Keun Chul Lee

Mucilaginibacter gossypii sp. nov. and Mucilaginibacter gossypiicola sp. nov., plant-growth-promoting bacteria isolated from cotton rhizosphere soils.

Two isolates from rhizosphere soil of cotton, designated Gh-67(T) and Gh-48(T), which produced large amounts of extracellular polysaccharide and possessed plant-growth-promoting traits, were characterized phenotypically and genotypically. The strains were Gram-negative and cells were non-motile rods that grew optimally at 28°C and grew between pH 4 and 7. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of strains Gh-67(T) and Gh-48(T) placed them in the genus Mucilaginibacter, with pairwise sequence similarity between them and type strains from related genera ranging from 93.9 to 98.2 %. The major fatty acids were iso-C₁₅:₀, C₁₆:₀ and summed feature 3 (C₁₆:₁ω7c and/or iso-C₁₅:₀ 2-OH). The strains contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone. The DNA G+C contents of strains Gh-67(T) and Gh-48(T) were 46.7 and 44.2 mol%, respectively. The low DNA-DNA hybridization value (18 %) and a number of phenotypic differences between strains Gh-48(T) and Gh-67(T) indicated that they represent two separate species. Results of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic analysis revealed that the strains were separated from the species of Mucilaginibacter described to date. Therefore, strains Gh-67(T) and Gh-48(T) represent novel species of Mucilaginibacter, for which we propose the names Mucilaginibacter gossypii sp. nov. (type strain Gh-67(T) =NCIMB 14470(T) =KCTC 22380(T)) and Mucilaginibacter gossypiicola sp. nov. (type strain Gh-48(T) =NCIMB 14471(T) =KCTC 22379(T)).

Comamonas koreensis sp. nov., a non-motile species from wetland in Woopo, Korea

A bacterial strain, designated YH12T, was isolated from a wetland sample collected from Woopo, Republic of Korea, and characterized using a polyphasic approach. Analysis of 16S rDNA indicated that the isolate formed a monophyletic clade with the members of the genus Comamonas. The closest phylogenetic relative among the valid species was Comamonas testosteroni, with 96.6% 16S rDNA similarity. The chemotaxonomic properties of the wetland isolate supported its membership of the genus Comamonas, as it contained ubiquinone Q-8 as a major respiratory quinone and hexadecanoic, methylene-hexadecanoic and octadecenoic acids as major cellular fatty acids. The G+C content of the DNA was 66 mol%. The isolate is a gram-negative, non-pigmented, rod-shaped, oxidase- and catalase-positive, non-motile, non-endospore-forming and non-fermentative bacterium. The phenotypic properties of the isolate were compared with those of the type strains of Comamonas terrigena, C. testosteroni and Delftia acidovorans. A number of tests, including motility, can differentiate our isolate from related taxa. On the basis of the 16S rDNA phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic evidence given in this study, it is proposed that strain YH12T (= KCTC 12005T = IMSNU 11158T) be assigned as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Comamonas, Comamonas koreensis sp. nov.

Chryseobacterium aquaticum sp. nov., isolated from a water reservoir

Strains 10-46(T) and 10-106 were isolated from a water reservoir in Korea. They were Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming rods, produced yellow-pigmented colonies on nutrient agar, contained MK-6 as the predominant menaquinone and 15 : 0 iso and 17 : 0 iso 3-OH as the major fatty acids and had polar lipid profiles consisting of phosphatidylethanolamine and several unknown aminolipids. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that the strains were closely related to Chryseobacterium indoltheticum ATCC 27950(T), Chryseobacterium scophthalmum LMG 13028(T) and Chryseobacterium soldanellicola KCTC 12382(T) (96.9, 96.8 and 96.7 % sequence similarity, respectively) and formed a separate lineage within the genus Chryseobacterium. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data supported the conclusion that the strains represent a novel species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacterium aquaticum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 10-46(T) (=KCTC 12483(T) =CECT 7302(T)).

