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew optimally at pH 6.5-7.5 and 25 degrees C in the presence of 1.0% (w/v) NaCl. Strain DS-61T had peptidoglycan of the type based on L-Lys-L-Thr-D-Asp and contained galactose as the only whole-cell sugar. MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone and anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0 were the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 72.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DS-61T is most closely affiliated to the genus Cellulosimicrobium, clustering with Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Cellulosimicrobium funkei. The levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain DS-61T and the type strains of Cellulosimicrobium cellulans and Cellulosimicrobium funkei were 97.4-97.6%. DNA-DNA relatedness data and differential phenotypic properties demonstrated that strain DS-61T is distinguishable from these two recognized Cellulosimicrobium species. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strain DS-61T represents a novel species of the genus Cellulosimicrobium, for which the name Cellulosimicrobium terreum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DS-61T (=KCTC 19206T=DSM 18665T). An emended description of the genus is given.

Demequina aestuarii gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel actinomycete of the suborder Micrococcineae, and reclassification of Cellulomonas fermentans Bagnara et al. 1985 as Actinotalea fermentans gen. nov., comb. nov

An actinobacterial strain containing demethylmenaquinone DMK-9(H4) as the diagnostic isoprenoid quinone was isolated from a tidal flat sediment sample, from South Korea. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JC2054T represents a distinct phyletic line within the suborder Micrococcineae of the order Actinomycetales. The closest phylogenetic neighbour was Cellulomonas fermentans, with 94.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The novel isolate was strictly aerobic and slightly halophilic, with optimum growth occurring in 2–4 % (w/v) NaCl. Cells were non-motile, non-sporulating and rod-shaped. The peptidoglycan type was of the A-type of cross-linkage. l-ornithine was the diamino acid and d-glutamate represented the N-terminus of the interpeptide bridge. The predominant fatty acids were anteiso-branched and straight-chain fatty acids. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown phospholipid. The menaquinone composition of C. fermentans was determined to be MK-10(H4), MK-9(H4) and MK-8(H4) in the ratio 56 : 2 : 1. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented in this study, it is proposed that strain JC2054T should be classified as representing a novel genus and species of the suborder Micrococcineae, with the name Demequina aestuarii gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is JC2054T (=IMSNU 14027T=KCTC 9919T=JCM 12123T). In addition, it was clear from the phylogenetic analysis and chemotaxonomic data that C. fermentans does not belong to the genus Cellulomonas or any other recognized genera. Therefore, C. fermentans should be reclassified as representing a novel genus, for which the name Actinotalea fermentans gen. nov., comb. nov. is proposed, with strain DSM 3133T (=ATCC 43279T=CFBP 4259T=CIP 103003T=NBRC 15517T=JCM 9966T=LMG 16154T) as the type strain.