Cordyceps militaris Fungus Extracts-Mediated Nanoemulsion for Improvement Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, and Anti-Inflammatory Activities

This study aimed to produce and optimize a Cordyceps militaris-based oil-in-water (O/W) nanoemulsion (NE) encapsulated in sea buckthorn oil (SBT) using an ultrasonication process. Herein, a nonionic surfactant (Tween 80) and chitosan cosurfactant were used as emulsifying agents. The Cordyceps nanoemulsion (COR-NE) was characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), dynamic light scattering (DLS), and field-emission transmission electron microscope (FE-TEM). The DLS analyses revealed that the NE droplets were 87.0 ± 2.1 nm in diameter, with a PDI value of 0.089 ± 0.023, and zeta potential of -26.20 ± 2. The small size, low PDI, and stable zeta potential highlighted the excellent stability of the NE. The NE was tested for stability under different temperature (4 °C, 25 °C, and 60 °C) and storage conditions for 3 months where 4 °C did not affect the stability. Finally, in vitro cytotoxicity and anti-inflammatory activity were assessed. The results suggested that the NE was not toxic to RAW 264.7 or HaCaT (human keratinocyte) cell lines at up to 100 µL/mL. Anti-inflammatory activity in liposaccharides (LPS)-induced RAW 264.7 cells was evident at 50 µg/mL and showed inhibition of NO production and downregulation of pro-inflammatory gene expression. Further, the NE exhibited good antioxidant (2.96 ± 0.10 mg/mL) activity and inhibited E. coli and S. aureus bacterial growth. Overall, the COR-NE had greater efficacy than the free extract and added significant value for future biomedical and cosmetics applications.

Bacterial Diversity and Community Structure in Korean Ginseng Field Soil Are Shifted by Cultivation Time

Traditional molecular methods have been used to examine bacterial communities in ginseng-cultivated soil samples in a time-dependent manner. Despite these efforts, our understanding of the bacterial community is still inadequate. Therefore, in this study, a high-throughput sequencing approach was employed to investigate bacterial diversity in various ginseng field soil samples over cultivation times of 2, 4, and 6 years in the first and second rounds of cultivation. We used non-cultivated soil samples to perform a comparative study. Moreover, this study assessed changes in the bacterial community associated with soil depth and the health state of the ginseng. Bacterial richness decreased through years of cultivation. This study detected differences in relative abundance of bacterial populations between the first and second rounds of cultivation, years of cultivation, and health states of ginseng. These bacterial populations were mainly distributed in the classes Acidobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Deltaproteobacteria, Gammaproteobacteria, and Sphingobacteria. In addition, we found that pH, available phosphorus, and exchangeable Ca⁺ seemed to have high correlations with bacterial class in ginseng cultivated soil.

Paenibacillus puernese sp. nov., a β-glucosidase-producing bacterium isolated from Pu'er tea

A Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, aerobic, rod-shaped bacterium, designated as DCY97(T), was isolated from ripened Pu'er tea and was identified by using a polyphasic approach. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain DCY97(T) was closely related to Paenibacillus dongdonensis KUDC0114(T) (98.0 %), Paenibacillus oceanisediminis L10(T) (97.7 %), and Paenibacillus barcinonensis BP-23(T) (97.2 %). The phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain DCY97(T) matched with the characteristics of members belonging to the genus Paenibacillus. The major identified polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant quinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 (35.1 %), anteiso-C16:0 (19.0 %), and iso-C16:0 (13.9 %). The peptidoglycan cell wall was composed of meso-diaminopimelic acids, alanine, and D-glutamic acid. The genomic DNA G + C content was determined to be 46.7 mol%. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain DCY97(T) and Paenibacillus dongdonensis KCTC 33221(T), Paenibacillus oceanisediminis KACC 16023(T), Paenibacillus barcinonensis KCTC 13019(T) were 27, 19, and 10 %, respectively. Based on the genotypic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain DCY97(T) is considered as a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus puernese sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY97(T) (=KCTC 33596(T) = JCM 140369(T)).

