Arundinibacter roseus gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Cytophagaceae

Three Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, oxidase- and catalase positive, rod-shaped, pink-coloured bacterial strains, DMA-K-7a^T, DMA-K-1 and DMG-N-1, were isolated from water sampled at Lake Fertő/Neusiedler See (Hungary). Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the strains form a distinct linage within the family Cytophagaceae of the phylum Bacteroidetes, and their closest relatives are Rhabdobacter roseus R49^T (95.66 %) and Dyadobacter sediminis Z12^T (95.38 %). The assembled genome of strain DMA-K-7a^T had a total length of 5.8 Mb and a DNA G+C content of 45.7 mol%. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c, C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, an unknown aminolipid, an unknown glycolipid and five unknown lipids. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Strain DMA-K-7a^T (=DSM 106737^T=NCAIM B.02641^T) is proposed as the type strain of a new genus and species in the family Cytophagaceae, for which the name Arundinibacter roseus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

The status of the species Actinobaculum massiliense (Greub and Raoult 2006). Request for an Opinion

A recent study on members of the genus Actinobaculum revealed that cultures of the species Actinobaculum massiliense CCUG 47753(T) ( = DSM 19118(T)) currently being distributed do not conform to the properties of the type strain of A. massiliense CIP 107404(T) given by Greub & Raoult [Greub, G. & Raoult, D. (2002). J Clin Microbiol 40, 3938-3941]. The original strain, CIP 107404(T) is no longer available from the Biological Resource Center of Institut Pasteur, Paris. Based on data currently available, the organism currently deposited as CCUG 47753(T) and DSM 19118(T) is a member of the species Actinobaculum schaalii. Clearly, the organism deposited as CCUG 47753(T) and DSM 19118(T) as the type strain of the species Actinobaculum massiliense does not have the properties given by Greub & Raoult. Based on the absence of an authentic type strain, the Judicial Commission is requested to examine the status of the name Actinobaculum massiliense Greub and Raoult 2006 and to issue an Opinion.

Dissection of the genus Actinobaculum: Reclassification of Actinobaculum schaalii Lawson et al. 1997 and Actinobaculum urinale Hall et al. 2003 as Actinotignum schaalii gen. nov., comb. nov. and Actinotignum urinale comb. nov., description of Actinotignum sanguinis sp. nov. and emended descriptions of the genus Actinobaculum and Actinobaculum suis; and re-examination of the culture deposited as Actinobaculum massiliense CCUG 47753T ( = DSM 19118T), revealing that it does not represent a strain of this species

The remarkable host specificity of the species of the genus Actinobaculum led us to recharacterize these species by a polyphasic approach. A comparative chemotaxonomic study including analysis of whole-cell sugars, amino acid composition of the peptidoglycan, fatty acid methyl esters, respiratory quinones and polar lipids revealed significant differences that, in combination with molecular data, support a dissection of the genus Actinobaculum. The proposals of this study include the reclassification of Actinobaculum schaalii and Actinobaculum urinale as Actinotignum schaalii gen. nov., comb. nov. (type strain DSM 15541(T) = CCUG 27420(T)) and Actinotignum urinale comb. nov. (type strain DSM 15805(T) = CCUG 46093(T)), respectively. Emended descriptions of the genus Actinobaculum and Actinomyces suis are also provided. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization also indicated that the type strain of Actinobaculum massiliense deposited as CCUG 47753(T) ( = DSM 19118(T)) should in fact be considered a member of the species Actinobaculum schaalii. In addition, comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing and DNA-DNA relatedness studies of four strains recovered from clinical materials demonstrated that three of the isolates belonged to Actinotignum schaalii; the remaining strain represents a novel species, for which the name Actinotignum sanguinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB L-2199(T) ( = DSM 26039(T) = CCUG 64068(T)).

Phreatobacter oligotrophus gen. nov., sp. nov., an alphaproteobacterium isolated from ultrapure water of the water purification system of a power plant

Strains of a novel alphaproteobacterium were isolated from ultrapure water of a Hungarian power plant on a newly developed medium. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the novel strains showed that these bacteria belong to a distinct lineage far from any known taxa. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strains PI_31, PI_25 and PI_21(T) exhibited the highest sequence similarity to Bosea minatitlanensis AMX51(T) (93.43 %) and Bosea thiooxidans DSM 9653(T) (93.36 %); similarity to all other taxa was less than 93.23 %. Fatty acid profiles, matrix-assisted laser-desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectra of cell extracts as well as physiological and biochemical characteristics indicated that our strains represent a novel genus and species within the class Alphaproteobacteria. The major isoprenoid quinone of the strains was Q-10, the major cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c and 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c and the polar lipid profiles of the strains contained phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and several unknown phospholipids and other lipids. The characteristic diamino acid in their cell wall was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The G+C content of DNA of the proposed type strain PI_21(T) was 68.9 mol%. A new genus and species, Phreatobacter oligotrophus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate the strains. Strain PI_21(T) ( = DSM 25521(T) = NCAIM B 02510(T)) is the type strain of Phreatobacter oligotrophus.

