Description of Leucobacter holotrichiae sp. nov., isolated from the gut of Holotrichia oblita larvae

Leucobacter tenebrionis sp. nov., isolated from the gut of Tenebrio molitor

A novel Gram-stain-positive bacterium, designated NB10T, was isolated from the gut of Tenebrio molitor. The isolate was rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile and non-spore-forming. Colonies of strain NB10T were light yellow, circular and smooth. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that the isolate was related to the genus Leucobacter. Its closest relatives were Leucobacter holotrichiae T14T (97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Leucobacter zeae CC-MF41T (97.0%) and Leucobacter salsicius M1-8T (96.4%). The DNA G+C content of strain NB10T was 68.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values among strain NB10T and the selected Leucobacter species were ≤83.8 % (ANI-blast), 87.6 % (ANI-MUMmer) and 29.6%, which were below the recommended cutoff values for species delineation. The predominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (39.0%), anteiso-C17 : 0 (35.5%) and iso-C16 : 0 (17.0%). The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and glycolipids. The predominant respiratory quinones were MK-11 and MK-10. The cell wall amino acids were Gly, Glu, Tr, Ala, and DAB. Based on these phylogenetic and phenotypic results, strain NB10T can be clearly distinguished from all of the recognized species of the genus Leucobacter and is considered to represent a novel species of that genus. The name Leucobacter tenebrionis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain NB10T (=MCCC 1K07072T=KCTC 49728T).

Leucobacter allii sp. nov. and Leucobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from rhizospheres of onion and garlic, respectively

Three bacterial strains, H21R-40^T and H21R-36 from garlic (Allium sativum) and H25R-14^T from onion (Allium cepa), were isolated from plant rhizospheres sampled in the Republic of Korea. Results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed the highest sequence similarity of strain H21R-40^T to Leucobacter celer subsp. astrifaciens CBX151^T (97.3 %) and Leucobacter triazinivorans JW-1^T (97.2 %), and strain H25R-14^T to Leucobacter insecticola HDW9B^T (98.8 %) and Leucobacter humi Re6^T (98.4 %), while the sequence similarity between strains H21R-40^T and H21R-36 was 99.8 %. According to the phylogenomic tree, strains H21R-40^T with H21R-36 formed an independent clade separable from other Leucobacter species within the genus Leucobacter and strain H25R-14^T clustered with Leucobacter insecticola HDW9B^T, Leucobacter coleopterorum HDW9A^T and Leucobacter viscericola HDW9C^T. Strains H21R-40^T and H21R-36 had orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values (98.1 % and 86.9 %, respectively) higher than the threshold ranges for species delineation (95-96 % and 70 %, respectively). The OrthoANI and dDDH values between two strains (H21R-40^T and H25R-14^T) and the type strains of species of the genus Leucobacter were lower than 81 and 24 %, respectively. The peptidoglycan type of three strains was type B1. The major menaquinones and major polar lipids of the strains were MK-11 and MK-10, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phatidylglycerol and an unidentified glycolipid, respectively. The major fatty acids (more than 10 % of the total fatty acids) of strains H21R-40^T and H21R-36 were anteiso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_17 : 0 and iso-C_16 : 0, and those of strain H25R-14^T were anteiso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_16 : 0. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data obtained in this study showed that the strains represent two novel species of the genus Leucobacter, named Leucobacter allii sp. nov. (H21R-40^T and H21R-36) and Leucobacter rhizosphaerae sp. nov. (H25R-14^T). The respective type strains are H21R-40^T (=DSM 114348^T=JCM 35241^T=KACC 21839^T=NBRC 115481^T) and H25R-14^T (=DSM 114346^T=JCM 35239^T=KACC 21837^T=NBRC 115479^T).

Leucobacter chinensis sp. nov., with plant growth-promoting potential isolated from field soil after seven-years continuous maize cropping

