Mycoproteins and their health-promoting properties: Fusarium species and beyond.

Filamentous fungal mycoproteins have gained increasing attention as sustainable alternatives to animal and plant-based proteins. This comprehensive review summarizes the nutritional characteristics, toxicological aspects, and health-promoting effects of mycoproteins, focusing on those derived from filamentous fungi, notably Fusarium venenatum. Mycoproteins are characterized by their high protein content, and they have a superior essential amino acid profile compared to soybeans indicating excellent protein quality and benefits for human nutrition. Additionally, mycoproteins offer enhanced digestibility, further highlighting their suitability as a protein source. Furthermore, mycoproteins are rich in dietary fibers, which have been associated with health benefits, including protection against metabolic diseases. Moreover, their fatty acids profile, with significant proportions of polyunsaturated fatty acids and absence of cholesterol, distinguishes them from animal-derived proteins. In conclusion, the future of mycoproteins as a health-promoting protein alternative and the development of functional foods relies on several key aspects. These include improving the acceptance of mycoproteins, conducting further research into their mechanisms of action, addressing consumer preferences and perceptions, and ensuring safety and regulatory compliance. To fully unlock the potential of mycoproteins and meet the evolving needs of a health-conscious society, continuous interdisciplinary research, collaboration among stakeholders, and proactive engagement with consumers will be vital.

Re-Identification of Aspergillus Subgenus Nidulantes Strains and Description of Three Unrecorded Species From Korea.

Aspergillus subgenus Nidulantes with nine section forms the second largest subgenus of the fungi that comes under the genus Aspergillus. Species in this group of fungi are important as they are reported to play several important roles in the environment including influencing air quality in confined spaces, food spoilage, production of mycotoxins as well as in human pathogenicity. In the present study, 53 strains of Aspergillus subgenus Nidulantes (section: Nidulantes & Usti) isolated from Korea and preserved at the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) were subjected to re-identification by using a combined dataset of partial ß-tubulin (BenA), Calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences as well as their morphological data. We confirmed 14 species from 53 isolates in Korea. Of them, eleven species were reported in Korea previously (A. amoenus, A. baeticus, A. calidoustus, A. creber, A. insuetus, A. jensenii, A. nidulans, A. protuberus, A. sydowii, A. tabacinus and A. unguis), and three species (A. griseoaurantiacus, A. puulaauensis and A. sublatus) were previously unreported from Korea. We detailed the characteristic features of these three species, that remain unexplored in Korea.

Integrated proteomic and genomic analysis to identify predictive biomarkers for valproate response in bipolar disorder: a 6-month follow-up study.

BACKGROUND: Several genetic studies have been undertaken to elucidate the intricate interplay between genetics and drug responses in bipolar disorder (BD). However, there has been notably limited research on biomarkers specifically linked to valproate, with only a few studies investigating integrated proteomic and genomic factors in response to valproate treatment. Therefore, this study aimed to identify biological markers for the therapeutic response to valproate treatment in BD. Patients with BD in remission were assessed only at baseline, whereas those experiencing acute mood episodes were evaluated at three points (baseline, 8 ± 2 weeks, and 6 ± 1 months). The response to valproate treatment was measured using the Alda scale, with individuals scoring an Alda A score ≥ 5 categorized into the acute-valproate responder (acute-VPAR) group. We analyzed 158 peptides (92 proteins) from peripheral blood samples using multiple reaction monitoring mass spectrometry, and proteomic result-guided candidate gene association analyses, with 1,627 single nucleotide variants (SNVs), were performed using the Korean chip. RESULTS: The markers of 37 peptides (27 protein) showed temporal upregulation, indicating possible association with response to valproate treatment. A total of 58 SNVs in 22 genes and 37 SNVs in 16 genes showed nominally significant associations with the Alda A continuous score and the acute-VPAR group, respectively. No SNVs reached the genome-wide significance threshold; however, three SNVs (rs115788299, rs11563197, and rs117669164) in the secreted phosphoprotein 2 gene reached a gene-based false discovery rate-corrected significance threshold with response to valproate treatment. Significant markers were associated with the pathophysiological processes of bipolar disorders, including the immune response, acute phase reaction, and coagulation cascade. These results suggest that valproate effectively suppresses mechanisms associated with disease progression. CONCLUSIONS: The markers identified in this study could be valuable indicators of the underlying mechanisms associated with response to valproate treatment.

The Impact of Morningness-Eveningness on Depression through a Serial Mediation Model of Resilience and Anxiety.