Reclassification of Koreibacter algae as a later heterotypic synonym of Paraoerskovia marina and emended descriptions of the genus Paraoerskovia Khan et al. 2009 and of Paraoerskovia marina Khan et al. 2009

16S rRNA gene sequences deposited for the type strains of Paraoerskovia marina (CTT-37T; GenBank accession no. AB445007) and Koreibacter algae (DSW-2T; FM995611) show a similarity of 100 %. Consequently, the type strains were subjected to a polyphasic recharacterization under direct comparison in order to clarify their taxonomic position. PvuII RiboPrint patterns and quantitative ratios of cellular fatty acids revealed strain-specific differences between P. marina DSM 21750T ( = CTT-37T) and K. algae DSM 22126T ( = DSW-2T). The percentage of DNA–DNA binding of 94 % indicated that the two type strains belong to the same genomospecies. Agreement in the peptidoglycan structure and polar lipid pattern, highly similar fatty acid profiles and MALDI-TOF mass spectra, the ability to produce acid from the same carbon sources, corresponding enzymic activities and DNA G+C contents of 70.8±0.3 mol%, in addition to the consistent characteristics reported in the original descriptions, support the view that the two strains should be affiliated to the same species. According to Rules 38 and 42 of the Bacteriological Code, Koreibacter algae should be reclassified as later heterotypic synonym of Paraoerskovia marina , and the descriptions of the genus Paraoerskovia Khan et al. 2009 and of Paraoerskovia marina Khan et al. 2009 are emended accordingly.

Corynebacterium aquatimens sp. nov., a lipophilic Corynebacterium isolated from blood cultures of a patient with bacteremia

An unknown lipophilic coryneform bacterium isolated from the blood cultures of a patient with bacteremia was characterized by phenotypic and molecular genetic methods. Chemical analysis revealed the presence of short chain mycolic acids consistent with the genus Corynebacterium. The DNA G+C content was 60.8 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolate represents a new subline within the genus Corynebacterium. The closely phylogenetic relative of the unknown bacterium was found to be C. tuscaniense (97.8% sequence similarity). Partial rpoB gene sequence revealed that strain IMMIB L-2475(T) exhibited 13.5% sequence divergence with C. tuscaniense. The unknown bacterium was distinguished from C. tuscaniense by, DNA-DNA hybridization, cellular fatty acid profiles, MALDI-TOF analyses of cell extracts and biochemical tests. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic criteria, it is proposed that this bacterium be classified as new species, Corynebacterium aquatimens sp. nov., and is represented by strain IMMIB L-2475(T) (=DSM 45632(T)=CCUG 61574(T)).

Arthrobacter equi sp. nov., isolated from veterinary clinical material

A Gram-positive-staining, catalase-positive, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, strain IMMIB L-1606(T), isolated from genital swabs of a horse, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the organism was related to members of the genus Arthrobacter, displaying sequence similarities of 93.5-99.1 % with the type strains of recognized species of the genus. Cell-wall analysis revealed peptidoglycan type A3α L-Lys-L-Ser-L-Thr-L-Ala. DNA-DNA hybridization data and biochemical characterization of strain IMMIB L-1606(T) enabled the isolate to be differentiated genotypically and phenotypically from phylogenetically closely related species of the genus Arthrobacter. Therefore, it is concluded that strain IMMIB L-1606(T) represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter equi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Arthrobacter equi sp. nov. is IMMIB L-1606(T) ( = DSM 23395(T) = CCUG 59597(T)).

