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A novel facultatively anaerobic, nitrate-reducing bacterium, designated MeG22T, was isolated from a freshwater lake in Japan. Cells of the strain were straight rods (0.8×2.5–10 µm), motile, and Gram-stain-negative. For growth, the optimum NaCl concentration was 0 % and the optimum temperature was 30 °C. Under anoxic conditions, strain MeG22T reduced nitrate to nitrite. Major cellular fatty acids were C15 : 1 ω6c (13.6 %), C17 : 0 (11.9 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (10.6 %) and iso-C15 : 0 (10.6 %). The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7. The genome sequence of strain MeG22T consists of 5 712 279 bp with a G+C content of 40.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene revealed that the novel strain belonged to the family Prolixibacteraceae within the phylum Bacteroidetes . The closest relative of strain MeG22T was Sunxiuqinia faeciviva strain JAM-BA0302T with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 90.9 %. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic characterization, Aquipluma nitroreducens, gen. nov., sp. nov., belonging to the family Prolixibacteraceae is proposed with the type strain MeG22T (=NBRC 112896T=DSM 106262T).

Three Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped strains, designated 72T, NH166T and 40DY170T, were isolated from seawater samples of the West Pacific Ocean, South China Sea and West Pacific Ocean, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity results revealed that strains 72Tand NH166T were most closely related to Muricauda antarctica Ar-22T, Muricauda taeanensis JCM 17757T, Muricauda beolgyonensis KCTC 23501T, Muricauda lutimaris KCTC 22173T and Muricauda hadalis MT-229T with 97.2–98.0% sequence similarity. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis also indicated that strain 40DY170T was most closely related to Muricauda ruestringensis DSM 13258T, Muricauda aquimarina JCM 11811T, Muricauda lutimaris KCTC 22173T and Muricauda oceani 501str8T with 97.6–98.1% sequence similarity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values among strains 72T, NH166T and 40DY170T were 96.5–99.2%. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that three new isolates represented three novel species by forming two distinctive lineages within the genus Muricauda . The DNA G+C contents of strain 72T, NH166T and 40DY170T were 43.4, 43.4 and 42.4 mol%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strains 72T, NH166T, 40DY170T and the reference strains were 76.5–93.5% and 19.2–53.5%, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone in all strains was menaquinone-6. Their major fatty acids were iso-C17:0 3-OH, iso-C15:0 and iso-C15 : 1 G. The major polar lipids of strains 72T and NH166T were phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. The major polar lipids of strain 40DY170T were phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and two unidentified lipids. On the basis of their distinct taxonomic characteristics, the three isolates represent three novel species of the genus Muricauda , for which the names Muricauda maritima sp. nov. (type strain 72T=KCTC 62229T=MCCC 1K03350T), Muricauda aequoris sp. nov. (NH166T=KCTC 62228T=MCCC 1K03449T) and Muricauda oceanensis sp. nov. (40DY170T=KCTC 72200T=MCCC 1K03569T) are proposed.

Minutes of the meeting: 15 November 2017 (Skype meeting).

Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea. Cells of both strains were observed to be rod-shaped, non-gliding, Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative and showing optimum growth at 30 °C. Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T could tolerate up to 9 and 10 % (w/v) NaCl concentration and grow at pH 6.5–9.5 and 6.0–9.0, respectively. The strains shared 97.4 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to each other but were identified as two distinct species based on 81.1–85.8 % ANIb and 31.5 % dDDH values calculated using whole genome sequences. Strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Salinimicrobium xinjiangense CGMCC 1.12522T (98.4 %) and Salinimicrobium sediminis CGMCC 1.12641T (98.0 %), respectively. Among species with validly published names, S. sediminis CGMCC 1.12641T shared close genetic relatedness with strains J15B81-2T [85.1–85.3% average nucleotide identity based on blastBlast+ (ANIb) and 30.6 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH)] and J15B91T (76.6–79.1 % ANIb and 21.5 % dDDH). The major fatty acid of strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were identified as iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, respectively, and the major polar lipids of the two strains consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid, one unidentified aminolipid and one unidentified lipid. The strains contained MK-6 as their predominant menaquinone. The genomic G+C contents of strains J15B81-2T and J15B91T were determined to be 41.7 and 41.8 mol %, respectively. Both strains are considered to represent two novel species of the genus Salinimicrobium and the names Salinimicrobium nanhaiense sp. nov. and Salinimicrobium oceani sp. nov. are proposed for strains J15B81-2T (=KCTC 72867T=MCCC 1H00410T) and J15B91T (=KCTC 72869T=MCCC 1H00411T), respectively.