OBJECTIVE: Resilience has been recently considered one of the possible mechanisms for the association between morningness-eveningness and depression. Meanwhile, anxiety is closely associated with mood disorder, but its association with morningness-eveningness is unclear. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the mediating effects of resilience and anxiety on morningness-eveningness and depression as the possible mechanisms. METHODS: This study included patient group and nonpatient group. Patient group consists of 743 patients with mood disorders [Major Depressive Disorder (MDD), 233; Bipolar Disorder Ⅰ (BDⅠ), 113; Bipolar Disorder Ⅱ (BDⅡ), 397] whereas nonpatient group consists of 818 individuals without mood disorder. The Composite Scale of Morningness, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, Self-Rating Depression Scale, and Beck Anxiety Inventory were used to evaluate morningness-eveningness, resilience, anxiety, and depression, respectively. RESULTS: Our model provided a good fit for the data. The association between morningness-eveningness and depression symptoms was partially serially mediated by resilience and anxiety in both the patient and nonpatient groups. The patient group exhibited significantly stronger morningness-eveningness toward resilience and anxiety than the nonpatient group. In the indirect effect of morningness-eveningness on depression, group differences exist only through each mediation of resilience and anxiety, not through serial mediation. CONCLUSION: Our results expand on the mechanism underlying the association between morningness-eveningness and depression. They highlight the importance of morningness-eveningness modification to increase resilience and the need to consider anxiety jointly in this process.

Network Structure of Depressive Symptomatology in Elderly with Cognitive Impairment.

Objective and objectives: Patients with cognitive disorders such as Alzheimer's disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) frequently exhibit depressive symptoms. Depressive symptoms can be evaluated with various measures and questionnaires. The geriatric depression scale (GDS) is a scale that can be used to measure symptoms in geriatric age. Many questionnaires sum up symptom scales. However, core symptoms of depression in these patients and connections between these symptoms have not been fully explored yet. Thus, the objectives of this study were (1) to determine core symptoms of two cognitive disorders, Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment, and (2) to investigate the network structure of depressive symptomatology in individuals with cognitive impairment in comparison with those with Alzheimer's disease. Materials and Methods: This study encompassed 5354 patients with cognitive impairments such as Alzheimer's disease (n 1889) and mild cognitive impairment (n = 3464). The geriatric depression scale, a self-administered questionnaire, was employed to assess depressive symptomatology. Using exploratory graph analysis (EGA), a network analysis was conducted, and the network structure was evaluated through regularized partial correlation models. To determine the centrality of depressive symptoms within each cohort, network parameters such as strength, betweenness, and closeness were examined. Additionally, to explore differences in the network structure between Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment groups, a network comparison test was performed. Results: In the analysis of centrality indices, "worthlessness" was identified as the most central symptom in the geriatric depression scale among patients with Alzheimer's disease, whereas "emptiness" was found to be the most central symptom in patients with mild cognitive impairment. Despite these differences in central symptoms, the comparative analysis showed no statistical difference in the overall network structure between Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment groups. Conclusions: Findings of this study could contribute to a better understanding of the manifestation of depressive symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment. These results are expected to aid in identifying and prioritizing core symptoms in these patients. Further research should be conducted to explore potential interventions tailored to these core symptoms in patients with Alzheimer's disease and mild cognitive impairment. Establishing core symptoms in those groups might have clinical importance in that appropriate treatment for neuropsychiatric symptoms in patients with cognitive impairment could help preclude progression to further impairment.

Sphingobacterium oryzagri sp. nov., isolated from rice paddy soil.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-negative and short rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated M6-31T, was isolated from rice paddy soil sampled in Miryang, Republic of Korea. Growth was observed at 4-35 °C (optimum, 28 °C), pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0) and in the presence of 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 % w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences grouped strain M6-31T with Sphingobacterium bambusae IBFC2009T, Sphingobacterium griseoflavum SCU-B140T and Sphingobacterium solani MLS-26-JM13-11T in the same clade, with the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities ranging from 95.8 to 96.6 %. A genome-based phylogenetic tree reconstructed by using all publicly available Sphingobacterium genomes placed strain M6-31T with S. bambusae KACC 22910T, 'Sphingobacterium deserti' ACCC 05744T, S. griseoflavum CGMCC 1.12966T and Sphingobacterium paludis CGMCC 1.12801T. Orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain M6-31T and its closely related strains were lower than 74.6 and 22.0 %, respectively. The respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7, and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C15 : 0 iso, C17 : 0 iso 3OH and summed feature 3. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data obtained in this study showed that strain M6-31T represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium oryzagri sp. nov. (type strain M6-31T=KACC 22765T=JCM 35893T) is proposed.