Corynebacterium pilbarense sp. nov., a non-lipophilic corynebacterium isolated from a human ankle aspirate

A non-lipophilic coryneform bacterium isolated from an anaerobic Bactec bottle inoculated with an ankle aspirate from a male patient was characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed the presence of short-chain mycolic acids in the cell wall of the bacterium, a feature consistent with members of the genusCorynebacterium. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the isolate displayed 92.0–99.0 % gene sequence similarity with members of the genusCorynebacterium, withCorynebacterium ureicelerivoransas the most closely related phylogenetic species (99.0 % gene sequence similarity). However, the isolate could be genomically separated fromC. ureicelerivoranson the basis of DNA–DNA hybridization studies (39.5 % relatedness). Furthermore, the isolate could also be differentiated fromC. ureicelerivoransand other species of the genusCorynebacteriumon the basis of biochemical properties. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that this isolate be classified as representing a novel species,Corynebacterium pilbarensesp. nov. (type strain IMMIB WACC 658T=DSM 45350T=CCUG 57942T).

Methylobacterium marchantiae sp. nov., a pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium isolated from the thallus of a liverwort

A pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic bacterium, designated strain JT1(T), was isolated from a thallus of the liverwort Marchantia polymorpha L. and was analysed by using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the strain in a clade with Methylobacterium adhaesivum AR27(T), Methylobacterium fujisawaense DSM 5686(T), Methylobacterium radiotolerans JCM 2831(T) and Methylobacterium jeotgali S2R03-9(T), with which it showed sequence similarities of 97.8, 97.7, 97.2 and 97.4 %, respectively. However, levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain JT1(T) and these and the type strains of other closely related species were lower than 70 %. Cells of JT1(T) stained Gram-negative and were motile, rod-shaped and characterized by numerous fimbriae-like appendages on the outer surface of their wall (density up to 200 µm(-2)). Major fatty acids were C(18 : 1)ω7c and C(16 : 0). Based on the morphological, physiological and biochemical data presented, strain JT1(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Methylobacterium, for which the name Methylobacterium marchantiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JT1(T) ( = DSM 21328(T)  = CCUG 56108(T)).

Actinomadura sputi sp. nov., isolated from the sputum of a patient with pulmonary infection

The taxonomic position of an actinomycete, strain IMMIB L-889T, isolated from the sputum of a 64-year-old man, was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain had chemical and morphological properties that were consistent with its classification in the genus Actinomadura. It formed a distinct phyletic line in the 16S rRNA gene tree of Actinomadura and was most closely related to the type strain of Actinomadura hallensis (98.4 % sequence similarity), but could be readily distinguished from the latter species using DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic data. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicate that strain IMMIB L-889T represents a novel species of the genus Actinomadura, for which the name Actinomadura sputi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB L-889T (=DSM 45233T=CCUG 56587T).

Rhodobacter johrii sp. nov., an endospore-producing cryptic species isolated from semi-arid tropical soils

An oval to rod-shaped, phototrophic, purple non-sulfur bacterium, strain JA192(T), was isolated from an enrichment culture of a pasteurized rhizosphere soil sample from a field cultivated with jowar (sorghum) collected from Godumakunta village near Hyderabad, India. Strain JA192(T) is Gram-negative, motile and produces endospores. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain JA192(T) is closely related to Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1(T) (99.9 % sequence similarity), Rba. megalophilus JA194(T) (99.8 %) and Rba. azotoformans KA25(T) (98.1 %) and clusters with other species of the genus Rhodobacter of the family Rhodobacteraceae. However, DNA-DNA hybridization with Rba. sphaeroides DSM 158(T), Rba. megalophilus JA194(T) and Rba. azotoformans JCM 9340(T) showed relatedness of only 38-57 % with respect to strain JA192(T). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, DNA-DNA hybridization data and morphological, physiological and chemotaxonomic characters, strain JA192(T) represents a novel species of the genus Rhodobacter, for which the name Rhodobacter johrii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA192(T) (=DSM 18678(T) =JCM 14543(T) =MTCC 8172(T)).

Streptomyces thinghirensis sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of Vitis vinifera

A novel actinomycete, strain S10(T), was isolated from rhizosphere soil of wild Vitis vinifera in Thinghir, Ouarzazate Province, Southern Morocco. The taxonomic status of this strain was established using a polyphasic approach. Strain S10(T) had white-grey aerial mycelium with long, spiral spore chains bearing smooth surfaced spores and produced a yellow diffusible pigment. Chemotaxonomic analyses showed that the cell wall of strain S10(T) contained ll-diaminopimelic acid and glycine. Phylogenetic analysis based on the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain S10(T) belonged to the Group I streptomycetes, branching off next to Streptomyces marokkonensis LMG 23016(T) from the Streptomyces violaceoruber group. DNA-DNA relatedness and phenotypic data distinguished strain S10(T) from the phylogenetically closest related type strains. It is therefore proposed that strain S10(T) (=CCMM B35(T)=DSM 41919(T)) represents the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces thinghirensis sp. nov. is proposed.