Labrys soli sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere of ginseng

In this study, we describe strain DCY64T that was isolated from the rhizosphere of three-year-old Korean ginseng root. Cells were Gram-reaction negative, oxidase- and catalase-positive, strictly aerobic, capsulated, non-motile, non-sporulating and spherical to short rod-shaped. Multiplicative budding cells were produced. Vesicles covered the surface of cells. Phylogenetic analysis placed strain DCY64T within the genus Labrys with the highest similarity to Labrys monachus VKM B-1479T (97.6 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), followed by Labrys okinawensis MAFF 210191T (97.5 %), Labrys miyagiensis G24103T (97.4) and Labrys portucalensis F11T (97.0 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 63 mol%. The presences of summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C19 : 1 cyclo ω8c and C16 : 0 as major fatty acids; phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and diphosphatidylglycerol as major polar lipids; ubiquinone Q-10 as the predominant quinone and sym-homospermidine as the dominant polyamine were found in strain DCY64T. These chemotaxonomic results were in accordance with those of members of the genus Labrys. However, the absence of C16 : 0 2-OH, C16 : 0 3-OH and C18 : 1 2-OH from the fatty acids profile and differences in minor polar lipids and phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain DCY64T from the closest type strains. The discrimination was also supported by unique enterobacterial repetitive intergenic consensus sequence PCR (ERIC-PCR) fingerprints, as well as DNA-DNA hybridization values ( ≤ 48 %) between strain DCY64T and related type strains. Therefore, we propose that strain DCY64T represents a novel species of the genus Labrys. The name Labrys soli sp. nov. is proposed, with DCY64T ( = KCTC 32173T = JCM 19895T) as the type strain.

Paenibacillus panaciterrae sp. nov., isolated from ginseng-cultivated soil

A novel bacterium, designated DCY95T, was isolated from ginseng-cultivated soil in Quang Nam province, Vietnam. On the basis of 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequence analysis, this isolate was assigned to the genus Paenibacillus and found to be closely related to Paenibacillus sacheonensis SY01T (97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Paenibacillus taihuensis THMBG22T (96.4 %). The partial gyrB gene of DCY95T possessed 69.6–83.9 % sequence identity to those of other members of the genus Paenibacillus. Strain DCY95T was Gram-reaction-negative, catalase-negative, oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Ellipsoidal free spores or subterminal endospores were produced in sporangia. MK-7 was the diagnostic menaquinone. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diamonopimelic acid as the diamino acid. Whole-cell sugars comprised ribose, mannose and glucose. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminophospholipids, and two unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 60.7 ± 0.9 mol%. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic results placed strain DCY95T within the genus Paenibacillus. However, DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain DCY95T and P. sacheonensis KACC 14895T or P. taihuensis NBRC 108766T were lower than 36 %. The low DNA relatedness data in combination with phylogenetic and (GTG)5-PCR analyses, as well as biochemical tests, indicated that strain DCY95T could not be assigned to any recognized species. In conclusion, the results in this study support the classification of strain DCY95T as a representative of a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus panaciterrae is proposed. The type strain is DCY95T ( = KCTC 33581T = DSM 29477T).

Lactobacillus vespulae sp. nov., isolated from gut of a queen wasp (Vespula vulgaris)

A Gram-stain-positive, oxidase- and catalase-negative, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic bacterial strain, DCY75T, was isolated from a queen wasp (Vespula vulgaris). Growth occurred at 4–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 3.5–8.0 (optimum, pH 5.0–6.0) and with ≤ 7.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain DCY75T produced gas during growth on glucose. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain DCY75T belonged to the genus Lactobacillus and was closely related to Lactobacillus sanfranciscensis ATCC 27651T and Lactobacillus lindneri DSM 20690T at sequence similarities of 96.7 and 96.4 %, respectively. A comparison of two housekeeping genes, pheS and rpoA, revealed that strain DCT75T was well separated from other species of the genus Lactobacillus. Strain DCY75T produced d- and l-lactic acid isomers in a ratio of 22.5 : 77.5 (v/v). The major fatty acids were summed feature 8 (comprising C18 :  1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 0.The peptidoglycan structure was of the A4α (l-Lys–d-Asp) type. Cell-wall sugars were glucose, galactose and ribose. The DNA G+C content was 35.5 ± 1.3 mol%. Based on phenotypic and genotypic properties, strain DCY75T represents a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus, for which the name Lactobacillus vespulae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY75T ( = KCTC 21023T = JCM 19742T).

