Isoptericola croceus sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from saline-alkali soil.

A novel actinomycete, designated strain q2T, was isolated from the saline-alkaline soil, collected from Daqing, Heilongjiang province, China. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain q2T belongs to the genus Isoptericola, and showed the highest sequence similarity to Isoptericola halotolerans KCTC 19046T (98.48%) and Isoptericola chiayiensis KCTC 19740T (98.13%), respectively. The average nucleotide identity values between strain q2T and other members of the genus Isoptericola were lower than 95% recommended for distinguishing novel prokaryotic species. Cells of strain q2T were Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. Colonies of strain q2T were golden-yellow pigmented, tidy edged and smooth surfaced. Growth occurred at 15-37 °C (optimum, 29 °C), pH 7.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0). The predominant respiratory quinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H2). The main detected polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The peptidoglycan compositions were L-alanine, D-aspartic, L-glutamic acid and L-lysine (type A4α). The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, and anteiso-C17:0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 69.7%. Based on the phenotypic, physiological, genotypic, and phylogenetic data, strain q2T represents a novel species of the genus Isoptericola, for which the name Isoptericola croceus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is q2T (= GDMCC 1.2923T = KCTC 49759T).

Oceanobacillus saliphilus sp. nov., Isolated from Saline-Alkali Soil in Heilongjiang Province, China.

A novel bacterium, designated strain APA_H-1(4)T, was isolated from the saline-alkaline soil, Zhaodong, Heilongjiang Province, China. Phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses, and whole-genome sequencing were used to determine the taxonomic position of the strain. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Oceanobacillus, and showed the highest sequence similarity to O. damuensis KCTC 33146T (98.35%, similarity) and 'O. massiliensis' DSM 24644 (98.32%). The average nucleotide identity values between strain APA_H-1(4)T and other members of the genus Oceanobacillus were lower than 82% recommended for distinguishing novel prokaryotic species. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of strain APA_H-1(4)T with O. damuensis KCTC 33146T and 'O. massiliensis' DSM 24644 were 13.60 and 17.60%, respectively. Cells of strain APA_H-1(4)T were Gram-staining positive, motile, aerobic, spore-forming rods (0.5-0.7 × 1.8-2.6 µm) with flagella. The growth was found to occur optimally at 37 °C. The whole-cell hydrolysate contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic cell wall diamino acid. The main detected polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified polar lipid. The predominant respiratory quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The major cellular fatty acid (>10%) was anteiso-C15:0. The G + C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 38.4% based on the draft genome sequence. Based on the comparative analysis of polyphasic taxonomic data, strain APA_H-1(4)T represents a novel species of the genus Oceanobacillus, for which the name Oceanobacillus saliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is APA_H-1(4)T (=GDMCC 1.2239T = KCTC 43254T).

Symbiotic bacteria associated with puffer fish Gastrophysus spadiceus and evaluation of their antimicrobial activities.

The present study reports the diversity of culturable bacteria associated with the puffer fish Gastrophysus spadiceus. During the study, a total of 31 strains affiliated to the genera Pseudomonas, Janthinobacterium, Rahnella, and Psychrobacter were isolated from liver, intestines, and flesh of G. spadiceus. These strains exhibited a diverse range of metabolites as indicated by the HPLC and TLC profiles of the chemical extracts of their fermentation products. Some of these crude extracts showed strong antimicrobial activities against pathogenic bacterial strains. In addition, few crude extracts exhibit insecticidal activity against Artemia salina.

Kocuria subflava sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment from the Indian Ocean.