Arthrobacter phenanthrenivorans sp. nov., to accommodate the phenanthrene-degrading bacterium Arthrobacter sp. strain Sphe3

A novel phenanthrene-degrading bacterium, designated strain Sphe3(T), was isolated from a creosote-contaminated soil in Greece. Cells were non-motile, Gram-positive, aerobic, and rod- to coccus-shaped. The strain was isolated on the basis of formation of a clear zone on agar plates sprayed with phenanthrene. Optimal growth occurred at 30 degrees C. The G+C content of the DNA was 65.7 mol%. The polar lipid pattern of strain Sphe3(T) consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(16 : 0), C(16 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0), representing >86 % of the total fatty acids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone of strain Sphe3(T) was menaquinone-8 (MK-8). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Sphe3(T) showed 99 and 98.9 % similarity to the type strains of Arthrobacter oxydans and Arthrobacter polychromogenes, respectively. Strain Sphe3(T) showed 91 % similarity to homologues of A. oxydans and A. polychromogenes based on recA gene sequence analysis. Based on 16S rRNA and recA gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization analysis, as well as physiological and chemotaxonomic characteristics, it is concluded that strain Sphe3(T) represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter phenanthrenivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Sphe3(T) (=DSM 18606(T) =LMG 23796(T)).

Halobacillus karajensis sp. nov., a novel moderate halophile

A moderately halophilic, gram-positive, spore-forming bacterium was isolated from surface saline soil of the Karaj region, Iran. The strain, designated MA-2T, was strictly aerobic with rod-shaped cells that occurred singly, in pairs or short chains. It contained L-Om-D-Asp-type peptidoglycan and the major respiratory lipoquinone was MK-7. It was non-motile and had an ellipsoidal endospore located centrally or subterminally. Growth occurred at 10-49 degrees C and in the pH range 6.0-9.6. Strain MA-2T grew at salinities of 1-24% (w/v) NaCl, showing optimal growth at 10% (w/v). The DNA G + C content was 41.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MA-2T was associated with Bacillus rRNA group 1. The micro-organisms showing the closest phylogenetic relationship to strain MA-2T were Halobacillus litoralis and Halobacillus trueperi. On the basis of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA similarity data, it is proposed that strain MA-2T (= DSM 14948T = LMG 21515T) should be placed in the genus Halobacillus as the type strain of a novel species, Halobacillus karajensis sp. nov.

Paenibacillus agarexedens sp. nov., nom. rev., and Paenibacillus agaridevorans sp. nov

Twenty-two agarolytic, aerobic, spore-forming strains were characterized taxonomically by DNA-DNA reassociation experiments, riboprint analyses, 16S rDNA sequencing and phenetic similarity analyses. Based on riboprint analyses, the strains formed eight ribogroups, six of which contained 2-6 strains and two encompassed single strains. Within the multi-strain ribogroups, similarities ranged from 91-99%. Phylogenetic analyses of representatives of the eight groups by 16S rDNA sequence analysis showed that the strains were affiliated to the genus Paenibacillus, but relatedness to described Paenibacillus species was only moderate (<97.8% sequence similarity). Published DNA-DNA similarity values for most of the agarolytic strains, supplemented with new data, supported the distinctiveness of the eight ribogroups. Intragroup DNA-DNA similarity values ranged from 80 to 104%, while intergroup DNA-DNA similarities were <35%. Based on genomic distinctiveness and supported by the presence of distinguishing phenotypic properties, multi-strain groups 1 and 2 are proposed as novel species, Paenibacillus agarexedens sp. nov., nom. rev. (type strain, DSM 1327T=CIP 107437T) and Paenibacillus agaridevorans sp. nov. (type strain, DSM 1355T=CIP 107436T).

Propionispora vibrioides, nov. gen., nov. sp., a new gram-negative, spore-forming anaerobe that ferments sugar alcohols

Anaerobic enrichment cultures, with erythritol as substrate, resulted in the isolation of a strain with properties not yet found in an existing genus in this combination. The strain, FKBS1, was strictly anaerobic, stained gram-negative and formed spores. Cells were small motile vibrios with flagella inserted at the concave side of the cell. Spores were located terminally and caused only slight swelling of the cells if compared to related spore-forming genera. FKBS1 fermented fructose, mannitol, sorbitol, xylitol and erythritol to propionic acid, acetic acid, CO2 and small amounts of H2 to balance the difference in the oxidation-reduction value between substrate and cell mass. The 16S rDNA sequence revealed relationship to the Sporomusa-Pectinatus-Selenomonas group. However, the phylogenetic distance to any of its members was too great to allow it to be placed in one of the existing genera. Morphologically the strain resembled Sporomusa, which, however, performs an acetogenic type of fermentation. The propionic-acid-forming genera of the group are either not spore-formers or, in the case of Dendrosporobacter quercicolus (syn. Clostridium quercicolum), morphologically different. It is therefore proposed to classify strain FKBS1 as a new genus and species, Propionispora vibrioides.