Microbacterium rhizomatis sp. nov., a β-glucosidase-producing bacterium isolated from rhizome of Korean mountain ginseng

A novel Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, designated DCY100T, was isolated from rhizome of mountain ginseng root in Hwacheon mountain, Gangwon province, Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain DCY100T belonged to the genus Microbacterium and was most closely related to Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189T (97.9 %), Microbacterium lacus JCM 15575T (97.2 %) and Microbacterium invictum DSM 19600T (97.1 %). The major menaquinones were MK-11 and MK-12. The major polar lipids were found to be diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified glycolipid. The major fatty acids (>10.0 %) were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained the amino acids ornithine, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine; whole-cell sugars consisted of glucose, galactose, rhamnose and ribose. The DNA G+C content was 63.6 ± 0.7 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain DCY100T and Microbacterium ginsengisoli KCTC 19189T, Microbacterium lacus JCM 15575T and Microbacterium invictum DSM 19600T were 36.2 ± 0.4, 22.0 ± 3.0 and 15.3 ± 1.8 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses, the isolate is classified as a representative of a novel species in the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium rhizomatis DCY100T is proposed. The type strain is DCY100T ( = KCTC 39529T = JCM 30598T).

Sphingomonas panaciterrae sp. nov., a plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated from soil of a ginseng field

Strain DCY91(T), a Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, aerobic, non-motile bacterium, was isolated from soil of ginseng field in Gyeonggi province, South Korea. Strain DCY91(T) shared the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Sphingomonas mucosissima DSM 17494(T) (98.55%), Sphingomonas dokdonensis KACC 17420(T) (98.11%) and Sphingomonas xinjiangensis DSM 26736(T) (96.68%). The strain DCY91(T) was found to able to grow best in trypticase soy agar at 28 °C, at pH 7 and at 0.5 % NaCl. Ubiquinone 10 was identified as the isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids were identified as sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. The major fatty acids of strain DCY91(T) were identified as unsaturated C18:1 ω7c and saturated C16:0. The major polyamine content was sym-homospermidine. The DNA G + C content was determined to be 65.8 mol% (HPLC). After 6 days of incubation, strain DCY91(T) produced 9.64 ± 1.73 and 33.73 ± 4.66 µg/ml indole-3-acetic acid, using media without L-tryptophan and supplemented with L-tryptophan, respectively. Strain DCY91(T) was also weakly solubilized phosphate and produced siderophores. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics, genotypic analysis and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain DCY91(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas panaciterrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY91(T) (=KCTC 42346(T) =JCM 30807(T)).

Sphingomonas panacis sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere of rusty ginseng

The type strain DCY99(T) was isolated from soil collected from a ginseng field in Hwacheon, Republic of Korea. Strain DCY99(T) is Gram-negative, non-spore forming, motile, rod-shaped, and strictly aerobic. The bacteria grow optimally at 25-30 °C and pH 6.0-6.5. Phylogenetically, strain DCY99(T) is most closely related to Sphingomonas oligophenolica JCM 12082(T), followed by Sphingomonas asaccharolytica KCTC 2825(T), Sphingomonas mali KCTC 2826(T), Sphingomonas cynarae JCM17498(T), Sphingomonas pruni KCTC 2824(T), and Sphingomonas glacialis DSM 22294(T). The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain DCY99(T) and S. oligophenolica JCM 12082(T) was 15.6 ± 0.4 %, and the DNA G+C content of strain DCY99(T) was 64.4 mol%. An isoprenoid quinone was detected and identified as ubiquinone Q-10, and sym-homospermidine was identified as the major polyamine of DCY99(T). The major polar lipids were identified as sphingoglycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine. C14:02OH, C16:0, and summed feature 8 (C18:1 ω7c:/C18:1 ω6c) were identified as the major fatty acids present in DCY99(T). The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed strain DCY99(T) to be differentiated phenotypically from other recognized species belonging to the genus Sphingomonas. Therefore, it is suggested that the newly isolated organism represents a novel species, for which the name Sphingomonas panacis sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain designated as DCY99(T) (=JCM 30806(T) =KCTC 42347(T)).

Humibacter ginsengiterrae sp. nov., and Humibacter ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

Two novel Gram-staining-positive bacteria, designated DCY60T and DCY90T, were isolated from soil of a ginseng field in the Republic of Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed the two novel strains were closely related to members of the genus Humibacter with greatest similarity to Humibacter antri KCTC 33009T (98.8 and 98.4% for DCY60T and DCY90T, respectively). The predominant menaquinones present were MK-11 and MK-12. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0 and summed feature 8 containing C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c. The DNA G+C contents of strains DCY60T and DCY90T were 62.8 and 66.8 mol%, respectively. The peptidoglycan of both strains contained the amino acids ornithine, 2,4-diaminobutyric acid, alanine, glutamic acid and glycine. The cell-wall sugars of strain DCY60T comprised glucose, galactose, rhamnose and xylose, while strain DCY90T contained glucose, galactose, rhamnose and ribose. The major polar lipids of both strains were phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, and an unknown phospholipid. On the basis of the phenotypic analysis strains DCY60T and DCY90T represent novel species of the genus Humibacter, for which names Humibacter ginsengiterrae sp. nov. (type strain DCY60T = KCTC 33520T = JCM 30079T) and Humibacter ginsengisoli sp. nov. (type strain DCY90T = KCTC 33521T = JCM 30080T) are proposed.

