- Volume 68, Issue 10, 2018

A novel aerobic actinomycete, designated HA15826T, was isolated from a mangrove soil sample collected in Sanya, China. Scanning electron microscopy revealed that the isolate produced straight to slightly flexural spore chains with rough cylindrical spores. Chemotaxonomic tests showed that the cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and the major fatty acids were iso-C_16 : 0, 10-methyl-C_17 : 0, C_17 : 1ω8c and C_16 : 0. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis showed that strain HA15826T belonged to the genus Nonomuraea , being most closely related to Nonomuraea dietziae DSM 44320T (98.7 %), Nonomuraea candida HMC10T (98.4 %), Nonomuraea africana IFO 14745T (98.4 %), Nonomuraea roseola IFO 14685T (98.2 %) and Nonomuraea recticatena IFO 14525T (98.1 %). The DNA G+C content of the type strain is 73.2 %. DNA–DNA relatedness and comparative analyses of physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic data allowed genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain HA15826T from the closely related species. Thus, strain HA15826T should be classified as a novel species of the genus Nonomuraea , for which the name Nonomuraea mangrovi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HA15826T (=CGMCC 4.7425T=DSM 105694T).

A moderately acidophilic actinobacterial strain, designated MMS16-CNU450T, was isolated from pine grove soil, and its taxonomic position was analysed using a polyphasic approach. The isolate showed best growth at 30 °C, pH 6 and 0.5 % (w/v) NaCl. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the isolate was assigned to the genus Streptacidiphilus , and the closest species were Streptacidiphilus rugosus AM-16T (sequence similarity, 98.61 %), Streptacidiphilus melanogenes NBRC 103184T (98.53 %), Streptacidiphilus jiangxiensis NBRC 100920T (98.19 %) and Streptacidiphilus anmyonensis NBRC 103185T (98.05 %). The isolate formed a distinct cluster of its own within the Streptacidiphilus clade in the phylogenetic tree. Based on whole-genome comparison between the strain MMS16-CNU450T and the type strains of related species, the orthologous average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values were in the range of 77.9–87.0 and 22.3–32.7 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 68.6 mol%. The phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic data supported the affiliation of the strain to Streptacidiphilus , and the name Streptacidiphilus pinicola sp. nov. (type strain, MMS16-CNU450T=KCTC 49008T=JCM 32300T) is proposed accordingly.

A Gram-stain-positive, catalase-positive and pleomorphic rod organism was isolated from malted barley in Finland, classified initially by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing and originally deposited in the VTT Culture Collection as a strain of Propionibacterium acidipropionici (currently Acidipropionibacterium acidipropionici ). The subsequent comparison of the whole 16S rRNA gene with other representatives of the genus Acidipropionibacterium revealed that the strain belongs to a novel species, most closely related to Acidipropionibacterium microaerophilum and Acidipropionibacterium acidipropionici , with similarity values of 98.46 and 98.31 %, respectively. The whole genome sequencing using PacBio RS II platform allowed further comparison of the genome with all of the other DNA sequences available for the type strains of the Acidipropionibacterium species. Those comparisons revealed the highest similarity of strain JS278T to A. acidipropionici , which was confirmed by the average nucleotide identity analysis. The genome of strain JS278T is intermediate in size compared to the A. acidipropionici and Acidipropionibacterium jensenii at 3 432 872 bp, the G+C content is 68.4 mol%. The strain fermented a wide range of carbon sources, and produced propionic acid as the major fermentation product. Besides its poor ability to grow at 37 °C and positive catalase reaction, the observed phenotype was almost indistinguishable from those of A. acidipropionici and A. jensenii . Based on our findings, we conclude that the organism represents a novel member of the genus Acidipropionibacterium , for which we propose the name Acidipropionibacterium virtanenii sp. nov. The type strain is JS278T (=VTT E-113202T=DSM 106790T).

