Mucilaginibacter puniceus sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A non-motile, rod-shaped and pale-pink bacterium, designated strain WS71T, was isolated from freshwater collected from the Woopo Wetland (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The strain contained menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the DNA G+C content was 39.4±0.4 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unknown aminophospholipid. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that WS71T forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of genus Mucilaginibacterwith Mucilaginibacter. soyangensis HME6664T as its nearest neighbor (98.3 % sequence similarity). DNA-DNA relatedness between WS71T and M. soyangensis HME6664T was 61.3±1.0 %. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished WS71T from the other members of the genus Mucilaginibacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, WS71T represents a novel species, for which the name Mucilaginibacterpuniceus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WS71T (=KCTC 32270T=JCM 19495T).

Hymenobacter coalescens sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain WW84T, was isolated from freshwater collected from the Woopo wetland (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0, C18 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1B. The strain contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The DNA G+C content was 59 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WW84T forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation including the members of the genus Hymenobacter with Hymenobactero cellatus Myx 2105T (96.96 % sequence similarity) as its nearest neighbor. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain WW84T from the related members of the genus Hymenobacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Hymenobacter coalescens sp. nov. is proposed with strain WW84T (=KCTC 32530T=JCM 19493T) as the type strain.

Altererythrobacter rigui sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A non-motile and yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated strain WW3T, was isolated from freshwater of Woopo wetland, Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. A maximum-likelihood phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WW3T forms an independent lineage within the genus Altererythrobacter. Strain WW3T was related distantly to Altererythrobacter dongtanensisJM27T and Altererythrobacter troitsensisKMM 6042T (97.1% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). DNA-DNA relatedness between strain WW3T and the reference strains was low (30-41 %). The major fatty acids of strain WW3T were C17 : 1ω6c, C17 : 1ω8c, C15 : 0 2-OH and summed feature 8 comprising C18 : 1ω6c and/or C18 : 1ω7c. The predominant isoprenoid quinone of the isolate was ubiquinone-10. The DNA G+C content of strain WW3T was 63 mol%. Phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain WW3T from related species of the genus Altererythrobacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study,strain WW3T represents a novel species of the genus Altererythrobacter, for which the name Altererythrobacter rigui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WW3T (=KCTC 42620T =JCM 30975T).

Roseomonas wooponensis sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A non-motile, cocobacilli-shaped and pink-pigmented bacterium, designated strain WW53T, was isolated from wetland freshwater (Woopo wetland, Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c and C16 : 0.The predominant quinone and polyamine were ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) and spermidine, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 71 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine and an unknown aminolipid. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain WW53T belongs to the family Acetobacteraceae, and is related to the genus Roseomonas. Strain WW53T was most closely related to Roseomonas stagni HS-69T (95.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). Results of a polyphasic taxonomy study suggested that the isolate represents a novel species in the genus Roseomonas, for which the name Roseomonas wooponensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WW53T ( = KCTC 32534T = JCM 19527T).

Hymenobacter wooponensis sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater.

A non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain WM78T, was isolated from freshwater collected from the Woopo wetland (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c and iso-C17:1 I and/or anteiso-C17:1 B. The strain contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid and sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine. The genomic DNA G+C content was 62 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain WM78T forms evolutionary lineage within the radiation comprising members of the genus Hymenobacter with Hymenobacter gelipurpurascens Txg1T (97.7 % sequence similarity) as its nearest neighbour. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain WM78T from related members of the genus Hymenobacter. The evidence presented in this study support the designation of strain WM78T as a representative of a novel species in the genus Hymenobacter for which the name Hymenbactor wooponensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WM78T ( = KCTC 32528T = JCM 19491T).

Flaviramulus aquimarinus sp. nov., isolated from seawater.

A yellow-coloured, rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative and facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated KYW499(T), was isolated from seawater collected at Suncheon Bay, Republic of Korea. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Major cellular fatty acids (>10 % of total) were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified polar lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The genomic DNA G+C content was 31.7 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain KYW499(T) belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae, and was related to the genus Flaviramulus. Data from a polyphasic taxonomy study suggested that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Flaviramulus, for which the name Flaviramulus aquimarinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW499(T) ( = KCTC 23924(T) = JCM 18274(T)).

Flavisolibacter rigui sp. nov., isolated from freshwater of an artificial reservoir and emended description of the genus Flavisolibacter.