Paracoccus panacisoli sp. nov., isolated from a forest soil cultivated with Vietnamese ginseng

A novel bacterial strain, designated DCY94(T), was isolated from forest soil cultivated with ginseng in Vietnam. The strain was Gram-reaction-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and catalase- and oxidase-positive. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that strain DCY94(T) was closely related to Paracoccus sphaerophysae Zy-3(T) (97.5% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Paracoccus caeni MJ17(T) (96.9%). The fatty acid profile of strain DCY94(T) contained a predominant amount of summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 88.4%) and moderate to small quantities of C8 : 0 3-OH (1.0%), C10 : 0 3-OH (2.8%) and C18 : 0 (5.2%). Phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine and one unidentified glycolipid were major polar lipids; one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified aminophospholipid, one unidentified phospholipid and four unidentified polar lipids were minor components. The polyamine pattern comprised the major compounds putrescine and spermidine and minor amounts of sym-homospermidine and spermine. The ubiquinone of the strain was Q-10 and the G+C content of its genomic DNA was 68.3 mol%. All these results support the placement of strain DCY94(T) within the genus Paracoccus . Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain DCY94(T) and P. sphaerophysae HAMBI 3106(T) and P. caeni KCTC 22480(T) were 52 and 50%, respectively. The results of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic tests, chemotaxonomic characterization and DNA-DNA relatedness studies distinguished strain DCY94(T) from the closest recognized species of the genus Paracoccus , suggesting that this strain represents a novel species, for which the name Paracoccus panacisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY94(T) ( = KCTC 42086(T) =JCM 30337(T)).

Paenibacillus ginsengiterrae sp. nov., a ginsenoside-hydrolyzing bacteria isolated from soil of ginseng field

A novel bacterial strain DCY89(T) was isolated from soil sample of ginseng field and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped, spore-forming and motile with flagella. The strain was aerobic, esculin and starch positive, catalase- and oxidase-negative, optimum growth temperature, and pH were 25-30 °C and 6.0-7.5, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DCY89(T) was shown to belong to the genus Paenibacillus and the closest phylogenetic relatives were Paenibacillus cellulosilyticus KACC 14175(T) (98.2%), Paenibacillus kobensis KACC 15273(T) (98.1%), Paenibacillus xylaniclasticus KCTC 13719(T) (96.9%), and Paenibacillus curdlanolyticus KCTC 3759(T) (96.64%). The DNA G+C content was 52.5 mol%, and the predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, iso-C16:0, and anteiso-C15:0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and phosphatidylglycerol. The results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that DCY89(T) represented a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which we propose the name Paenibacillus ginsengiterrae. The type strain is DCY89(T) (JCM 19887(T) = KCTC 33430(T)).

Epilithonimonas ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A novel Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated DCY78(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in Yeon-cheon province (38° 04' 00″ N 126° 57' 00″ E), Republic of Korea. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DCY78(T) belonged to the genus Epilithonimonas and was most closely related to Epilithonimonas lactis DSM 19921(T) (98.5 % sequence similarity) and Epilithonimonas tenax DSM 16811(T) (97.8 %). Growth occurred at 10-30 °C with an optimum temperature of 28 °C. The pH range for growth was pH 5.5-8.0. The major polar lipids were found to be phosphatidylethanolamine three unidentified amino lipids and one unidentified polar lipid. The only predominant quinone was MK-6. The major polyamines were sym-homospermidine and spermidine. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 37.9 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic and genotypic analysis, the isolate is classified as representative of a novel species in the genus Epilithonimonas, for which the name Epilithonimonas ginsengisoli is proposed. The type strain is DCY78(T) ( = KCTC 32174(T) = JCM 19896(T)).