A Gram-reaction-positive, catalase-positive, non-spore-forming and short rod- or oval-shaped bacterial strain, designated D6T, was isolated from farmland soil in Xuancheng, Anhui Province, China. Growth occurred at 4–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.5–8.5 (optimum, 7.0) and with 0–7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain D6T was most closely related to Aestuariimicrobium kwangyangense DSM 21549T (98.47 %), followed by Tessaracoccus rhinocerotis YIM 101269T (94.46 %). Strain D6T had a cell-wall peptidoglycan based on ll-diaminopimelic acid. MK-9(H4) was the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids of strain D6T were anteiso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_15 : 0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C_17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C_17 : 1 B). The major polar lipids were a lipid, glycolipid and phospholipid. The DNA G+C content was 69.2 mol% and strain D6T showed low DNA–DNA relatedness to A. kwangyangense DSM 21549T (36.45±0.42 %). Based on these genotypic and phenotypic data, strain D6T represents a novel species in the genus Aestuariimicrobium , for which the name Aestuariimicrobium soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D6T (=KCTC 39995T=DSM 105824T). An emended description of the genus Aestuariimicrobium is presented.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain XZHG99T, was isolated from soil taken from colour desert, Dengpa District, Tibet Autonomous Region, China. Its taxonomic position was determined by a polyphasic approach. The strain showed morphological and chemotaxonomic features typical of the genus Streptomyces : branched substrate and aerial mycelia, straight spore chains and smooth spores; ll-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan; MK-9(H₈), MK-9(H₂), MK-9(H₆) and MK-9(H₁₀) as menaquinones; diphosphatidylglycerol, phospatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphotidylinositol mannoside and phosphatidylglycerol as prominent phospholipids; iso-C_16 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0 and C_16 : 0 as major cellular fatty acids; and DNA G+C content of 69.9 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain XZHG99T showed high similarity to Streptomyces albiflavescens m20T (98.42 %) and Streptomyces krungchingensis KC-035T (98.14 %) as well as formed a monophyletic clade with them in the phylogenetic tree. Based on comparison of phenotypic properties and the low level of DNA–DNA relatedness, strain XZHG99T can be distinguished from phylogenetically related Streptomyces species and is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces dengpaensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XZHG99T (=CGMCC 4.7472T=KCTC 49090T).

A novel actinomycete, designated strain NEAU-DSCPA1-4-4T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of wheat and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the organism should be assigned to the genus Streptomyces . The strain formed a monophyletic clade with its closest relatives, Streptomyces ghanaensis DSM 40746T (97.7 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) and Streptomyces viridosporus DSM 40243T (97.6 %). Similarly, chemotaxonomic data, including major menaquinones, fatty acid compositions and polar lipid profile, also supported the placement of strain NEAU-DSCPA1-4-4T in the genus Streptomyces . However, DNA–DNA relatedness, physiological and biochemical data showed that strain NEAU-DSCPA1-4-4T could be distinguished from its closest relatives. Therefore, we propose that strain NEAU-DSCPA1-4-4T represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces , for which the name Streptomyces triticisoli sp. nov. is proposed, with NEAU-DSCPA1-4-4T (=CCTCC AA 2017025T=DSM 105118T) as the type strain.

A Gram-positive bacterium, designated CMU-AB225T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of an oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). The strain exhibited a blue aerial spore mass and a light cream to moderate yellow substrate mycelium and formed chains of spiny spores. Whole-cell hydrolysates consisted of ll-diaminopimelic acid, glucose, ribose, mannose and galactose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H₆), MK-9(H₈) and MK-9(H₄). The polar lipids profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol-mannoside, four unidentified lipids, two unidentified aminolipids and an unidentified glycolipid. The major cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C_16 : 0, C_16 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_15 : 0. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 69.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain CMU-AB225T was a member of the genus Streptomyces and formed a distinct phyletic line which was most closely related to Streptomyces koyangensis JCM 14915T, Streptomyces misionensis JCM 4497T and Streptomyces aurantiogriseus JCM 4346T. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using five housekeeping genes (atpD, gyrB, recA, rpoB and trpB) showed that the MLSA distances of strain CMU-AB225T to phylogenetically related species were greater than the 0.007 threshold. Moreover, the low values of DNA–DNA relatedness and phenotypic differences, especially a blue aerial mycelium, enabled strain CMU-AB225T to be distinguished from its closely related species. It is thus proposed that strain CMU-AB225T represents a novel species, namely Streptomyces venetus sp. nov. The type strain is CMU-AB225T (=JCM 31290T=TBRC 2001T).

A novel actinomycete, strain PLAI 1-1T, which formed spiny single spore directly on substrate mycelium was isolated from root tissue of Zingiber montanum. The isolate contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and 3-hydroxydiaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The acyl type of the cell-wall muramic acid was glycolyl. The whole-cell sugars of strain PLAI 1-1T were glucose, arabinose, xylose, ribose and a trace amount of mannose. The membrane phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and phosphatidylinositol. The major menaquinone was MK-9 (H₄). The main cellular fatty acids were iso-C_15 : 0 and C_17 : 1ω8c. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 70.6 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain PLAI 1-1T was a member of the genus Jishengella and had the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Jishengella endophytica DSM 45430T (99.2 %). Based on the data of physiological and biochemical tests, including the result of DNA–DNA hybridization, strain PLAI 1-1T represents a novel species of the genus Jishengella , for which the name Jishengella zingiberis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PLAI 1-1T (=TBRC 7644T=NBRC 113144T).