New psychrophilic and psychrotolerant Bacillus marinus strains from tropical and polar deep-sea sediments and emended description of the species

In contrast to the current view that psychrophily combined with an absolute requirement for NaCl is connected with the Gram-negative cell wall type, psychrophilic and psychrotolerant, NaCl-requiring, Gram-positive bacteria have been isolated from tropical Atlantic, Arctic and Antarctic deep-sea sediments. Some of the isolates are even extremely psychrophilic, having maximum growth temperatures of 4 degrees C. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, DNA base analyses, DNA-DNA hybridizations and partial and complete 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses, the strains from the three distinct geographical regions have been allocated to the obligately marine species Bacillus marinus. The distribution and origin of B. marinus are discussed and an emended description of the species is presented.

Characterization of Vibrio viscosus and Vibrio wodanis isolated at different geographical locations: a proposal for reclassification of Vibrio viscosus as Moritella viscosa comb. nov

Vibrio viscosus and Vibrio wodanis are recently described species of psychrotropic bacteria that have been found associated with a disease called 'winter ulcer', affecting salmonid fish reared in saline water in Norway, Iceland and recently in Scotland. V. viscosus and V. wodanis strains initially isolated from fish in Iceland and Norway were subjected to characterization using biochemical tests, SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins and a novel DNA fingerprinting method, amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP). The V. viscosus strains isolated from diseased fish grouped into homogeneous subgroups according to geographical origin and challenge experiments revealed that representatives of these groups are virulent. The results revealed that the V. wodanis strains are heterogeneous genotypically and phenotypically. Sequencing of almost complete 16S rRNA genes of V. viscosus and V. wodanis revealed that V. viscosus showed a 99.1% sequence similarity to Moritella marina and V. wodanis showed a 98.8% sequence similarity to Vibrio logei CIP 103204. A reclassification of Vibrio viscosus as Moritella viscosa comb. nov. is proposed.

Gordonia polyisoprenivorans sp. nov., a rubber-degrading actinomycete isolated from an automobile tyre

A rubber-degrading bacterium (strain Kd2T) was isolated from fouling tyre water inside a deteriorated automobile tyre. The strain was aerobic, Grampositive, produced elementary branching hyphae which fragmented into rod/coccus-like elements and showed chemotaxonomic markers which were consistent with the classification of Gordonia, i.e. meso-diaminopimelic acid, N-glycolyl muramic acid, arabinose and galactose as diagnostic sugars, a fatty acid pattern composed of unbranched saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids with a considerable amount of tuberculostearic acid, and mycolic acids comprising 58-66 carbon atoms with two principal mycolic acids C60 and C62 counting for over 60%. Results of 16S rDNA analyses as well as chemotaxonomic results, led to the conclusion that Gordonia sp. strain Kd2T (= DSM 44302T) represents a new species within the genus Gordonia for which the name Gordonia polyisoprenivorans is proposed.

The phylogenetic position of Serratia, Buttiauxella and some other genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae

The phylogenetic relationships of the type strains of 38 species from 15 genera of the family Enterobacteriaceae were investigated by comparative 16S rDNA analysis. Several sequences of strains from the genera Citrobacter, Erwinia, Pantoea, Proteus, Rahnella and Serratia, analysed in this study, have been analysed previously. However, as the sequences of this study differ slightly from the published ones, they were included in the analysis. Of the 23 enterobacterial genera included in an overview dendrogram of relatedness, members of the genera Xenorhabdus, Photorhabdus, Proteus and Plesiomonas were used as a root. The other genera formed two groups which could be separated, although not exclusively, by signature nucleotides at positions 590-649 and 600-638. Group A contains species of Brenneria, Buttiauxella, Citrobacter, Escherichia, Erwinia, Klebsiella, Pantoea, Pectobacterium and Salmonella. All seven type strains of Buttiauxella share 16S rDNA similarities greater than 99%. Group B embraces two phylogenetically separate Serratia clusters, a lineage containing Yersinia species, Rahnella aquatica, Ewingella americana, and also the highly related pair Hafnia alvei and Obesumbacterium proteus.

