Paracoccus haematequi sp. nov., isolated from horse blood.

Two slightly orange-pigmented, oxidase-positive bacterial strains (M1-83T and M2-116), isolated from horse blood collected during slaughter in Giessen, Germany, were studied in a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of the isolates were coccoid and stained Gram-negative. The two strains shared identical 16S rRNA gene sequences but their genomic fingerprint patterns differed, indicating the genetic distinctiveness of the two strains. A comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain M1-83T with sequences of the type strains of the most closely related Paracoccus species showed highest sequence similarities to Paracoccus acridae (98.2 %) and Paracoccus aerius (98.1 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other Paracoccus species were below 97.6 %. The fatty acid profile of the two strains consisted mainly of the major fatty acids C18 : 1 ω7c and C18:0, which is typical for the genus Paracoccus. The polyamine patterns of strain M1-83T contained major amounts of putrescine and spermidine. The major quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The polar lipid profile was characterized by the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified glycolipid. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments between M1-83T and the type strains of P. acridae and P. aerius resulted in similarity values of 17 % (reciprocal, 60 %) and 23 % (reciprocal 30 %), respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization results together with the differentiating biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties showed that strain M1-83T represents a novel Paracoccusspecies, for which the name Paracoccus haematequi sp. nov. (type strain M1-83T=LMG 30633T=CIP 111624T=CCM 8857T), is proposed.

Pigmentiphaga humi sp. nov., isolated from soil amended with humic acid.

A slightly beige-pigmented, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, strain IMT-318T, was isolated from soil in a field located in Malvern, Alabama, USA. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain within the genus Pigmentiphaga with highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.74 % and 98.67 % to the type strains of Pigmentiphaga kullae and Pigmentiphaga daeguensis, respectively. Sequence similarities to all other species of the genus were below 98.0 %. Results of the chemotaxonomic analysis, however, showed clear similarities to the genus Pigmentiphaga. The main cellular fatty acids of the strain were C16 : 0, C18 : 1 ω7c, C17 : 0 cyclo and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c. The major quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. The polar lipid profile was composed of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminophospholipid. In the polyamine pattern, putrescine and 2-hydroxyputrescine were predominant. The diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Based on phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic analyses, we propose a new species of the genus Pigmentiphaga, with the name Pigmentiphaga humi sp. nov. and strain IMT-318T (=LMG 30658T=CIP 111626T=CCM 8859T) as the type strain.

Filibacter tadaridae sp. nov., isolated from within a guano pile from a colony of Mexican free-tailed bats Tadarida brasiliensis.

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic bacterium, TB-66T, was isolated from a pile of bat guano in a cave of New Mexico, USA. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain TB-66Tgrouped together with Filibacter limicola showing a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.5 % to the type strain. The quinone system of strain TB-66T consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and three unidentified phospholipids. The peptidoglycan type was A4α l-Lys-d-Glu (A11.33). The major fatty acids were C15 : 0 anteiso, C16 : 0, and C16 : 1 ω7c. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 37.6 (±1.8) mol%. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic properties it is clear that strain TB-66T represents a member of the genus Filibacter, but is distinct from the only other species in the genus, Filibacter limicola DSM 13886T. We propose a novel species with the name Filibacter tadaridae sp. nov. The type strain is TB-66T (= CIP 111629T= LMG 30660T= CCM 8866T).

Isolation by Miniaturized Culture Chip of an Antarctic bacterium Aequorivita sp. with antimicrobial and anthelmintic activity.

Microbes are prolific sources of bioactive molecules; however, the cultivability issue has severely hampered access to microbial diversity. Novel secondary metabolites from as-yet-unknown or atypical microorganisms from extreme environments have realistic potential to lead to new drugs with benefits for human health. Here, we used a novel approach that mimics the natural environment by using a Miniaturized Culture Chip allowing the isolation of several bacterial strains from Antarctic shallow water sediments under near natural conditions. A Gram-negative Antarctic bacterium belonging to the genus Aequorivita was subjected to further analyses. The Aequorivita sp. genome was sequenced and a bioinformatic approach was applied to identify biosynthetic gene clusters. The extract of the Aequorivita sp. showed antimicrobial and anthelmintic activity towards Multidrug resistant bacteria and the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. This is the first multi-approach study exploring the genomics and biotechnological potential of the genus Aequorivita that is a promising candidate for pharmaceutical applications.

Mycobacterial biomaterials and resources for researchers.