Lacticaseibacillus pabuli sp. nov., isolated from fermented cattle feed.

Strain BSF-3MT is a Gram-stain-positive, non-flagellated, facultative anaerobic and rod-shaped bacterium that was isolated from fermented feed collected at a cattle farm in the Daejeon region of the Republic of Korea. It was studied using polyphasic taxonomic methods. Using 16S rRNA gene sequences and the resulting phylogenetic tree, the strain was primarily identified as a member of the genus Lacticaseibacillus. Strain BSF-3MT contained a chromosome of 2.5 Mbp and a plasmid of 33.4 kbp. The G+C content of genomic DNA was 51.3 mol%. Strain BSF-3MT had the highest ortho-average nucleotide identity value of 73.7 % with Lacticaseibacillus songhuajiangensis 7-19T, its closest relative in the phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the phylogenomic tree based on up-to-date bacterial core genes. Based on the results of a polyphasic taxonomic study, strain BSF-3MT represents a novel species in the genus Lacticaseibacillus, for which the name Lacticaseibacillus pabuli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BSF-3MT (=KACC 23028T=NBRC 116014T).

Re-identification of Colletotrichum gloeosporioides Species Complex Isolates in Korea and Their Host Plants.

The Colletotrichum gloeosporioides species complex includes many phytopathogenic species, causing anthracnose disease on a wide range of host plants and appearing to be globally distributed. Seventy-one Colletotrichum isolates in the complex from different plants and geographic regions in Korea were preserved in the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC). Most of them had been identified based on hosts and morphological features, this could lead to inaccurate species names. Therefore, the KACC isolates were re-identified using DNA sequence analyses of six loci, comprising internal transcribed spacer, gapdh, chs-1, his3, act, and tub2 in this study. Based on the combined phylogenetic analysis, KACC strains were assigned to 12 known species and three new species candidates. The detected species are C. siamense (n = 20), C. fructicola (n = 19), C. gloeosporioides (n = 9), C. aenigma (n = 5), C. camelliae (n = 3), C. temperatum (n = 3), C. musae (n = 2), C. theobromicola (n = 2), C. viniferum (n = 2), C. alatae (n = 1), C. jiangxiense (n = 1), and C. yulongense (n = 1). Of these, C. jiangxiense, C. temperatum, C. theobromicola and C. yulongense are unrecorded species in Korea. Host plant comparisons showed that 27 fungus-host associations are newly reported in the country. However, plant-fungus interactions need to be investigated by pathogenicity tests.

Molecular characterization of Fusarium venenatum-based microbial protein in animal models of obesity using multi-omics analysis.

Microbial protein, produced by fermentation of Fusarium venenatum is a promising candidate alternative protein source. Previous study has demonstrated its ability to improve hyperlipidemia in rats, yet the related mechanism remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the potential of F. venenatum as an alternative protein source and its impact on lipid metabolism using multi-omics analysis. Initial experiments with Caenorhabditis elegans revealed that F. venenatum enhanced longevity, improved immune responses, and reduced lipid metabolism by downregulating fat synthesis-related genes. Subsequently, we conducted experiments with mice on a high-fat diet to confirm the anti-obesity effects of F. venenatum. The groups fed F. venenatum showed improved lipid profiles and reduced hepatic fat accumulation. Furthermore, fecal metabolomic analysis showed higher excretion of primary bile acid and cholesterol in the groups fed F. venenatum which might lead to a decrease in lipid digestion and hepatic fat accumulation. Collectively, this series of experiments revealed the potential of F. venenatum as a sustainable alternative protein and its application as an anti-obesity supplement.

Interpersonal sensitivity and childhood trauma in patients with major depressive disorder, bipolar I, and II disorder.

