Cheng-Lin Jiang

Streptimonospora salina gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Nocardiopsaceae.

Actinomycete strain YIM 90002T (= CCTCC 99003T = CCRC 16284T) was isolated from a soil sample collected from a salt lake in the west of China. The aerial mycelium of this organism is well developed but not fragmented and, at maturity, forms short chains of spores. Spores in short chains are oval- to rod-shaped and have wrinkled surfaces. Substrate mycelium is branched with non-fragmenting hyphae and forms single oval to round spores borne on sporophores or dichotomously branching sporophores. Single spores have wrinkled surfaces. Single spores and spores in short chains are non-motile. Strain YIM 90002T contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, DD-diaminopimelic acid, glycine, lysine and aspartic acid in its cell wall and has glucose, galactose, ribose, xylose, arabinose and mannose as whole-cell sugars (no diagnostic sugars). The phospholipids are phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major menaquinones are MK-9(H6), MK-10(H2) and MK-10(H4). Phylogenetic data indicate that this strain belongs to the family Nocardiopsaceae. The morphological and physiological characteristics and chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data for this strain differ from those of previously described actinomycetes. Therefore, a new genus, Streptimonospora, is proposed for this organism; the type species of the genus is Streptimonospora salina gen. nov., sp. nov., and the type strain of S. salina is strain YIM 90002T.

Virgibacillus sediminis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake in China

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, alkalitolerant, strictly aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, rod-shaped bacterium, strain YIM kkny3T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from a salt lake in the Qaidam Basin of north-west China. Cells were motile by means of peritrichous flagella and formed ellipsoidal endospores lying in subterminal swollen sporangia. Growth occurred with 1-20% (w/v) total salts (optimum, 5-10%) and at pH 6.0-10.5 (optimum, pH 7.5-8.0) and 10-55 degrees C (optimum, 35-40 degrees C). It was unable to grow with NaCl as the only salt. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The strain contained menaquinone 7 (MK-7) as the predominant respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid as polar lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The DNA G+C content was 40.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YIM kkny3T belonged to the genus Virgibacillus, and was most closely related to the type strains of Virgibacillus olivae (97.1% similarity), Virgibacillus marismortui (97.0%) and Virgibacillus kekensis (96.8%). Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain YIM kkny3T and the type strains of V. olivae, V. marismortui and V. kekensis were 12.4, 10.6 and 15.7%, respectively. The combination of phylogenetic analysis, genotypic data, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic differences indicated that strain YIM kkny3T represents a novel species of the genus Virgibacillus, for which the name Virgibacillus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM kkny3T (=CCTCC AA 207023T=DSM 19797T=KCTC 13193T).

A new member of the family Micromonosporaceae, Planosporangium flavigriseum gen. nov., sp. nov.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain YIM 46034(T), was isolated from an evergreen broadleaved forest at Menghai, in southern Yunnan Province, China. Phenotypic characterization and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the strain belonged to the family Micromonosporaceae. Strain YIM 46,034(T) showed more than 3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence divergence from recognized species of genera in the family Micromonosporaceae. Characteristic features of strain YIM 46,034(T) were the production of two types of spores, namely motile spores, which were formed in sporangia produced on substrate mycelia, and single globose spores, which were observed on short sporophores of the substrate mycelia. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, glycine, arabinose and xylose, which are characteristic components of cell-wall chemotype II of actinomycetes. Phosphatidylethanolamine was the major phospholipid (phospholipid type II). Based on morphological, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and genetic characteristics, strain YIM 46,034(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Micromonosporaceae, for which the name Planosporangium flavigriseum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Planosporangium flavigriseum is YIM 46,034(T) (=CCTCC AA 205,013(T) =DSM 44,991(T)).