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain NC76-1^T, was isolated from soil from a field that had undergone seven years continuous maize cropping from Liuba town located in Zhangye city, Gansu province, PR China. Colonies of strain NC76-1^T were white, opaque and circular with a convex shape. The isolate was found to be able to grow at 10-40 °C (optimum 30 °C), pH 6.0 to 12.0 (optimum 7.0-8.0) and with 0-5.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0%). On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain fell within the clade of the genus Leucobacter, showing the highest sequence similarities with Leucobacter iarius 40^T (97.4%), Leucobacter aridicollis CIP 108388^T (97.0%), Leucobacter chromiireducens subsp. solipictus TAN 31504^T (96.7%) and Leucobacter denitrificans M1T8B10^T (96.7%). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between NC76-1^T and its closest relatives, L. iarius 40^T, L. aridicollis CIP 108388^T, L. chromiireducens subsp. solipictus TAN 31504^T and L. denitrificans M1T8B10^T were ≤73.5 % and 20.3%, respectively. The genomic DNA G+C content of NC76-1^T was 61.5 mol%. It presented MK-11 as the predominant menaquinone. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15 : 0 (49.2 %) and iso-C_16 : 0 (35.7%). The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, aminoglycolipid, five glycolipid and one unidentified lipids. The cell wall amino acids were 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glutamic acid, glycine and threonine. On the basis of the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain NC76-1^T is concluded to represent a novel species within the genus Leucobacter, for which the name Leucobacter chinensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NC76-1^T (GDMCC 1.2286^T= JCM 34651^T).

Leucobacter soli sp. nov., from soil amended with humic acid

A Gram-positive, non-spore-forming actinobacterium (IMT-300^T) was isolated from soil amended with humic acid in Malvern, AL, USA. This soil has been used for 50+years for the cultivation of earthworms for use as fish bait. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity studies, strain IMT-300^T was shown to belong to the genus Leucobacter and was closely related to the type strain of 'Leucobacter margaritiformis' L1^T (97.8%). Similarity to all other type strains of Leucobacter species was lower than 97.2 %. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the IMT-300^T genome assembly and those of the closest relative Leucobacter type strain were 81.4 and 23.3 % (Leucobacter chironomi), respectively. The peptidoglycan of strain IMT-300^T contained l-2,4-diaminobutyric acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. In addition, glycine, d- and l-alanine and d-glutamic acid were found. The peptidoglycan type represents a variant of B2δ (B11). The major quinones were menaquinones MK-10 and MK-11. The polar lipid profile consisted of the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and moderate to minor amounts of two unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified glycolipids and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The polyamine pattern contained major amounts of spermidine and spermine. Strain IMT-300^T contained the major fatty acids C_15 : 0 anteiso, C_16 : 0 iso and C_17 : 0 anteiso, like other members of the genus Leucobacter. The results of ANI and dDDH analyses and physiological and biochemical tests allowed a genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain IMT-300^T from the most closely related Leucobacter species. Strain IMT-300^T represents a novel Leucobacter species, for which we propose the name Leucobacter soli sp. nov., with the type strain IMT-300^T (CIP 111803^T=DSM 110505^T=CCM 9020^T=LMG 31600^T).

Leucobacter coleopterorum sp. nov., Leucobacter insecticola sp. nov., and Leucobacter viscericola sp. nov., isolated from the intestine of the diving beetles, Cybister brevis and Cybister lewisianus, and emended description of the genus Leucobacter

Three novel bacterial strains, HDW9A^T, HDW9B^T, and HDW9C^T, isolated from the intestine of the diving beetles Cybister lewisianus and Cybister brevis, were characterized as three novel species using a polyphasic approach. The isolates were Gram-staining-positive, strictly aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped. They grew optimally at 30°C (pH 7) in the presence of 0.5% (wt/vol) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they belong to the genus Leucobacter and are closely related to L. denitrificans M1T8B10^T (98.4-98.7% sequence similarity). Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values among the isolates were 76.4-84.1%. ANI values for the isolates and the closest taxonomic species, L. denitrificans KACC 14055^T, were 72.3-73.1%. The isolates showed ANI values of < 76.5% with all analyzable Leucobacter strains in the EzBioCloud database. The genomic DNA G + C content of the isolates was 60.3-62.5%. The polar lipid components were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and other unidentified glycolipids, phospholipids, and lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, and anteiso-C_17:0. MK-10 was the major respiratory quinone, and MK-7 and MK-11 were the minor respiratory quinones. The whole-cell sugar components of the isolates were ribose, glucose, galactose, and mannose. The isolates harbored L-2,4-diaminobutyric acid, L-serine, L-lysine, L-aspartic acid, glycine, and D-glutamic acid within the cell wall peptidoglycan. Based on phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses, strains HDW9A^T, HDW9B^T, and HDW9C^T represent three novel species within the genus Leucobacter. We propose the name Leucobacter coleopterorum sp. nov. for strain HDW9A^T (= KACC 21331^T = KCTC 49317^T = JCM 33667^T), the name Leucobacter insecticola sp. nov. for strain HDW9B^T (= KACC 21332^T = KCTC 49318^T = JCM 33668^T), and the name Leucobacter viscericola sp. nov. for strain HDW9C^T (= KACC 21333^T = KCTC 49319^T = JCM 33669^T).