Paenibacillus sputi sp. nov., isolated from the sputum of a patient with pulmonary disease

Strain KIT 00200-70066-1(T) was isolated from the sputum of a patient with pulmonary disease. Cells of the strain were Gram-variable, facultatively anaerobic, motile, spore-forming rods and formed colourless to white colonies on tryptic soy agar at 30 °C and pH 7. The pathogenicity of the strain is not known. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan, MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone, anteiso-C₁₅:₀, iso-C₁₆:₀ and C₁₆:₀ as the major fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and several unknown lipids in the polar lipid profile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate belongs to the genus Paenibacillus, sharing the highest levels of sequence similarity with Paenibacillus nanensis MX2-3(T), Paenibacillus agaridevorans DSM 1355(T) and Paenibacillus alkaliterrae KSL-134(T) (95.4, 95.2 and 94.8 %, respectively), and that it occupied a distinct position within this genus. Combined phylogenetic and phenotypic data supported the conclusion that strain KIT 00200-70066-1(T) represents a novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus sputi sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is KIT 00200-70066-1(T) (=KCTC 13252(T) =DSM 22699(T)).

Halomonas stevensii sp. nov., Halomonas hamiltonii sp. nov. and Halomonas johnsoniae sp. nov., isolated from a renal care centre

A total of 14 Halomonas strains were isolated from the blood of two patients and from dialysis machines of a renal care centre. The strains were Gram-negative, halophilic, motile and non-spore-forming rods. They produced cream-coloured colonies and contained Q-9 as the predominant ubiquinone and C(18 : 1)omega7c and C(16 : 0) as the major fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the 14 isolates were most closely related to Halomonas magadiensis 21 MI(T) with 98.1-98.9 % sequence similarity and that they formed three separate lineages among themselves. Combined phenotypic and DNA-DNA hybridization data support the conclusion that they represent three novel species of the genus Halomonas, for which the names Halomonas stevensii sp. nov. (type strain S18214(T)=KCTC 22148(T)=DSM 21198(T)), Halomonas hamiltonii sp. nov. (type strain W1025(T)=KCTC 22154(T)=DSM 21196(T)) and Halomonas johnsoniae sp. nov. (type strain T68687(T)=KCTC 22157(T)=DSM 21197(T)) are proposed.

Altererythrobacter dongtanensis sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat

A Gram-negative, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming bacterial strain, JM27(T), was isolated from a tidal flat of Dongtan Wetland, Chongming Island, China. The strain formed smooth yellow colonies on R2A plates. Growth occurred at 10-37 °C (optimum, 30-37 °C), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-9.0) and in the presence of 0-1 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Catalase test was positive and oxidase test was negative. Ubiquinone 10 (Q10) was the major respiratory quinone. C₁₈:₀ω7c and C₁₇:₁ω6c were the most abundant fatty acids. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol were the major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain JM27(T) was 66.4 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed highest similarity to that of Altererythrobacter marinus H32(T) (96.4 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the strain belonged to the genus Altererythrobacter of the family Erythrobacteraceae of the class Alphaproteobacteria. On the basis of phylogenetic analysis, whole-cell fatty acids, polar lipid compositions, and biochemical and physiological characteristics, strain JM27(T) is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter for which the name Altererythrobacter dongtanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JM27(T) ( = KCTC 22672(T)  = CCTCC AB 209199(T)).

Cohnella thailandensis sp. nov., a xylanolytic bacterium from Thai soil.