There are many resources available to mycobacterial researchers, including culture collections around the world that distribute biomaterials to the general scientific community, genomic and clinical databases, and powerful bioinformatics tools. However, many of these resources may be unknown to the research community. This review article aims to summarize and publicize many of these resources, thus strengthening the quality and reproducibility of mycobacterial research by providing the scientific community access to authenticated and quality-controlled biomaterials and a wealth of information, analytical tools and research opportunities.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Fish Pathogen Flavobacterium columnare Genomovar III Strain PH-97028 (=CIP 109753).

Flavobacterium columnare strain PH-97028 (=CIP 109753) is a genomovar III reference strain that was isolated from a diseased Ayu fish in Japan. We report here the analysis of the first available genomovar III sequence of this species to aid in identification, epidemiological tracking, and virulence studies.

Revisiting the taxonomy of the genus Elizabethkingia using whole-genome sequencing, optical mapping, and MALDI-TOF, along with proposal of three novel Elizabethkingia species: Elizabethkingia bruuniana sp. nov., Elizabethkingia ursingii sp. nov., and Elizabethkingia occulta sp. nov.

The genus Elizabethkingia is genetically heterogeneous, and the phenotypic similarities between recognized species pose challenges in correct identification of clinically derived isolates. In addition to the type species Elizabethkingia meningoseptica, and more recently proposed Elizabethkingia miricola, Elizabethkingia anophelis and Elizabethkingia endophytica, four genomospecies have long been recognized. By comparing historic DNA-DNA hybridization results with whole genome sequences, optical maps, and MALDI-TOF mass spectra on a large and diverse set of strains, we propose a comprehensive taxonomic revision of this genus. Genomospecies 1 and 2 contain the type strains E. anophelis and E. miricola, respectively. Genomospecies 3 and 4 are herein proposed as novel species named as Elizabethkingia bruuniana sp. nov. (type strain, G0146T = DSM 2975T = CCUG 69503T = CIP 111191T) and Elizabethkingia ursingii sp. nov. (type strain, G4122T = DSM 2974T = CCUG 69496T = CIP 111192T), respectively. Finally, the new species Elizabethkingia occulta sp. nov. (type strain G4070T = DSM 2976T = CCUG 69505T = CIP 111193T), is proposed.

Psychrobacter pasteurii and Psychrobacter piechaudii sp. nov., two novel species within the genus Psychrobacter.

Six Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, non-pigmented, oxidase- and catalase-positive bacterial strains were deposited in 1972, in the Collection of the Institut Pasteur (CIP), Paris, France. The strains, previously identified as members of the genus Moraxella on the basis of their phenotypic and biochemical characteristics, were placed within the genus Psychrobacter based on the results from comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence studies. Their closest phylogenetic relatives were Psychrobacter sanguinis CIP 110993T, Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus CIP 82.27T and Psychrobacter lutiphocae CIP 110018T. The DNA G+C contents were between 42.1 and 42.7 mol%. The predominant fatty acids were C18 : 1ω9c, C16 : 0, C12 : 0 3-OH, and C18 : 0. Average nucleotide identity between the six strains and their closest phylogenetic relatives, as well as their phenotypic characteristics, supported the assignment of these strains to two novel species within the genus Psychrobacter. The proposed names for these strains are Psychrobacter pasteurii sp. nov., for which the type strain is A1019T (=CIP 110853T=CECT 9184T), and Psychrobacter piechaudii sp. nov., for which the type strain is 1232T (=CIP110854T=CECT 9185T).

Global and regional dissemination and evolution of Burkholderia pseudomallei.

The environmental bacterium Burkholderia pseudomallei causes an estimated 165,000 cases of human melioidosis per year worldwide and is also classified as a biothreat agent. We used whole genome sequences of 469 B. pseudomallei isolates from 30 countries collected over 79 years to explore its geographic transmission. Our data point to Australia as an early reservoir, with transmission to Southeast Asia followed by onward transmission to South Asia and East Asia. Repeated reintroductions were observed within the Malay Peninsula and between countries bordered by the Mekong River. Our data support an African origin of the Central and South American isolates with introduction of B. pseudomallei into the Americas between 1650 and 1850, providing a temporal link with the slave trade. We also identified geographically distinct genes/variants in Australasian or Southeast Asian isolates alone, with virulence-associated genes being among those over-represented. This provides a potential explanation for clinical manifestations of melioidosis that are geographically restricted.