A non-motile and rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain 02SUJ3(T), was isolated from freshwater collected from the Juam Reservoir (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, oxidase-negative and catalase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The strain contained MK-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone. The main polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The DNA G+C content was 46.4 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 02SUJ3(T) forms an independent lineage within the genus Flavisolibacter with low sequence similarity to Flavisolibacter ginsengiterrae Gsoil 492(T) and Flavisolibacter ginsengisoli Gsoil 643(T) (95.7 %). Phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain 02SUJ3(T) from members of the genus Flavisolibacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain 02SUJ3(T) is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Flavisolibacter rigui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 02SUJ3(T) ( = JCM 17515(T) = KCTC 23328(T)). An emended description of the genus Flavisolibacter is also provided.

Modulation of proteome expression by F-type lectin during viral hemorrhagic septicemia virus infection in fathead minnow cells.

Lectins found in fish tissues play an important role in the innate immune response against viral infection. A fucose-binding type lectin, RbFTL-3, from rock bream (Oplegnathus fasciatus) was identified using expressed sequence tag (EST) analysis. The expression of RbFTL-3 mRNA was higher in intestine than other tissues of rock bream. To determine the function of RbFTL-3, VHSV-susceptible fathead minnow (FHM) cells were transfected with pcDNA3.1(+) or pcDNA3.1(+)-RbFTL-3 and further infected with VHSV. The results show that the viability of FHM cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(+)-RbFTL-3 is higher than that of cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(+) (relative cell viability: 28.9% vs 56.2%). A comparative proteomic analysis, performed to explore the proteins related to the protective effect of RbFTL-3 in the cells during VHSV infection, identified 90 proteins differentially expressed in VHSV-infected FHM cells transfected with pcDNA3.1(+) or pcDNA3.1(+)-RbFTL-3. The expression of RbFTL-3 inhibits a vascular-sorting protein (SNF8) and diminishes the loss of prothrombin, which are closely associated with controlling viral budding and hemorrhage in fish cells, respectively. Subsequent Ingenuity Pathways Analysis enabled prediction of their biofunctional groupings and interaction networks. The results suggest RbFTL-3 modulates the expression of proteins related to viral budding (SNF8, CCT5 and TUBB) and thrombin signaling (F2) to increase the viability of VHSV infected cells.

Mesoflavibacter aestuarii sp. nov., a zeaxanthin-producing marine bacterium isolated from seawater.

An orange, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic and gliding bacterial strain devoid of flagella, designated strain KYW614(T), was isolated from seawater collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. Zeaxanthin was the major carotenoid pigment produced and flexirubin-type pigments were not produced. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain KYW614(T) belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae and it was most closely related to Mesoflavibacter zeaxanthinifaciens TD-ZX30(T) (96.5%, sequence similarity). The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain KYW614(T) were iso-C(15 : 1) G (10.5%), summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)ω7c/C(16 : 1)ω6c; 10.0%), iso-C(15 : 0) (9.5%), C(15 : 0) (7.5%) and iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH (7.4%). MK-6 was the only isoprenoid quinone and the DNA G+C content was 32.6 mol%. Data from a polyphasic taxonomic study suggested that the isolate represents a novel species in the genus Mesoflavibacter, for which the name Mesoflavibacter aestuarii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW614(T) ( = KCTC 32269(T) = JCM 19524(T)).

Psychrosphaera aestuarii sp. nov. and Psychrosphaera haliotis sp. nov., isolated from the marine environment, and emended description of the genus Psychrosphaera.

Two motile, rod-shaped and agarolytic bacterial strains, designated PSC101(T) and KDW4(T), were isolated from seawater and gut microflora of abalone, respectively, collected from the South Sea (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive. Strains PSC101(T) and KDW4(T) showed high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other (98.6%). Psychrosphaera saromensis SA4-48(T) was the nearest neighbour of strains PSC101(T) and KDW4(T) with 96.6% and 97.0% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. DNA-DNA relatedness among strains PSC101(T), KDW4(T) and Psychrosphaera saromensis KCTC 23240(T) was less than 70%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two isolates belonged to the genus Psychrosphaera and formed a distinct phyletic line from Psychrosphaera saromensis SA4-48(T). The common major cellular fatty acids of the two novel isolates were C(16 : 0), C(17 : 1)ω8c and summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)ω6c/C(16 : 1)ω7c). Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. The main ubiquinone was UQ-8 and the DNA G+C content of strains PSC101(T) and KDW4(T) was 49.5 and 42.5 mol%, respectively. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified amino lipid. On the basis of the polyphasic characterization of the two strains, it is suggested that the two isolates represent two novel species of the genus Psychrosphaera, for which the names Psychrosphaera aestuarii sp. nov. (type strain, PSC101(T) = KCTC 32274(T) = JCM 19496(T)) and Psychrosphaera haliotis sp. nov. (type strain, KDW4(T) = KCTC 22500(T) = JCM 16340(T)) are proposed. An emended description of the genus Psychrosphaera is also proposed.