The correlation between morphological and phylogenetic classification of myxobacteria

In order to determine whether morphological criteria are suitable to affiliate myxobacterial strains to species, a phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNAs was performed on 54 myxobacterial strains that represented morphologically 21 species of the genera Angiococcus, Archangium, Chondromyces, Cystobacter, Melittangium, Myxococcus, Polyangium and Stigmatella, five invalid species and three unclassified isolates. The analysis included 12 previously published sequences. The branching pattern confirmed the deep trifurcation of the order Myxococcales. One lineage is defined by the genera Cystobacter, Angiococcus, Archangium, Melittangium, Myxococcus and Stigmatella. The study confirms the genus status of 'Corallococcus', previously 'Chondrococcus', within the family Myxococcaceae. The second lineage contains the genus Chondromyces and the species Polyangium ('Sorangium') cellulosum, while the third lineage is comprised of Nannocystis and a strain identified as Polyangium vitellinum. With the exception of a small number of strains that did not cluster phylogenetically with members of the genus to which they were assigned by morphological criteria ('Polyangium thaxteri' Pl t3, Polyangium cellulosum ATCC 25531T, Melittangium lichenicola ATCC 25947T and Angiococcus disciformis An d1), the phenotypic classification should provide a sound basis for the description of neotype species in those cases where original strain material is not available or is listed as reference material.

Identification of bacterial isolates from biofilters as Paracoccus alkenifer sp. nov. and Paracoccus solventivorans with emended description of Paracoccus solventivorans

Two groups of strains isolated from biofilters for the treatment of waste gases were assigned to the genus Paracoccus by phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic methods. All type strains of the genus Paracoccus were compared with these groups using 16S rDNA sequence analysis, fatty acid patterns and physiological reaction profiles. For both groups, the nearest related reference species was Paracoccus solventivorans based on 16S rDNA sequence similarity. However, whereas one group of isolates was identified as a member of this species by fatty acid analysis and DNA-DNA hybridization, the other group was proposed as a new species, Paracoccus alkenifer sp. nov. Fatty acid analysis showed the unusual fatty acid 20:1cis13 instead of 19:0 cyclo11-12 for P. alkenifer and P. solventivorans, and 14:1cis7 instead of 12:1cis5 for P. alkenifer and Paracoccus kocurii. By means of a GC-MS method, diaminopimelic acid was detected for P. solventivorans. Based on these results we propose an emended description for the species P. solventivorans.

Corynebacterium thomssenii sp. nov., a Corynebacterium with N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity from human clinical specimens

A strain of a previously undescribed non-lipophilic coryneform bacterium was isolated from pleural fluids of a patient with chronic renal failure, stroke and pneumonia. Slow fermentative acid production from glucose, maltose and sucrose, and strong N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase activity were the most characteristic features of the bacterium. Chemotaxonomic characterization unambiguously indicated that the organism belonged to the genus Corynebacterium. The results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the isolate represented a new species within the genus, for which the name Corynebacterium thomssenii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DSM 44276.

Molecular biological evidence for the occurrence of uncultured members of the actinomycete line of descent in different environments and geographical locations

A 16S rDNA based molecular ecological study was performed on a sample taken from a peat bog in Germany. Total DNA was extracted by directly lysing micro-organisms in the peat matrix. The 5' 1400 nucleotides of the bacterial 16S rDNA were amplified using conserved bacterial PCR primers. A clone library was generated by blunt-end cloning and 262 16S rDNA clones were analysed. Of these, 37 were located in the Gram-positive phylum, as determined by hybridization to an oligonucleotide probe specific for Gram-positive bacteria. Analysis of 17 of these clones by sequence analysis and their comparison with published sequences representing all of the main bacterial phyla indicated their membership of the actinomycete line of descent. These peat clones were found to represent three novel lineages, two of which appear to be related to the species Acidimicrobium ferrooxidans, and 'Candidatus Microthrix parvicella'. Clone sequences of the third group are phylogenetically related to Rubrobacter radiotolerans. Comparison with short 16S rDNA clone sequences obtained from DNA isolated from a geothermally heated soil in New Zealand, and from DNA isolated from soil in Australia, Japan and Finland and marine environments from the Atlantic and the Pacific Oceans, suggests that members of these three groups occur in very different environments across the world.