H. Hupfer

Comparative chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic studies on the genus Arcanobacterium Collins et al. 1982 emend. Lehnen et al. 2006: proposal for Trueperella gen. nov. and emended description of the genus Arcanobacterium

The results of a study comparing the chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic positions of members of the genus Arcanobacterium indicated that the genus was not monophyletic and, therefore, was in need of taxonomic revision. Phylogenetically, the genus Arcanobacterium consisted of two distinct lines; a group comprising the species Arcanobacterium haemolyticum (the type species of the genus), A. hippocoleae, A. phocae and A. pluranimalium and a robust group consisting of the species A. abortisuis, A. bernardiae, A. bialowiezense, A. bonasi and A. pyogenes. On the basis of 16S rRNA signature nucleotide comparisons and menaquinone and phospholipid compositions, it is proposed that of these nine species only four, A. haemolyticum, A. hippocoleae, A. phocae and A. pluranimalium, should be affiliated with the genus Arcanobacterium and the species A. abortisuis, A. bernardiae, A. bialowiezense, A. bonasi and A. pyogenes should be reclassified as members of a new genus, Trueperella, as Trueperella abortisuis comb. nov., Trueperella bernardiae comb. nov., Trueperella bialowiezensis comb. nov., Trueperella bonasi comb. nov. and Trueperella pyogenes comb. nov. Positive results in Christie-Atkins-Munch-Petersen (CAMP) tests on A. haemolyticum, A. hippocoleae, A. phocae and A. pluranimalium also supported the rearrangement of the nine species in to separate genera. As such, an emended description of the genus Arcanobacterium is provided.

Azospirillum rugosum sp nov., isolated from oil-contaminated soil

The taxonomic status of a light-orange-coloured bacterial isolate from an oil-contaminated soil sample was characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the isolate belonged phylogenetically to the genus Azospirillum, with Azospirillum canadense, Azospirillum brasilense and Azospirillum doebereinerae as its closest phylogenetic relatives (97.3, 97.0 and 97.0 % similarity, respectively). DNA-DNA pairing studies showed that the unidentified organism displayed 25.0, 17.0 and 19.0 % relatedness to the type strains of A. brasilense, A. canadense and A. doebereinerae, respectively. The generic assignment was confirmed by chemotaxonomic data, which revealed a fatty acid profile that was characteristic of the genus Azospirillum, consisting of straight-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids with C18 : 1 omega 7c as the major fatty acid, and ubiquinone with ten isoprene units (Q-10) as the predominant respiratory quinone. On the basis of both the phenotypic and molecular genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolate be classified as a representative of a novel species of the genus Azospirillum, for which the name Azospirillum rugosum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB AFH-6T (=CCUG 53966T=DSM 19657T).

Azospirillum picis sp. nov., isolated from discarded tar

A polyphasic taxonomic study was performed on a pink-coloured unknown bacterium isolated from discarded road tar. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that the isolate belongs phylogenetically to the genus Azospirillum with Azospirillum lipoferum, A. melinis and A. rugosum as its closest phylogenetic relatives (96.7, 96.6 and 96.6 % similarity to the respective type strains). The generic assignment was confirmed on the basis of chemotaxonomic data, which revealed a fatty acid profile characteristic for the genus Azospirillum, consisting of straight-chain saturated and unsaturated fatty acids, with C(18 : 1)omega7c as the major unsaturated non-hydroxylated fatty acid, and C(16 : 0) 3-OH as the major hydroxylated fatty acid, and a ubiquinone with ten isoprene units (Q-10) as the predominant respiratory quinone. On the basis of both the phenotypic and molecular genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolate should be classified within a novel species of the genus Azospirillum, for which the name Azospirillum picis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB TAR-3(T) (=CCUG 55431(T) =DSM 19922(T)).

Desmospora activa gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermoactinomycete isolated from sputum of a patient with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis, and emended description of the family Thermoactinomycetaceae Matsuo et al. 2006.