Actinomycetospora chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Pseudonocardiaceae

A novel actinomycete strain, YIM 0006(T), was isolated from soil of a tropical rainforest in northern Thailand. The isolate displayed the following characteristics: aerial mycelium is absent, short spore chains are formed directly on the substrate mycelium, contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose (cell-wall chemotype IV), the diagnostic phospholipid is phosphatidylcholine, MK-9(H(4)) is the predominant menaquinone and the G+C content of the genomic DNA is 69.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic characteristics showed that strain YIM 0006(T) belongs to the family Pseudonocardiaceae but can be distinguished from representatives of all genera classified in the family. The novel genus and species Actinomycetospora chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. are proposed, with strain YIM 0006(T) (=CCTCC AA 205017(T) =DSM 45062(T)) as the type strain of Actinomycetospora chiangmaiensis.

Nocardiopsis quinghaiensis sp. nov., isolated from saline soil in China.

A previously unknown Gram-positive, obligately aerobic actinomycete, YIM 28A4(T), was isolated from a sample of saline soil collected from the Qaidam Basin in Qinghai Province, north-west China, and was investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The strain grew well on most of the media tested, producing white to pale-yellow substrate mycelium, white aerial mycelium and straight to flexuous hyphae. The substrate mycelium was well developed and fragmented with age; the aerial mycelium produced long, straight spore chains. The spore chains were composed of non-motile, smooth-surfaced, rod-shaped spores. No diffusible pigments were produced on any of the media tested. The strain grew in the presence of 0-10 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.0-8.0, with optimum growth occurring at 3 % (w/v) NaCl and pH 7.0. It grew at 10-37 degrees C, the optimum growth temperature being 28 degrees C. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain YIM 28A4(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and no diagnostic sugars. The predominant phospholipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The predominant menaquinones were MK-10, MK-10(H(2)), MK-11 and MK-11(H(2)). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C(16 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0) and anteiso-C(17 : 0). The DNA G+C content was 67.1 mol%. The morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics of the isolate matched those described for Nocardiopsis species. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons confirmed that strain YIM 28A4(T) was a member of the genus Nocardiopsis and most closely related to the type strains Nocardiopsis aegyptia DSM 44442(T) and Nocardiopsis halotolerans DSM 44410(T), showing 98.1 and 97.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. Strain YIM 28A4(T) can be differentiated from these type strains by using phenotypic, phylogenetic and DNA-DNA hybridization data. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence, strain YIM 28A4(T) represents a novel species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the name Nocardiopsis quinghaiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 28A4(T) (=DSM 44739(T) =CGMCC 4.3494(T)).

Description of Saccharomonospora xinjiangensis sp. nov. based on chemical and molecular classification

Comparative studies of morphology, physiology, biochemistry and chemical composition of cells, and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences were carried out with strains XJ-54T and XJ-58 of the genus Saccharomonospora and type strains of related genera. The results indicated that the two strains are different from known members of the genus Saccharomonospora. A new species with the name Saccharomonospora xinjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The new species is characterized by the presence of longitudinal pairs of spores on both the aerial and the vegetative hyphae and contains phosphatidyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl choline and unknown glucosamine-containing phospholipids, and the major menaquinones MK-9(H2), MK-9(H4) and MK-7(H4).

Reclassification of Salegentibacter catena Ying et al. 2007 as Salinimicrobium catena gen. nov., comb. nov. and description of Salinimicrobium xinjiangense sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from Xinjiang province in China

A Gram-negative, non-motile and moderately halophilic rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain BH206(T), was isolated from a saline lake of Xinjiang province in China. The isolate showed catalase-positive and oxidase-negative reactions and did not reduce nitrate. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate was most closely related to [Salegentibacter] catena HY1(T) with 95.8 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, and formed a tight phyletic group with [Salegentibacter] catena HY1(T) with a bootstrap value of 99 % within the family Flavobacteriaceae. However, strain BH206(T) and [Salegentibacter] catena HY1(T) formed a phyletic lineage distinct from other Salegentibacter species. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of strain BH206(T) with other related type species were lower than 94.6 %. On the basis of physiological and molecular properties, it is clear that [Salegentibacter] catena should be reclassified in the new genus Salinimicrobium as Salinimicrobium catena gen. nov., comb. nov. (type strain HY1(T)=CGMCC 1.6101(T)=JCM 14015(T)) and that strain BH206(T) represents a novel species within the genus Salinimicrobium, for which the name Salinimicrobium xinjiangense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Salinimicrobium xinjiangense is BH206(T) (=KCTC 12883(T)=DSM 19287(T)).