A mesophilic, chemolithoautotrophic, neutrophilic and aerobic ammonia-oxidizing archaeon, designated strain MY1T, was isolated from agricultural soil. Microscopic observation revealed short, rod-shaped cells with a diameter of 0.3–0.5 µm and length of 0.6–1.0 µm. The isolate had no flagella and pili, and possessed no genes associated with archaeal flagella synthesis. The major membrane lipids consisted mainly of the glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGT) lipids GDGT-0 to GDGT-4 and crenarchaeol. The major intact polar lipids (IPLs) were determined as hexose plus phosphohexose IPL and dihexose IPL. Strain MY1T obtains energy by aerobically oxidizing ammonia and carbon by fixing CO₂. An optimal growth was observed at 25 °C, at pH 7 and with 0.2–0.4 % (w/v) salinity that corresponds with its terrestrial habitat. The addition of α-keto acids was necessary to stimulate growth. The strain tolerated ammonium and nitrite concentrations up to 10 and 5 mM, respectively. The MY1T genome has a DNA G+C content of 32.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain MY1T belongs to the family Nitrosopumilaceae of the phylum Thaumarchaeota , sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (96.6–97.1 %) with marine isolates of the genus Nitrosopumilus . The average nucleotide identity was 78 % between strain MY1T and Nitrosopumilus maritimus SCM1T, indicating distant relatedness. Based on the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic analyses, it was concluded that strain MY1T belongs to the novel genus Nitrosarchaeum, under which the name Nitrosarchaeum koreense sp. nov. is proposed as the type species. The type strain is MY1T (=JCM 31640T=KCTC 4249T).

A halophilic archaeon, strain MBLA0036T, was isolated from Sorae solar saltern near Incheon, Republic of Korea. Strain MBLA0036T had three 16S rRNA genes: rrnA, rrnB and rrnC. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain MBLA0036T (based on the rrnA gene) and Haloplanus ruber R35T and Haloplanus litoreus GX21T were 98.0 and 97.3 %, respectively. The similarities of the RNA polymerase subunit B′ gene between strain MBLA0036T and H. ruber R35T and H. litoreus GX21T were 94.0 and 92.1 %, respectively. Cells of strain MBLA0036T were Gram-stain-negative, motile, red-pigmented, pleomorphic, flat and contained gas vesicles. Strain MBLA0036T grew at 15‒55 °C (optimum, 37 °C), in 10‒30 % (w/v) NaCl (15 %, w/v) with 0‒0.5 M MgSO₄.7H₂O (0.2 M) and at pH 6.0–9.0 (pH 7.0). The cells lysed in distilled water and the minimum NaCl concentration that prevented cell lysis was 5 % (w/v). Major polar lipids of strain MBLA0036T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and a glycolipid that was chromatographically identical to sulfated mannosyl glucosyl diether. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-8. The genomic DNA G+C content was 65.5 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain MBLA0036T and H. ruber JCM 17271T and H. litoreus JCM 17092T were 35±3 and 18±1 %, respectively. Therefore, strain MBLA0036T is described a novel species of the Haloplanus , for which we propose the name Haloplanus rallus sp. nov. The type strain is MBLA0036T (=KCTC 4239T=JCM 31425T).

A yellowish-orange-coloured bacterial strain, PSI-22T, was isolated from a freshwater river in Taiwan. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PSI-22T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium and showed the highest identity with respect to Flavobacterium dispersum MVW-23T (98.0 %), Flavobacterium tistrianum GB 56.1T (97.1 %), Flavobacterium denitrificans ED5T (97.1 %) and Flavobacterium daemonense THG-DJ7T (97.0 %) and less than 97 % to other members of the genus. Cells of strain PSI-22T were Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, motile by gliding and rod-shaped. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 6 and in the presence of 0.5 % NaCl. Strain PSI-22T contained iso-C_15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω6c and/or C_16 : 1ω7c) as the predominant fatty acids. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one uncharacterized aminophospholipid, one uncharacterized aminophosphoglycolipid, two uncharacterized aminolipids, one uncharacterized phospholipid and one uncharacterized lipid. The major polyamine was homospermidine. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6 and the DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 41.4 mol%. The DNA–DNA hybridization value for strain PSI-22T with F. dispersum BCRC 80978T, F. tistrianum KCTC 42679T, F. denitrificans DSM 15936T and F. daemonense KACC 17651T was less than 30 %. On the basis of the phylogenetic inference and phenotypic data, strain PSI-22T should be classified as a novel species, for which the name Flavobacterium effusum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PSI-22T (=BCRC 80973T=LMG 29553T=KCTC 52233T).