Mucilaginibacter defluvii sp. nov., isolated from a dye wastewater treatment facility.

A non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain A5(T), was isolated from a dye wastewater treatment facility in the Republic of Korea. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids were C(16 : 0), C(18 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1)ω6c and/or C(16 : 1ω7c) and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The strain contained MK-7 as the only isoprenoid quinone and the DNA G+C content was 41.2 mol%. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain A5(T) forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation encompassing the members of genus Mucilaginibacter, with Mucilaginibacter lutimaris BR-3(T) as its nearest neighbour (96.6% sequence similarity). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain A5(T) from the members of the genus Mucilaginibacter. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain A5(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Mucilaginibacter defluvii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A5(T) ( = KCTC 23922(T) = JCM 18283(T)).

Dongia rigui sp. nov., isolated from freshwater of a large wetland in Korea.

A motile, curved to twisted rod-shaped aerobic bacterium, designated strain 04SU4-P(T), was isolated from freshwater collected from the Woopo wetland (Republic of Korea). Cells were observed to be Gram-stain negative, catalase negative and oxidase positive. The major fatty acids (>10 % of the total) were identified as C19:0 ω8c cyclo (24.6 %), C16:0 (24.3 %) and C18:1 ω7c (13.1 %). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 71.5 mol%. The major polar lipids were identified as phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unknown phospholipid and one unknown aminolipid. The major ubiquinone was determined to be Q-10. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain 04SU4-P(T) forms an evolutionary lineage within the genus Dongia and its nearest neighbour is Dongia mobilis LM22(T) (98.0 % sequence similarity). Genomic DNA-DNA hybridization of stain 04SU4-P(T) with D. mobilis LM22(T) showed relatedness of only 34.2 %. The phenotypic characteristics indicate the strain 04SU4-P(T) can be distinguished from the sole member of the genus Dongia. On the basis of the data presented in this study, strain 04SU4-P(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Dongia rigui is proposed. The type strain is 04SU4-P(T) (KCTC 23341(T) = JCM 17521(T)).

Terriglobus aquaticus sp. nov., isolated from an artificial reservoir.

A pink-pigmented, chemo-organotrophic bacterium, designated strain 03SUJ4(T), was isolated from the freshwater of Juam reservoir, Republic of Korea (35° 03' 43'' N 127° 14' 15'' E). Cells were aerobic, Gram-reaction-negative and non-motile rods. Strain 03SUJ4(T) grew at pH 6-7 (optimum, pH 6) and at 15-30 °C (optimum, 25 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate belonged to the genus Terriglobus, showing sequence similarities of 97.09 % and 96.82 % to Terriglobus roseus DSM 18391(T) and Terriglobus saanensis SP1PR4(T), respectively. Low rpoB gene sequence similarity with members of the genus Terriglobus and different fingerprints with the repetitive primers BOX, ERIC and REP indicated that the isolate represented a novel species of the genus Terriglobus. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, C20 : 1ω9c, C14 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c). The DNA G+C content of strain 03SUJ4(T) was 63.2±0.1 mol% (mean±sd of three determinations). The predominant menaquinone was MK-8. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified phospholipids. Several phenotypic characteristics served to differentiate the novel isolate from recognized members of the genus Terriglobus. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, a novel species, Terriglobus aquaticus sp. nov. is proposed for strain 03SUJ4(T) ( = KCTC 23332(T) = JCM 17517(T)).

Algibacter agarivorans sp. nov. and Algibacter agarilyticus sp. nov., isolated from seawater, reclassification of Marinivirga aestuarii as Algibacter aestuarii comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Algibacter.