A xylanolytic bacterium, strain S1-3(T), was isolated from soil collected in Nan province, Thailand. It was characterized taxonomically based on phenotypic characteristics and 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison. The strain was a Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium. It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major menaquinone was MK-7. Iso-C₁₆:₀ (39.5 %) and anteiso-C₁₅:₀ (26.8 %) were predominant cellular fatty acids. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol were the major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was 53.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain S1-3(T) was affiliated to the genus Cohnella, and was closely related to Cohnella ginsengisoli GR21-5(T) and Cohnella thermotolerans CCUG 47242(T) with 95.7 and 95.3 % sequence similarity, respectively. Strain S1-3(T) could be clearly distinguished from related species of the genus Cohnella by its physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as by its phylogenetic position. Therefore, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella thailandensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is S1-3(T) (=KCTC 22296(T) =TISTR 1890(T) =PCU 306(T)).

Paenibacillus thailandensis sp. nov. and Paenibacillus nanensis sp. nov., xylanase- producing bacteria isolated from soil

Two strains of xylanase-producing bacteria, S3-4A(T) and MX2-3(T), isolated from soils in Thailand, were characterized on the basis of their phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, DNA-DNA relatedness and 16S rRNA gene sequences. The novel strains were Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria. They contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C contents of strains S3-4A(T) and MX2-3(T) were 52.7 and 52.9 mol%, respectively. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. The dominant cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(16 : 0). Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that both novel strains were affiliated to the genus Paenibacillus. Strains S3-4A(T) and MX2-3(T) were closely related to Paenibacillus agaridevorans DSM 1355(T) with 97 % and 97.3 % gene sequence similarities, respectively. The DNA-DNA relatedness between strains S3-4A(T), MX2-3(T) and P. agaridevorans DSM 1355(T) was low (6.0-30.3 %). The novel strains could be clearly distinguished from P. agaridevorans DSM 1355(T) by physiological and biochemical characteristics. Therefore, these two strains represent novel species of the genus Paenibacillus, for which the names Paenibacillus thailandensis sp. nov. (type strain S3-4A(T)=KCTC 13043(T)=PCU 275(T)=TISTR 1827(T)) and Paenibacillus nanensis sp. nov. (type strain MX2-3(T)=KCTC 13044(T)=PCU 276(T)=TISTR 1828(T)) are proposed.

Fontibacillus panacisegetis sp. nov., isolated from soil of a ginseng field

A facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain P11-6(T), was isolated from soil of a ginseng field located in Geumsan County, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain P11-6(T) were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative, motile rods and produced semi-translucent, circular, white colonies on tryptic soy agar. The isolate contained MK-7 as the only menaquinone and anteiso-C(15 : 0) as the major fatty acid. Diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unknown aminophosphoglycolipid, an unknown aminophospholipid, two unknown phospholipids, three unknown glycolipids and three unknown lipids were detected in the polar lipid profile. The DNA G+C content of strain P11-6(T) was 41.9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that strain P11-6(T) was most closely related to Fontibacillus aquaticus GPTSA 19(T) (97.2 % sequence similarity) and that it formed a separate lineage with F. aquaticus in the family Paenibacillaceae. Combined phenotypic and DNA-DNA hybridization data supported the conclusion that strain P11-6(T) represents a novel species in the genus Fontibacillus, for which the name Fontibacillus panacisegetis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is P11-6(T) (=KCTC 13564(T) =CECT 7605(T)).

Flavobacterium glycines sp. nov., a facultative methylotroph isolated from the rhizosphere of soybean.

An aerobic, yellow-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic, Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming bacterium, designated strain Gm-149(T), was isolated from the rhizosphere of cultivated soybean in India. Cells were motile by gliding. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), summed feature 3 (comprising iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH and/or C(16 : 1) ω 7c), C(16 : 0) 3-OH and anteiso-C(15 : 0), and the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain Gm-149(T) was 35.6 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain Gm-149(T) formed a distinct phyletic line within the genus Flavobacterium. Based on levels of pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, strain Gm-149(T) was related most closely to the type strain of Flavobacterium daejeonense (97.1 %), but the level of DNA-DNA relatedness between these two strains was about 11.2 %. On the basis of phenotypic and genotypic data, strain Gm-149(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium glycines sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gm-149(T) (=ICMP 17618(T)=NBRC 105008(T)).