A novel Gram-positive, aerobic, catalase-positive, filamentous micro-organism, designated strain IMMIB L-1269(T), originating from sputum was characterized using phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. It showed cell-wall chemotype III, phospholipid type PII (with phosphatidylethanolamine as the diagnostic phospholipid) and contained an unsaturated menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone. It synthesized long-chain cellular fatty acids of the straight-chain saturated, monounsaturated and iso- and anteiso-branched types (with iso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0) and iso-C(17 : 0) predominating) and possessed a DNA G+C content of 49.3 mol%. On the basis of its morphological, biochemical and chemical characteristics, strain IMMIB L-1269(T) did not conform to any presently recognized taxon. Comparative analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences confirmed the distinctiveness of the isolate, as it displayed sequence-divergence values greater than 7.7 % with respect to recognized Gram-positive taxa. Phylogenetic treeing analysis served to reinforce the view that strain IMMIB L-1269(T) was distinct from recognized taxa, as it formed a relatively long subline branching within a 16S rRNA gene sequence cluster that encompassed the genera Thermoactinomyces, Laceyella, Mechercharimyces, Thermoflavimicrobium, Planifilum, Seinonella and Shimazuella of the family Thermoactinomycetaceae. On the basis of phenotypic and molecular phylogenetic evidence, strain IMMIB L-1269(T) represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Desmospora activa gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Desmospora activa is strain IMMIB L-1269(T) (=DSM 45169(T) =CCUG 55916(T)). An emended description of the family Thermoactinomycetaceae is also given.

Chryseobacterium treverense sp. nov., isolated from a human clinical source.

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-reaction-negative bacterium isolated from a human clinical source was investigated using a polyphasic approach in order to clarify its taxonomic status. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the new isolate constituted a distinct phyletic line within the genus Chryseobacterium, displaying >2.8 % sequence divergence with recognized species of this genus. The generic assignment was confirmed by chemotaxonomic data which revealed a fatty acid profile consisting of straight-chain saturated, monounsaturated and branched-chain fatty acids of iso-/anteiso-types as well as 3-hydroxylated fatty acids; a menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) as the predominant respiratory quinone and sym-homospermidine as the predominant polyamine. The novel isolate could be distinguished from other members of the genus Chryseobacterium by a set of distinct biochemical properties. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, it is proposed that the new isolate represents a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium for which the name Chryseobacterium treverense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB L-1519(T) (=DSM 22251(T)=CCUG 57657(T)).

Nocardiopsis potens sp. nov., isolated from household waste.

The taxonomic position of an actinomycete, designated strain IMMIB L-21(T), was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The organism, which had phenotypic properties consistent with its classification in the genus Nocardiopsis, formed a distinct clade in the 16S rRNA gene sequence tree together with the type strain of Nocardiopsis composta, but was readily distinguished from this species using DNA-DNA relatedness and phenotypic data. The genotypic and phenotypic data show that the organism represents a novel species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the name Nocardiopsis potens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMMIB L-21(T) (=DSM 45234(T)=CCUG 56587(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)).

Cruoricaptor ignavus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae isolated from blood culture of a man with bacteraemia.

A Gram-reaction-negative bacterium, strain IMMIB L-12475(T), was isolated from blood cultures of a human with septicaemia. The yellowish orange pigmented strain contained flexirubin pigment. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain IMMIB L-12475(T) belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae, forming a distinct phyletic line that is distantly related (79.1-89.4% sequence similarity) to described genera of this family. Membership to the family was confirmed by a fatty acid profile consisting of branched-chain and 3-hydroxy fatty acids with major amounts of iso-C(17:0) 3-OH and iso-C(15:0), by the presence of menaquinone MK-6 as the only respiratory quinone and a polyamine pattern that contained sym-homospermidine as major component. The phospholipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown phospholipid. The genomic DNA mol% G+C content was 45.6%. The distant phylogenetic position as compared to other representative of the family and the significant phenotypic properties such as pigment composition, morphology, and physiology support the proposal of a novel genus and species Cruoricaptor ignavus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is IMMIB L-12475(T) (=DSM 25479(T)=CCUG 62025(T)).