Brachybacterium ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A novel Gram-staining-positive, aerobic bacterium, designed DCY80(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in the Republic of Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain DCY80(T) belonged to the genus Brachybacterium (95.8-98.2 % similarity) and was most closely related to Brachybacterium faecium DSM 4810(T) (98.2 %). Colonies were circular, entire, low-convex, opaque and 0.5-1.0 mm in diameter after growth for 2 days on TSA at 30 °C. Growth occurred at 4-34 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 5.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 6.5-7.0) and in the presence of 0-7.0 % NaCl. Strain DCY80(T) produced siderophores and was sensitive to penicillin G, erythromycin, cefazolin, oleandomycin, ceftazidime, vancomycin, tetracycline, novobiocin, carbamicillin, rifampicin and neomycin. The DNA G+C content was 71.0 mol%. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain DCY80(T) and B. faecium DSM 4810(T), B. paraconglomeratum KCTC 9916(T), B. saurashtrense DSM 23186(T) and B. conglomeratum KCTC 9915(T) were 46.9±0.5, 28.9±0.6, 20.4±0.9 and 17.3±0.4 %, respectively. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain DCY80(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The menaquinones were MK-7 (85.8 %) and MK-8 (14.2 %). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 (69.1 %) and anteiso-C17 : 0 (12.2 %). Phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, two unidentified phospholipids and five unidentified polar lipids were found. On the basis of our phenotypic and genotypic analyses, strain DCY80(T) represents a novel species of the genus Brachybacterium, for which the name Brachybacterium ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed (type strain DCY80(T) = KCTC 29226(T) = JCM 19356(T)).

Arthrobacter gyeryongensis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a Gynostemma pentaphyllum field

A Gram-stain-positive, flagellate, rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterium, designated DCY72(T), was isolated from the soil of a Gynostemma pentaphyllum field. Growth occurred at 4-34 °C (optimum 30 °C), at pH 4-10 (optimum pH 7), and with 0-5% NaCl (w/v). The major menaquinones of strain DCY72(T) were MK-9(H2) (81.0 %) and MK-10(H2) (12.2%). The major amino acid present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was L-lysine. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0). The genomic DNA G+C content was 64.5 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain DCY72(T) belonged to the family Micrococcaceae and was most closely related to Arthrobacter ramosus CCM 1646(T) (98.2% similarity). The DNA-DNA relatedness between strain DCY72(T) and A. ramosus KACC 14391(T) (98.2% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Arthrobacter nitroguajacolicus KACC 14581(T) (97.6%), Arthrobacter nicotinovorans KACC 20508(T) (97.3%) and Arthrobacter aurescens KACC 20528(T) (97.3%). was 12.9% ± 0.3, 25.6% ± 0.3, 26.6% ± 0.5 and 23.2% ± 0.9, respectively. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics, genotypic analysis and physiological characteristics, strain DCY72(T) represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter gyeryongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY72(T) ( = KCTC 33072(T) = JCM 18514(T)).

Bacillus ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A novel bacterial strain DCY53T was isolated from a soil sample from a ginseng field and was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming and motile with flagella. The strain was aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, optimum growth temperature and pH were 30–37 °C and 6.0–7.5, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain DCY53T was shown to belong to the genus Bacillus and the closest phylogenetic relatives were Bacillus pocheonensis KCTC 13943T (98.3 %), Bacillus bataviensis LMG 21833T (98.0 %), Bacillus soli LMG 21838T (97.9 %), Bacillus drentensis LMG 21831T (97.8 %), Bacillus niacini DSM 2923T (97.8 %), Bacillus novalis LMG 21837T (97.7 %), Bacillus vireti LMG 21834T (97.6 %) and Bacillus fumarioli LMG 17489T (97.3 %). The DNA G+C content was 43.6 mol% and the predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C14 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA–DNA relatedness with closest relatives was below 55 %. The results of the genotypic analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data demonstrated that DCY53T represented a novel species within the genus Bacillus , for which we propose the name Bacillus ginsengisoli. The type strain is DCY53T ( = KCTC 13945T = JCM 17335T).

Hymenobacter ginsengisoli sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, red bacterium, designated DCY57(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field in a mountainous region of Chungnam province in South Korea. Strain DCY57(T) grew with 0-1 % (w/v) NaCl and the optimum temperature for growth was 30 °C. Strain DCY57(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The major fatty acids were C(16:1)ω5c, iso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(15:0) and summed feature 3 (containing C(16:1)ω7c and/or C(16:1)ω6c). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, unknown aminophospholipids, unknown aminolipids and unknown lipids. The DNA G+C content was 58.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain DCY57(T) was most closely related to members of the genus Hymenobacter. The isolate exhibited 91.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with H. soli PB17(T), 94.5 % with H. flocculans A2-50A(T) and 95.8 % with H. metalli A2-91(T). On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain DCY57(T) represents a novel species within the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter ginsengisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCY57(T) ( = KCTC 23674(T) = JCM 17841(T)).