Childhood trauma and interpersonal sensitivity impact the development of mood disorders. In this study, we investigate the association between childhood trauma and interpersonal sensitivity in patients with mood disorders. A total 775 patients (major depressive disorder [MDD, n = 241], bipolar I disorder [BD I, n = 119], and bipolar II disorder [BD II, n = 415]) and 734 controls. For evaluation, we used the Childhood Trauma Questionnaire-Short Form (CTQ) and Interpersonal Sensitivity Measure (IPSM). We examined between-group differences for each subscale in the CTQ and IPSM. Patients with BD II had significantly higher IPSM total scores than patients with MDD, BD I, or controls. The CTQ total score was related to the IPSM total score in all participants and subgroups. Among the CTQ subscales, emotional abuse showed the highest correlation with the IPSM total score, while separation anxiety and fragile inner self showed higher positive correlations with CTQ than the other subscales of IPSM in all patient groups and the control group, respectively. The findings reveal that childhood trauma and interpersonal sensitivity are positively correlated among patients with MDD, BD I, and BD II, and that interpersonal sensitivity is higher in patients with BD II than those with BD I or MDD. Childhood trauma is associated with interpersonal sensitivity, and each trauma type has a different impact on mood disorders. We expect that this study will encourage future research on interpersonal sensitivity and childhood trauma in mood disorders to improve treatment approaches.

Network structure of symptomatology of adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder in patients with mood disorders.

Patients with mood disorders commonly manifest comorbid psychiatric disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, few studies have evaluated ADHD symptoms in this population. The current study aimed to explore the network structure of ADHD symptomology and identify central symptoms in patients with mood disorders. The Korean version of the Adult ADHD Self-Report Scale was used to assess the overall ADHD symptoms in 1,086 individuals diagnosed with mood disorders (major depressive disorder [n = 373], bipolar I disorder [n = 314], and bipolar II disorder [n = 399]). We used exploratory graph analysis to detect the number of communities, and the network structure was analyzed using regularized partial correlation models. We identified the central ADHD symptom using centrality indices. Network comparison tests were conducted with different subgroups of patients with mood disorders, including three mood diagnosis groups, between the patients who met the diagnostic criteria for ADHD [ADHD-suspected, n = 259] in their self-report and the others [ADHD-non-suspected, n = 827], and groups with high [n = 503] versus low [n = 252] levels of depressive state. The network analysis detected four communities: disorganization, agitation/restlessness, hyperactivity/impulsivity, and inattention. The centrality indices indicated that "feeling restless" was the core ADHD symptom. The result was replicated in the subgroup analyses within our clinically diverse population of mood disorders, encompassing three presentations: Patients with suspected ADHD, patients without suspected ADHD, and patients with a high depressive state. Our findings reveal that "feeling restless" is the central ADHD symptom. The treatment intervention for "feeling restless" may thus play a pivotal role in tackling ADHD symptoms in adult patients with mood disorders.

Brevibacillus ruminantium sp. nov., isolated from cow faeces.

An aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacterial strain, designated BB3-R1T, was isolated from cow faeces sampled in Daejeon, Republic of Korea. Growth was observed at 25-45 °C (optimum, 35-40 °C) and pH 7.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0), with up to 3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 % NaCl). blast analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed the highest sequence similarity of strain BB3-R1T to Brevibacillus borstelensis NRRL NRS-818T (98.8 %) followed by Brevibacillus panacihumi JCM 15085T (97.5 %). According to 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome based phylogenetic trees, strain BB3-R1T clustered with Brevibacillus composti FJAT-54423T and B. borstelensis NRRL NRS-818T. OrthoANI and dDDH values of strain BB3-R1T with the closely related strains were lower than 77.5 and 26.8 %, respectively. The major menaquinones and polar lipids of the strain were MK-7 and phosphatidylmonomethylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were C14 : 0 iso, C15 : 0 iso, C15 : 0 anteiso and C16 : 1 ω7c alcohol. The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained cross-linked meso-diaminopimelic acid (type A1 gamma). The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data obtained in this study showed that the strain represents a novel species of the genus Brevibacillus, for which the name Brevibacillus ruminantium sp. nov. (type strain BB3-R1T=KACC 22663T=NBRC 115962T) is proposed.

Re-Identification of Aspergillus Subgenus Circumdati Strains in Korea Led to the Discovery of Three Unrecorded Species.