Two yellow-pigmented, rod-shaped, non-motile, Gram-reaction-negative and aerobic bacterial strains, designated KYW560(T) and KYW563(T), were isolated from seawater collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. The isolates required sea salts for growth. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. The common major cellular fatty acids (>5% of total) of the two strains were C(16:0), C(18:0), iso-C(15:0), anteiso-C(15:0), iso-C(15:1) G, iso-C(17:0) 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω6c and/or C(16:1)ω7c). Strain KYW560(T) also contained iso-C(15:0) 3-OH and C(20:1)ω9c as major fatty acids. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C contents of strains KYW560(T) and KYW563(T) were 41.0 ± 0.7 and 38.3 ± 0.4 mol% (mean ± sd of three determinations), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolates belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae, and were related to the genus Algibacter. Based on data from this taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach, it is proposed that the isolates represent novel species of the genus Algibacter, for which the names Algibacter agarivorans sp. nov. (type strain, KYW560(T) =KCTC 23855(T) =JCM 18285(T)) and Algibacter agarilyticus sp. nov. (type strain, KYW563(T) =KCTC 23857(T) =JCM 18275(T)) are proposed. Reclassification of Marinivirga aestuarii as Algibacter aestuarii comb. nov. and emended description of the genus Algibacter are also proposed.

Vibrio hemicentroti sp. nov., an alginate lyase-producing bacterium, isolated from the gut microflora of sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus).

An alginate lyase-producing bacterium, designated AlyHP32(T), was isolated from the gut of sea urchin (Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus) obtained from the South Sea, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain AlyHP32(T) were Gram-reaction-negative and motile with a single polar flagellum. The strain grew with 1-6 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 2-4 %) and at 4-30 °C (optimum 15-25 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on sequences of the 16S rRNA gene and five housekeeping genes (atpA, pyrH, recA, rpoA and rpoD) revealed that strain AlyHP32(T) belonged to the genus Vibrio and formed a compact clade with the Vibrio splendidus group. However, DNA-DNA hybridization and fingerprints using the repetitive primers BOX and REP indicated that strain AlyHP32(T) was distinct from closely related species of the genus Vibrio. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) and C16:0. The DNA G+C content was 44.1 mol%. The predominant quinone was ubiquinone Q-8. Based on genotypic, phenotypic and DNA-DNA hybridization analysis, strain AlyHP32(T) represents a novel species of the genus Vibrio; the name Vibrio hemicentroti sp. nov. (type strain AlyHP32(T) = KCTC 32085(T) = DSM 26178(T)) is proposed for this novel taxon.

Lutibacter agarilyticus sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from shallow coastal seawater.

A Gram-staining-negative, non-spore-forming, non-gliding and rod-shaped bacterial strain KYW566(T), was isolated from seawater of the Suncheon Bay, Korea, and its taxonomic position was investigated by using a polyphasic study. The cells contained MK-6 as the only respiratory quinone and contained iso-C15 : 0 (13.8 %), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH (13.1 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (9.3 %), iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (8.7 %), iso-C15 : 1 G (6.3 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) (6.0 %) as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain KYW566(T) was 41.6 ± 0.8 mol% (mean ± sd of three determinations). A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain KYW566(T) forms an evolutionary lineage within the radiation enclosing the members of the genus Lutibacter with Lutibacter flavus IMCC1507(T) as its nearest neighbour (96.7 % sequence similarity). A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain KYW566(T) from described members of the genus Lutibacter. On the basis of the evidences presented in this study, strain KYW566(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Lutibacter agarilyticus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW566(T) ( = KCTC 23842(T) = JCM 18281(T)).

Aquimarina gracilis sp. nov., isolated from the gut microflora of a mussel, Mytilus coruscus, and emended description of Aquimarina spongiae.

An orange-coloured and slender rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain PSC32(T), was isolated from the gut microflora of a mussel collected from Gwangyang Bay, South Sea (Republic of Korea). Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, strictly aerobic, and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The only isoprenoid quinone of strain PSC32(T) was MK-6 and the DNA G+C content was 36.9 mol%. Phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified polar lipids were found as major polar lipids. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain PSC32(T) forms an evolutionary lineage within the genus Aquimarina and is closely related to Aquimarina spongiae A6(T) (97.0 % similarity) and to other members of the genus Aquimarina (94.4-96.5 %). Genomic DNA-DNA relatedness between strain PSC32(T) and A. spongiae A6(T) was 40.7 %. A number of phenotypic characteristics distinguished strain PSC32(T) from described members of the genus Aquimarina. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain PSC32(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Aquimarina gracilis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PSC32(T) ( = KCTC 23301(T) = JCM 17453(T)). An emended description of Aquimarina spongiae is given.