Bacterial strain NST-5T, isolated from a fish pond in Taiwan, was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. Results of phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that strain NST-5T formed a phylogenetic lineage in the genus Flavobacterium . Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain NST-5T showed the highest similarity to Flavobacterium enshiense DK69T (94.9 %), Flavobacterium ahnfeltiae 10Alg 130T (94.8 %) and Flavobacterium vireti THG-SM1T (94.8 %). Strain NST-5T showed 68.9–72.5% average nucleotide identity and 19.1–23.7% digital DNA–DNA hybridization identity with the type strains of other close related Flavobacterium species. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, motile by gliding, rod-shaped and formed yellow colonies. Optimal growth occurred at 30 °C, pH 7 and with 0.5% NaCl. Strain NST-5T contained iso-C15:0, C15:0 and iso-C16:0 as the predominant fatty acids. The major hydroxyl fatty acids were iso-C16:0 3-OH and iso-C17:0 3-OH. The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, three uncharacterized aminophospholipids, two uncharacterized phospholipids and one uncharacterized aminolipid. The major polyamine was homospermidine. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 35.5 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic inference, demonstrate that strain NST-5T should be classified as a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium ichthyis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NST-5T (=BCRC 81198T=LMG 31341T).

A pink-pigmented, non-motile, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated RP-2-7T, was obtained from soil sampled at the Arctic station, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway. Cells were strictly aerobic, psychrotolerant, grew optimally at 15–20 °C and hydrolysed CM-cellulose. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain RP-2-7T formed a lineage within the family Hymenobacteraceae and clustered with members of the genus Hymenobacter . Its closest relative was Hymenobacter marinus KJ035T (97.6 % sequence similarity). The sequence similarities to other strains were ≤96.9 %. The principal respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophospholipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c and summed featured 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B). The DNA G+C content was 62.8 mol%. In addition, the average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain RP-2-7T and closely related strains were lower than species demarcation thresholds. Based on the resuls of genomic, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain RP-2-7T represents novel species in the genus Hymenobacter , for which the name Hymenobacter polaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RP-2-7T (=KACC 21670T=NBRC 114391T).

An anaerobic bacterial strain, named TLL-A4T, was isolated from fecal pellets of conventionally raised C57BL/6J mice. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the strain belongs to the phylum Bacteroidetes and, more specifically, to the recently proposed Muribaculaceae (also known as S24-7 clade or Candidatus Homeothermaceae). Strain TLL-A4T’s 16S rRNA gene shared 92.8 % sequence identity with the type strain of the only published species of the genus Muribaculum , Muribaculum intestinale DSM 28989T. Genome-sequencing of TLL-A4T was performed to compare average amino acid identity (AAI) value and percentage of conserved proteins (POCP) between both strains. The AAI analysis revealed that strain TLL-A4T had high identity (69.8 %) with M. intestinale DSM 28989T, while the POCP was 56 %. These values indicate that strain TLL-A4T could be considered a member of the genus Muribaculum but not belonging to the species M. intestinale . Quinone analysis indicated MK10 (63 %) and MK11 (32 %) as major quinones in the membrane, while MK9 was only present as a minor component (5 %). The main cellular fatty acid was anteiso-C15 : 0 (42.8 %); summed feature 11 (17.5 %), C15 : 0 iso (13.4 %), C18 : 1 ω9c (5.6 %), C16.0 3-OH (4.5 %) and C15 : 0 (4.2 %) were detected in minor amounts. Analysis of enzyme activities using the API 32A and API 20A kits indicated major differences between strain TLL-A4T and Muribaculum intestinale DSM 28989T. Based on genotypic, phylogenetic and phenotypic differences, strain TLL-A4T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Muribaculum , for which the name Muribaculum gordoncarteri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TLL-A4T (=DSM 108194T=KCTC 15770T).

