RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Miyazaki, Masayuki A1 Nogi, Yuichi A1 Fujiwara, Yoshihiro A1 Kawato, Masaru A1 Kubokawa, Kaoru A1 Horikoshi, KokiYR 2008 T1 Neptunomonas japonica sp. nov., an Osedax japonicus symbiont-like bacterium isolated from sediment adjacent to sperm whale carcasses off Kagoshima, Japan JF International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, VO 58 IS 4 SP 866 OP 871 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.65509-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1466-5034, AB Novel bacterial species were isolated from sediments adjacent to sperm whale carcasses off Kagoshima, Japan, at a depth of 226–246 m. The isolated strains, JAMM 0745T, JAMM 1380, JAMM 1475 and JAMM 1610, were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming and motile by means of a single polar or subterminal flagellum. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of the novel isolates indicated a relationship to a symbiotic bacterial clone of the polychaete Osedax japonicus (99.6–99.9 % sequence similarity) and these bacteria were closely related to members of the genus Neptunomonas (95.6–96.0 % similarity) within the class Gammaproteobacteria. The novel strains were able to produce isoprenoid quinone Q-8 as the major quinone component. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, C16 : 1 and C18 : 1, with C18 : 2 and C20 : 2 present in smaller amounts. The DNA G+C contents of the four novel strains were about 43.6–43.8 mol%. Based on the taxonomic differences observed, the four isolated strains appear to represent a novel species of the genus Neptunomonas. The name Neptunomonas japonica sp. nov. (type strain JAMM 0745T=JCM 14595T=DSM 18939T) is proposed for the novel strains., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijs.0.65509-0