Aspergillus is one of the largest and diverse genera of fungi with huge economical, biotechnological, and social significance. Taxonomically, Aspergillus is divided into six subgenera comprising 27 sections. In this study, 235 strains of Aspergillus subgenus Circumdati (section: Candidi, Circumdati, Flavi, Flavipedes, Nigri, and Terrei) preserved at the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) were analyzed and re-identified using a combined dataset of partial ß-tubulin (BenA), Calmodulin (CaM) gene sequences and morphological data. We confirmed nineteen species to be priorly reported in Korea (A. neotritici, A. terreus, A. floccosus, A. allahabadii, A. steynii, A. westerdijkiae, A. ochraceus, A. ostianus, A. sclerotiorum, A. luchuensis, A. tubingensis, A. niger, A. welwitschiae, A. japonicus, A. nomius, A. tamarii, A. parasiticus, A. flavi, and A. oryzae). Among the studied strains, three species (A. subalbidus, A. iizukae, and A. uvarum), previously unreported or not officially documented, were discovered in Korea, to the best of our knowledge. We have given a detailed description of the characteristic features of the three species, which remain uncharted in Korea.

Five novel Hymenobacter species isolated from air: Hymenobacter cellulosilyticus sp. nov., Hymenobacter cellulosivorans sp. nov., Hymenobacter aerilatus sp. nov., Hymenobacter sublimis sp. nov. and Hymenobacter volaticus sp. nov.

Five Hymenobacter strains isolated from air samples collected from the Suwon and Jeju regions of the Republic of Korea were studied using polyphasic taxonomic methods. Using 16S rRNA gene sequences and the resulting phylogenetic tree, the strains were primarily identified as members of the genus Hymenobacter. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization values and average nucleotide identities values for species delineation (70 and 95-96 %, respectively) between the five strains and their nearest type strains indicated that each strain represented a novel species. All strains were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, mesophilic, rod-shaped and catalase- and oxidase-positive, with red to pink coloured colonies. The genome sizes of the five strains varied from 4.8 to 7.1 Mb and their G+C contents were between 54.1 and 59.4 mol%. Based on their phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics, we propose to classify these isolates into five novel species within the genus Hymenobacter for which we propose the names, Hymenobacter cellulosilyticus sp. nov., Hymenobacter cellulosivorans sp. nov., Hymenobacter aerilatus sp. nov., Hymenobacter sublimis sp. nov. and Hymenobacter volaticus sp. nov., with strains 5116 S-3T (=KACC 21925T=JCM 35216T), 5116 S-27T (=KACC 21926T=JCM 35217T), 5413 J-13T (=KACC 21928T=JCM 35219T), 5516 S-25T (=KACC 21931T=JCM 35222T) and 5420 S-77T (=KACC 21932T=JCM 35223T) as the type strains, respectively.

Re-identification of Colletotrichum acutatum Species Complex in Korea and Their Host Plants.

Colletotrichum acutatum species complex is one of the most important groups in the genus Colletotrichum with a high species diversity and a wide range of host plants. C. acutatum and related species have been collected from different plants and locations in Korea and deposited into the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC), National Institute of Agricultural Sciences since the 1990s. These fungal isolates were previously identified based mainly on morphological characteristics, and a limitation of molecular data was provided. To confirm the identification of species, 64 C. acutatum species complex isolates in KACC were used in this study for DNA sequence analyses of six loci: nuclear ribosomal internal transcribed spacers (ITS), betatubulin 2 (TUB2), histone-3 (HIS3), glyceraldehyde3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), chitin synthase 1 (CHS-1), and actin (ACT). The molecular analysis revealed that they were identified in six different species of C. fioriniae (24 isolates), C. nymphaeae (21 isolates), C. scovillei (12 isolates), C. chrysanthemi (three isolates), C. lupini (two isolates), and C. godetiae (one isolate), and a novel species candidate. We compared the hosts of KACC isolates with "The List of Plant Diseases in Korea", previous reports in Korea and global reports and found that 23 combinations between hosts and pathogens could be newly reported in Korea after pathogenicity tests, and 12 of these have not been recorded in the world.

Whole-Genome Sequence of Mucilaginibacter jinjuensis Strain KACC 16571T.

We report the whole-genome sequence of Mucilaginibacter jinjuensis type strain KACC 16571, which was isolated from rotten wood in South Korea. The genome of Mucilaginibacter jinjuensis KACC 16571T consists of a 6.16-Mb circular chromosome, with a G+C content of 42.1% and 5,262 total predicted coding genes.

Validation of the Short Form of the Mood Instability Questionnaire-Trait (MIQ-T-SF) in the Korean General Population.