A group of rod-shaped, aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, gliding bacteria producing flexirubin-type pigment was isolated from environmental samples collected in Antarctica in 2009–2014. Phylogenetic analysis of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed two separated branches belonging to the genus Flavobacterium . Group I (n=8), represented by strain CCM 8826T, shared the highest sequence similarity to Flavobacterium collinsii 983-08T (98.8 %) and Flavobacterium saccharophilum DSM 1811T (98.4 %), and group II (n=4) represented by strain CCM 8827T shared the highest similarity to Flavobacterium aquidurense WB 1.1-56T (99.6 %). High genetic homogeneity of both groups, separation from each other and from phylogenetically close Flavobacterium species was verified by the rep-PCR fingerprinting method. DNA–DNA hybridization confirmed low genomic relatedness between strain CCM 8826T and F. collinsii 983-08T and F. saccharophilum DSM 1811T (18 and 28 %, respectively) and between strain CCM 8827T and F. aquidurense WB 1.1-56T (27 %). Chemotaxonomic analyses of strains CCM 8826T and CCM 8827T revealed the respiratory quinone to be MK-6, the major identified polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine and the predominant polyamine was sym-homospermidine. The common major fatty acids were C_15 : 0 iso, C_17 : 0 iso 3OH, C_15 : 1 iso G, Summed Feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω7c/C_16 : 1 ω6c), C_15 : 0 iso 3OH and additionally, C_15 : 0 anteiso among group II members. All analyses confirmed that strains of group I and II represent two novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the names Flavobacterium chryseum sp. nov. (type strain CCM 8826T=P3160T=LMG 30615T) and Flavobacterium psychroterrae sp. nov. (type strain CCM 8827T=P3922T=LMG 30616T) are proposed.

A bacterial strain, designated 17SD1-15T, was isolated from soil. Cells of this strain were Gram-stain-negative and aerobic rods. The major fatty acids of strain 17SD1-15T were iso-C_15 : 0 and summed feature 4 (anteiso-C_17 : 1 B and/or iso-C_17 : 1 I). The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, one phospholipid and five unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain 17SD1-15T was 49.0 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 17SD1-15T was phylogenetically related to Pontibacter saemangeumensis GCM0142T, Pontibacter korlensis X14-1T, Pontibacter yuliensis H9XT, Pontibacter diazotrophicus H4XT and Pontibacter humi SWU8T (98.3, 96.4, 96.4, 96.4 and 96.0 % sequence similarity, respectively). DNA–DNA relatedness between 17SD1-15T and the most closely related type strain of Pontibacter species was 42.9±0.8 %. The low level of DNA–DNA relatedness identified strain 17SD1-15T as a member of a novel species in the genus Pontibacter . The results of genotypic and phenotypic data, including chemotaxonomic traits, showed that strain 17SD1-15T could be distinguished from its phylogenetically related species. Therefore, strain 17SD1-15T represents a novel species within the genus Pontibacter , for which the name Pontibacter terrae sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 17SD1-15T (=KCTC 52915T=NBRC 113057T).

Strain XAAS-R86T, a Gram-stain-negative, short rod-shaped, non-motile, aerobic bacterium, was isolated from a Populus euphratica forest near the city of Hotan, Xinjiang, PR China. The cells were found to be positive for catalase and oxidase activities. Growth occurred optimally at 28–30 °C, pH 7.0–7.5 and in the presence of 0.5–2.0 % NaCl (w/v). The results of phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that XAAS-R86T represents a member of the genus Pontibacter within the family Hymenobacteraceae. Pontibacter akesuensis CCTCC AB 206086T is the most closely related species with a validly published name, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence identity (95.7 %). The DNA G+C content of the strain is 43.9 mol%. The main respiratory quinone is MK-7 and the major cellular fatty acids are summed feature 4 (iso-C_17 : 1I and/or anteiso-C_17 : 1B) and iso-C_15 : 0 and its major polar lipids are phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified lipids. On the basis of the results of tests performed using a polyphasic approach, XAAS-R86T represents a novel species of the genus Pontibacter , for which the name Pontibacter silvestris sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain XAAS-R86T (=CCTCC AB 2017165T=KCTC 62047T).