A novel Gram-staining positive, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative, aerobic, non-motile coccus, designated strain YIM 13062(T), was isolated from a marine sediment sample collected from the Indian Ocean. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain YIM 13062(T) belongs to the genus Kocuria, and is closely related to Kocuria polaris NBRC 103063(T) (97.8 % similarity), Kocuria rosea NBRC 3768(T) (97.6 % similarity) and Kocuria carniphila JCM 14118(T) (97.4 % similarity). The strain grew optimally at 28 °C, pH 8.0 and in the presence of 2-4 % (w/v) NaCl. Cell-wall peptidoglycan type was Lys-Ala3 (type A3α). The major isoprenoid quinones were MK-6(H2) and MK-7(H2). The polar lipids of strain YIM 13062(T) consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), one unidentified phospholipid (PL), one unidentified aminophospholipid (APL), two unidentified aminolipids (AL) and four unidentified lipids (L). Major fatty acids of the novel isolate were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C14:0 and C18:1 2OH. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain YIM 13062(T) was 68.0 mol%. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain YIM 13062(T) and K. polaris NBRC 103063(T), K. rosea NBRC 3768(T), K. carniphila JCM 14118(T) were 53.2, 48.8 and 42.6 %, respectively. On the basis of genotypic and phenotypic data, it is apparent that strain YIM 13062(T) represents a novel species of the genus Kocuria, for which the name Kocuria subflava sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 13062(T) (=CGMCC 4.7252(T)=KCTC 39547(T)).

[Biosorption of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) in aqueous solutions by fruiting bodies of macrofungi (Auricularia polytricha and Tremella fuciformis)].

Batch experiments were conducted to study the ability of fruiting bodies of Auricularia polytricha and Tremella fuciformis to adsorb Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II) and Zn(II) from aqueous solutions, including biosorption ability of the biomass to remove heavy metals from solutions with different concentrations, kinetics of adsorption, influence of co-cations, and biosorption affinity in multi-metalsystem. Results showed that in the solutions with individual metal, the maximum biosorption amounts of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) by A. polytricha were 18.91, 18.69, 20.33, 12.42 mg x g(-1), respectively, and the highest removal rates for all cases were more than 85%. The maximum biosorption amounts of Cd(II), Cu(II), Pb(II), Zn(II) by T. fuciformis were 19.98, 20.15, 19.16, 16.41 mg x g(-1), respectively, and highest removal rates for all cases were more than 75%. In the solutions with initial concentrations of 10, 50 and 100 mg x L(-1), the biosorption amounts increased but the removal rates decreased as the initial concentrations increasing. The pseudo-second-order reaction model described adsorption kinetics of heavy metal ions by fruiting bodies of A. polytricha and T. fuciformis better than the pseudo-first-order reaction model. In the solutions with multi metals, the biosorption amounts of heavy metals by two biosorbent were in the order of Ph(II) > Cd(II) > Cu(II) > Zn(II). The ions with more negative charges were preferential to be sorbed. The biosorption ability of A. polytricha was inhibited in multi-metal solutions. In multi-metal solutions, T. fuciformis sorbed a higher amount of Pb(II) but lower amounts of other three ions than that in the individual metal solutions. The results indicated that both fruiting bodies of A. polytricha and T. fuciformis were potential biosorbents.

[Isolation and characterization of electrochemical active bacterial Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain RE7].

Microbial components of the microbial fuel cells (MFCs), including species constitution and metabolic mechanism of the anodic microorganisms, are critical to the optimization of electricity generation. An electrogenesis baterium strain (designated as RE7) was isolated from an MFC that had been running in a fed batch mode for over one year. The isolate was identified as a strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa based on its physiological, morphological characteristics and 16S rRNA sequence analysis. Direct electron transfer from RE7 to an electrode was examined using cyclic voltammetry and MFC. Results of both methods showed the electrochemical activity of the bacterium without any electrochemical mediator. The P. aeruginosa strain RE7 was inoculated into the anode chamber of a packing-type MFC and the maximal voltage output was 352 mV with 1 500 mg/L glucose as the fuel. Correspondingly, the maximal area and volumetric power densities were 69.2 mW/m2 and 6.2 W/m3, respectively. Bacteria-producing soluble redox mediators, such as phenazine derivatives, are possible mechanism to facilitate the direct electron transfer to the electrode from the bacterial cells.