OBJECTIVE: Mood instability (MI) is a clinically significant trait associated with psychiatric disorders. However, there are no concise measurements to evaluate MI. The initial Mood Instability Questionnaire-Trait (MIQ-T) was developed to fill this gap. The current study aimed to create a short form of MIQ-T (MIQ-T-SF) that measures MI with high validity and reliability in the Korean general population. METHODS: Of the 59 items in the MIQ-T, 17 items were chosen for the MIQ-T-SF following the factor analysis process. In total, 540 participants completed the MIQ-T-SF. Cronbach's alpha and McDonald's omega were used to evaluate reliability. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) were used to determine construct validity. Concurrent validity was confirmed via comparisons with Personality Assessment Inventory-Borderline Features Scale. Measurement invariance across gender and age groups was confirmed before analyzing differences in scores using Kruskal-Wallis test. RESULTS: The MIQ-T-SF displayed expected correlations and high internal consistency (α=0.71-0.90, Ωt=0.72-0.92). Using EFA and CFA, a five-factor structure was confirmed. Measurement invariance was supported, and gender differences were observed. CONCLUSION: The MIQ-T-SF is an accurate and reliable method to detect MI in the Korean general population. The study's results offer new perspectives for future studies on MI.

Draft Genome Sequences of Three Type Strains, Acetobacter farinalis KACC 21251, Acetobacter suratthaniensis KACC 21252, and Acetobacter thailandicus KACC 21253.

As part of a genome database construction of type strains, we report the draft genome sequences of three strains of acetic acid bacteria, i.e., Acetobacter farinalis KACC 21251T, Acetobacter suratthaniensis KACC 21252T, and Acetobacter thailandicus KACC 21253T.

Spirosoma oryzicola sp. nov., isolated from dried rice husk.

Strain RHs26T is an aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-flagellated and rod- or filamentous-shaped (1.0-1.1×2.3-50 µm) bacterium that was isolated from dried rice husk. It was positive for oxidase and catalase, hydrolysed starch and Tween 80, and weakly hydrolysed CM-cellulose. The strain grew at temperatures between 10 and 37 °C (optimum, 28 °C), in 0-1 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %) and at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0). The predominant membrane fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 1 ω5c, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant quinone was menaquinone MK-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain RHs26T belongs to the genus Spirosoma, presenting the highest sequence similarity to Spirosoma agri S7-3-3T (95.8 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of strain RHs26T was 49.5 %. Strain RHs26T showed the highest orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of 76.4 % and 20.0 % with S. agri KCTC 52727T while sharing OrthoANI and dDDH values of 74.6 % and 19.2 % with Spirosoma terrae KCTC 52035T, the closest relative in the phylogenomic tree. Based on the results of a polyphasic taxonomic study, strain RHs26T represents a novel species in the genus Spirosoma, for which the name Spirosoma oryzicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RHs26T (=JCM 35224T=KACC 17318T).

Frateuria soli sp. nov. and Frateuria edaphi sp. nov., isolated from greenhouse soil.

Two bacterial strains, designated 5GH9-11T and 5GH9-34T, were isolated from greenhouse soil sampled in Wanju-gun, Jeollabuk-do, Republic of Korea. Both strains formed yellow colonies and were aerobic, rod-shaped and flagellated. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between 5GH9-11T and 5GH9-34T was 98.6 %. Strain 5GH9-11T showed the highest sequence similarities to Dyella thiooxydans ATSB10T (98.1 %) and Frateuria aurantia DSM 6220T (97.7 %) while strain 5GH9-34T revealed the highest sequence similarity to F. aurantia DSM 6220T (98.3 %) and D. thiooxydans ATSB10T (98.3 %). Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strains 5GH9-11T and 5GH9-34T formed a robust cluster with Frateuria flava MAH-13T and Frateuria terrea NBRC 104236T. The phylogenomic tree also showed that strains 5GH9-11T and 5GH9-34T formed a robust cluster with F. terrea DSM 26515T and F. flava MAH-13T. Strain 5GH9-11T showed the highest orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI; 88.5 %) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values (35.5 %) with F. flava MAH-13T, and strain 5GH9-34T revealed highest OrthoANI (88.1 %) and dDDH (34.2 %) values with F. flava MAH-13T. The orthoANI and dDDH values between strain 5GH9-11T and 5GH9-34T were 87.7 and 33.9 %, respectively. Their major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 8, and the major cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl) and iso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids of both strains were composed of large or moderate amounts of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified aminophospholipid. Based on these data, strains 5GH9-11T and 5GH9-34T should represent two independent novel species of Frateuria, for which the names Frateuria soli sp. nov. (type strain 5GH9-11T=KACC 16943T=JCM 35197T) and Frateuria edaphi sp. nov. (type strain 5GH9-34T=KACC 16945T=JCM 35198T) are proposed.