Rhodococcus cercidiphylli sp. nov., a new endophytic actinobacterium isolated from a Cercidiphyllum japonicum leaf

An endophytic actinobacterium, designated YIM 65003(T), was isolated from a surface sterilized leaf sample of Cercidiphyllum japonicum collected from Yunnan province, south-west China. The morphological and chemotaxonomic properties of the isolate were typical of members of the genus Rhodococcus. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the isolate was most closely related to Rhodococcus fascians DSM 20669(T) (99.6%) and Rhodococcus yunnanensis YIM 70056(T) (99.0%). DNA-DNA hybridization with the above microorganisms (46.3% and 48.8%, respectively), in combination with differences in the biochemical and physiological properties, suggested that strain YIM 65003(T) should be classified within a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which the name Rhodococcus cercidiphylli sp. nov. is proposed, with YIM 65003(T) (=CCTCC AB 207160(T)=DSM 45141(T)) as the type strain. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain YIM 65003(T) has been deposited in GenBank under the accession number EU325542.

Gracilibacillus halophilus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from saline soil.

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic, moderately thermophilic, endospore-forming, catalase- and oxidase-positive, obligately aerobic bacterium, strain YIM-C55.5(T), was isolated from saline soil in the Qaidam Basin, north-west China. Cells were slender rods, motile by means of peritrichous flagella. Filamentous forms were present throughout the growth cycle. Strain YIM-C55.5(T) was able to grow in the presence of 7-30 % (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.0-9.0, with optimum growth at 15 % (w/v) NaCl and pH 7.0. It was able to grow at 28-60 degrees C, with optimum growth at 45-50 degrees C. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was present in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(17 : 0) and C(18 : 0). Strain YIM-C55.5(T) possessed menaquinone 7 (MK-7) as the predominant respiratory quinone and diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol as polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 42.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YIM-C55.5(T) belonged to the family Bacillaceae and was related most closely to members of the genus Gracilibacillus, but with low levels of similarity to the type strains of recognized species of the genus (Gracilibacillus orientalis XH-63(T), 95.1 %; Gracilibacillus boraciitolerans T-16X(T), 94.0 %; Gracilibacillus dipsosauri DD1(T), 93.7 %; Gracilibacillus halotolerans NN(T), 93.5 %). Together with phenotypic data, these results suggest that strain YIM-C55.5(T) represents a novel species of the genus Gracilibacillus, for which the name Gracilibacillus halophilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM-C55.5(T) (=DSM 17856(T) =CGMCC 1.6303(T)).

Halomonas lutea sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake

A Gram-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated YIM 91125(T), was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang province, north-west China. The isolate grew at salinities in the range 1-20% (w/v) and at 4-45 degrees C. Optimal growth occurred at 37 degrees C, pH 7.5 and 5-10% (w/v) NaCl. Cells were short rods motile by means of single polar flagella. The major fatty acids were C(18:1)omega7c, C(16:0), C(19:0) cyclo omega8c and C(12:0) 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 60.8 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-9. A comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed its relationship to Halomonas species, its closest neighbours being Halomonas pantelleriensis (95.9% similarity to the type strain) and Halomonas muralis (95.4 % similarity). On the basis of chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, strain YIM 91125(T) represents a novel member of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas lutea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 91125(T) (=KCTC 12847(T) =CCTCC AB 206093(T)).