Algibacter aquimarinus sp. nov., isolated from a marine environment, and reclassification of Pontirhabdus pectinivorans as Algibacter pectinivorans comb. nov.

An orange-coloured, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative and aerobic bacterial strain, designated KYW589(T), was isolated from seawater collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. The isolate required sea salts for growth. Gliding motility was observed. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. Major cellular fatty acids (>10% of the total) were iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, iso-C15:1 G, C16:0, iso-C15:0 3-OH and C18:0. The main polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content was 38.6 ± 0.7 mol% (mean ± sd of three determinations). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain KYW589(T) belongs to the family Flavobacteriaceae, and was related to the genus Algibacter. Based on data from a study using a polyphasic taxonomic approach, it is proposed that strain KYW589(T) represents a novel species belonging to the genus Algibacter, for which the name Algibacter aquimarinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW589(T) (=KCTC 23928(T) =JCM 18287(T)). Reclassification of Pontirhabdus pectinivorans Yi et al. 2011 to the genus Algibacter, as Algibacter pectinivorans comb. nov. (type strain JC2675(T) =KACC 14153(T) =JCM 17107(T)), is also proposed.

Sphingopyxis rigui sp. nov. and Sphingopyxis wooponensis sp. nov., isolated from wetland freshwater, and emended description of the genus Sphingopyxis.

Two yellow-pigmented, Gram-reaction-negative strains, designated 01SU5-P(T) and 03SU3-P(T), were isolated from the freshwater of Woopo wetland, Republic of Korea. Both strains were aerobic, non-motile and catalase-negative. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two isolates belong to the genus Sphingopyxis, showing the highest level of sequence similarity with respect to Sphingopyxis witflariensis W-50(T) (95.4-95.7 %). The two novel isolates shared 99.4 % sequence similarity. DNA-DNA hybridization between the isolates and the type strain of S. witflariensis clearly suggested that strains 01SU5-P(T) and 03SU3-P(T) represent two separate novel species in the genus Sphingopyxis. The two strains displayed different fingerprints after PCR analysis using the repetitive primers BOX, ERIC and REP. Several phenotypic characteristics served to differentiate these two isolates from recognized members of the genus Sphingopyxis. The data from the polyphasic study presented here indicated that strains 01SU5-P(T) and 03SU3-P(T) should be classified as representing novel species in the genus Sphingopyxis, for which the names Sphingopyxis rigui sp. nov. and Sphingopyxis wooponensis sp. nov., respectively, are proposed. The type strain of Sphingopyxis rigui sp. nov. is 01SU5-P(T) ( = KCTC 23326(T) = JCM 17509(T)) and the type strain of Sphingopyxis wooponensis sp. nov. is 03SU3-P(T) ( = KCTC 23340(T) = JCM 17547(T)).

Marinivirga aestuarii gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, isolated from marine environments, and emended descriptions of the genera Hyunsoonleella, Jejuia and Pontirhabdus and the species Hyunsoonleella jejuensis, Jejuia pallidilutea and Pontirhabdus pectinivorans.

Two orange, rod-shaped, Gram-reaction-negative, aerobic bacterial strains devoid of flagella and gliding motility, designated strains KYW371(T) and KS18 were isolated from a seawater sample and a shellfish Ruditapes philippinarum, respectively, collected from Gwangyang Bay, Republic of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the two strains belonged to the family Flavobacteriaceae; and that strain KYW371(T) was most closely related to Algibacter mikhailovii LMG 23988(T) (96.7 % sequence similarity), Pontirhabdus pectinivorans JC2675(T) (96.3 %), Postechiella marina M091(T) (95.6 %) and Hyunsoonleella jejuensis CNU004(T) (95.3 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.8 %) and DNA-DNA relatedness (78.1 %) between strains KYW371(T) and KS18 indicated that these two strains represented a single species. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain KYW371(T) were iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. Flexirubin-type pigments were absent. MK-6 was the only isoprenoid quinone and the DNA G+C content was 34.8-36.6 mol%. Data from this taxonomic study employing a polyphasic approach suggested that the isolates represent a novel species in a new genus in the family Flavobacteriaceae, for which the name Marinivirga aestuarii gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KYW371(T) ( = KCTC 23449(T) = JCM 17452(T)), and an additional strain of the species is KS18 ( = KCTC 23128 = JCM 16845). Emended descriptions of the genera Hyunsoonleella, Jejuia and Pontirhabdus and the species Hyunsoonleella jejuensis, Jejuia pallidilutea and Pontirhabdus pectinivorans are also proposed.