A Gram-negative bacterium, strain HA7T, was isolated from the microhabitat of common hazel (Corylus avellana L.) pollen. HA7T was found to be an aerobic, rod-shaped, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative bacterium with an optimum growth temperature of 25 °C and pH of 7. The nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of HA7T strain showed the closest similarities to Spirosoma linguale DSM 74T (97.4 %) and Spirosoma fluviale DSM 29961T (97.43 %). The major fatty acids (>5 %) were C_16 : 1ω5c, summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C_15 : 0 2-OH), iso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were an unidentified aminophospholipid and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major respiratory quinone detected was menaquinone MK-7 (95 %). The draft genome sequence included 8 794 837 bases, which contained 3665 predicted coding sequences and had a G+C content of 47.9 mol%. The genome-based comparison between HA7T and S. linguale DSM 74T and S. fluviale DSM 29961T with pairwise average nucleotide identity indicated a clear distinction, between 76.2–76.3 %. Moreover, the digital DNA–DNA relatedness of HA7T to these strains was 26.5 and 25.1 %. Based on the differential genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic properties to closely related type strains, strain HA7T ought to be assigned with the status of a new species, for which the name Spirosoma pollinicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HA7T (DSM 105799T=LMG 30282T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated, motile-by-gliding, orange-coloured bacterial strain, designated strain IMCC20180T, was isolated from seawater collected off the coast of the East Sea in the Republic of Korea. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain IMCC20180T was most closely related to Winogradskyellaporiferorum UST030701-295T (95.7 % sequence similarity) and formed a robust phylogenetic clade with other Winogradskyella species, indicating that the strain was affiliated with the genus Winogradskyella . Growth of strain IMCC20180T was observed at 20–30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), pH 7.0–9.0 (pH 8.0) and with 1.0–3.5 % NaCl (3.0 %, w/v). The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. Major fatty acid constituents were iso-C_15 : 1 G, summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1 ω6c and/or C_16 : 1 ω7c), iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C_16 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, four unknown aminolipids and five unknown lipids. The estimated genome size and the DNA G+C content of strain IMCC20180T were 3.1 Mb and 37.7 %, respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, physiological and chemotaxonomic characterization, strain IMCC20180T represented a novel species in the genus Winogradskyella , for which the name Winogradskyella aurantiaca sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMCC20180T (=KACC 18883T=KCTC 52240T=JCM 31383T).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, aerobic and diffusible yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated strain ECD12T was isolated from a seaweed, Ecklonia cava. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ECD12T formed an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of genera Spongiibacterium and Flagellimonas sharing the highest similarity to Flagellimonas eckloniae DOKDO007T (96.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) followed by Spongiibacterium pacificum SW169T (96.4 %) and Spongiibacterium flavum DSM 22638T (96.1 %). The major fatty acids were iso-C_15 : 0, iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C_15 : 1 G. The new isolate contained MK-6 as the only isoprenoid quinone and phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified amino lipids and two unidentified lipids as the major polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content is 39 mol%. A number of phenotypic characteristics such as the production of diffusible pigment distinguished strain ECD12T from the related species. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Flagellimonas aquimarina sp. nov., is proposed for strain ECD12T (=KCTC 52351T=JCM 32292T). Based on the sequence similarity, phylogenetic relationship and common morphological, physiological and chemical characters among the members of the genera Spongiibacterium and Flagellimonas , it is recommended that the two genera are combined into a single genus. Thus, transfer of S. flavum Yoon and Oh 2012 and S . pacificum Gao et al. 2015 to the genus Flagellimonas Bae et al. 2007 as Flagellimonas flava comb. nov. and Flagellimonas pacifica comb. nov., respectively, is also proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, aerobic, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, bacterial strain, designated 5JN-11T, was isolated from Haloxylonammodendron stems in Kumtag desert, Xinjiang province, China. Strain 5JN-11T grew at salinities of 0–6 % (w/v; optimum 0–2 %), a pH of 7.0–9.0 (pH 7.0–8.0) and temperatures of 20–42 °C (28–30 °C). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the strain was designated a member of the genus Sphingobacterium and the phylogenetic analysis showed that strain 5JN-11T shared the highest similarity to Sphingobacterium gobiense H7T, followed by Sphingobacterium chuzhouense DH-5T and Sphingobacterium arenae H-12T. The unfinished draft genome of strain 5JN-11T was 4.69 Mb. The G+C content of strain 5JN-11T was 42.8 mol%. The average nucleotide identity to S. gobiense H7T was 90.5 %. The respiratory quinone was MK-7, and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphoglycolipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C_16 : 1ω7c and/or C_16 : 1ω6c), iso-C_15 : 0 and iso-C_17 : 0 3-OH. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic evidence, strain 5JN-11T represents a novel species in the genus Sphingobacterium , for which the name Sphingobacterium haloxyli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 5JN-11T (=ACCC 60072T=KCTC 62457T).