Leucobacter weissii sp. nov., an isolate from activated sludge once described as first representative of the peptidoglycan variation B2δ, and emended description of the genus Leucobacter

Strain S27^T is a Gram-stain-positive, regular rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, yellow pigmented actinobacterium which was isolated from an aerated laboratory scale fermenter fed with wastes of a yeast factory. The strain was classified as Microbacterium sp. after the analysis of its peptidoglycan revealed a novel B-type structure established as variation B2δ by Hensel in 1984. As the combination of the peptidoglycan amino acids 2,4-diaminobutyric acid (Dab), threonine (Thr), glycine (Gly), alanine (Ala) and glutamic acid (Glu) is in disagreement with the current genus definition of Microbacterium but is typical of several Leucobacter species, the taxonomic status of strain S27^T was re-examined by a polyphasic study. Comparative analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences and the occurrence of l-Dab, d-Ala, l-Ala, Gly, l-Thr, d-Glu and lower amounts of l-Glu in the peptidoglycan in combination with the predominating menaquinones MK-11, MK-10 and MK-9, phosphatidylglycerol, and one unknown glycolipid as the major polar lipids (and trace amounts of diphosphatidylglycerol and an unknown phospholipid), a profile with anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 as major fatty acids and the G+C value of 70.1 mol% confirmed the affiliation to the genus Leucobacter and revealed that S27^T (=DSM 20621^T =CCM 8762^T) is the type strain of a new species for which the name Leucobacter weissii sp. nov. is proposed. The availability of new data allows for an emended description of the genus Leucobacter.

Comparative Genomics of Facultative Bacterial Symbionts Isolated from European Orius Species Reveals an Ancestral Symbiotic Association

Pest control in agriculture employs diverse strategies, among which the use of predatory insects has steadily increased. The use of several species within the genus Orius in pest control is widely spread, particularly in Mediterranean Europe. Commercial mass rearing of predatory insects is costly, and research efforts have concentrated on diet manipulation and selective breeding to reduce costs and improve efficacy. The characterisation and contribution of microbial symbionts to Orius sp. fitness, behaviour, and potential impact on human health has been neglected. This paper provides the first genome sequence level description of the predominant culturable facultative bacterial symbionts associated with five Orius species (O. laevigatus, O. niger, O. pallidicornis, O. majusculus, and O. albidipennis) from several geographical locations. Two types of symbionts were broadly classified as members of the genera Serratia and Leucobacter, while a third constitutes a new genus within the Erwiniaceae. These symbionts were found to colonise all the insect specimens tested, which evidenced an ancestral symbiotic association between these bacteria and the genus Orius. Pangenome analyses of the Serratia sp. isolates offered clues linking Type VI secretion system effector–immunity proteins from the Tai4 sub-family to the symbiotic lifestyle.

Diversity of Cultivable Midgut Microbiota at Different Stages of the Asian Tiger Mosquito, Aedes albopictus from Tezpur, India

Aedes aegypti and Ae. albopictus are among the most important vectors of arboviral diseases, worldwide. Recent studies indicate that diverse midgut microbiota of mosquitoes significantly affect development, digestion, metabolism, and immunity of their hosts. Midgut microbiota has also been suggested to modulate the competency of mosquitoes to transmit arboviruses, malaria parasites etc. Interestingly, the midgut microbial flora is dynamic and the diversity changes with the development of vectors, in addition to other factors such as species, sex, life-stage, feeding behavior and geographical origin. The aim of the present study was to investigate the midgut bacterial diversity among larva, adult male, sugar fed female and blood fed female Ae. albopictus collected from Tezpur, Northeastern India. Based on colony morphological characteristics, we selected 113 cultivable bacterial isolates for 16S rRNA gene sequence based molecular identification. Of the 113 isolates, we could identify 35 bacterial species belonging to 18 distinct genera under four major phyla, namely Proteobacteria, Firmicutes, Actinobacteria and Bacteroidetes. Phyla Proteobacteria and Firmicutes accounted for majority (80%) of the species, while phylum Actinobacteria constituted 17% of the species. Bacteroidetes was the least represented phylum, characterized by a single species- Chryseobacterium rhizoplanae, isolated from blood fed individuals. Dissection of midgut microbiota diversity at different developmental stages of Ae. albopictus will be helpful in better understanding mosquito-borne diseases, and for designing effective strategies to manage mosquito-borne diseases.