Strain HMF4947T, isolated from the bark of a ginkgo tree, was a pale-pink coloured, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, strictly aerobic and rod-shaped bacterium. The isolate grew optimally on Reasoner's 2A agar at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and with 0 % NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain HMF4947T belonged to the genus Hymenobacter and was most closely related to Hymenobacter metalli A2-91T (96.9 % sequence similarity) and Hymenobacter pomorum 9-2-1-1T (96.5 %). The average nucleotide identity and estimated DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain HMF4947T and Hymenobacter arizonensis DSM 17870T were 74.3 and 20.5 %, respectively. The major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1 ω5c. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-7. The polar lipids comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminoglycolipid, three unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified phospholipid, three unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified glycolipids and three unidentified polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 59.3 mol%. Thus, based on phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain HMF4947T represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter , for which the name Hymenobacter ginkgonis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is strain HMF4947T (=KCTC 72780T=NBRC 114271T).

Two Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic and non-motile bacteria, strains R11T and S1162T, were isolated from soil in the Republic of Korea. Both strains were catalase- and oxidase-positive and contained menaquinone-7 as the major isoprenoid quinone. Strain R11T contained summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), iso-C15:0, C16:0 and iso-C17:0 3-OH as major fatty acids and phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid and an unidentified aminolipid as major polar lipids; while strain S1162T contained summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or C16:1 ω6c), iso-C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH, C16:0 and summed feature 9 (10-methyl C16:0 and/or iso-C17:1 ω9c) as major fatty acids and phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified aminophospholipid as major polar lipids. The DNA G+C contents of strains R11T and S1162T calculated from their whole genomes were 42.7 and 42.9 mol%, respectively. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain R11T formed a phylogenetic lineage with Mucilaginibacter jinjuensis YC7004T and strain S1162T formed a distinct phyletic lineage from closely related type strains within the genus Mucilaginibacter . Strains R11T and S1162T were most closely related to M. jinjuensis YC7004T and Mucilaginibacter panaciglaebae BXN5-31T with 97.78 and 97.23% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular analysis, strains R11T and S1162T represent two novel species of the genus Mucilaginibacter , for which the names Mucilaginibacter agri sp. nov. and Mucilaginibacter humi sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strains of M. agri and M. humi are R11T (=KACC 21228T=JCM 33472T) and S1162T (=KACC 21669T=JCM 33916T), respectively.

A strain of an obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative rod-shaped bacterium is described by phenotypical, biochemical and genotypical characterization. This strain A2879T was isolated from an abscess swab of a patient sampled during routine care at hospital. Phylogenetic analyses (full-length 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequence) revealed the strain to belong to the genus Prevotella , but to be distant from recognized species, with the closest relationship to Prevotella veroralis . Unambiguous identification also proved possible by MALDI-TOF MS. The genomic DNA G+C content was 41.5 mol%. Strain A2879T was moderately saccharolytic and proteolytic. The most abundant cellular long-chain fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. In view of these data, strain A2879T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Prevotella , for which the name Prevotella vespertina sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A2879T (=DSM 108027T=CCOS 1233T=CCUG72808T). As this strain has been isolated from a clinical sample, it is considered relevant for human medicine and health in general, and in particular for the fields of clinical microbiology and infectious diseases. This description will enable routine and research laboratories alike to easily identify the novel taxon, allowing its role in the context of human health and disease or microbiota to be further elucidated.

Strains of Echinicola , thought to play vital roles in the environment for their high enzyme production capacity during decomposition of polysaccharides, are ubiquitous in hypersaline environments. A Gram-negative, non-spore forming, gliding, aerobic bacterial strain, designated LN3S3T, was isolated from alkaline saline soil sampled in Tumd Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, northern PR China. Strain LN3S3T grew at 10–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 5.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and with 0–12.5 % NaCl (optimum, 2.0 %). A phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain LN3S3T clustered with Echinicola rosea JL3085T and Echinicola strongylocentroti MEBiC08714T, sharing 97.0, 96.7 and E. rosea JL3085T, E. strongylocentroti MEBiC08714T and all other type strains. MK-7 was the major respiratory quinone, while phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids, an unidentified aminophospholipid, an unidentified lipid and two unidentified aminolipids were the major polar lipids. Its major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c). The genome consisted of a circular 5 550 304 bp long chromosome with a DNA G+C content of 44.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity (ANI), average amino acid identity (AAI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values of strain LN3S3T to E. rosea JL3085T and E. strongylocentroti MEBiC08714T were 82.5 and 81.5 %, 87.5 and 86.0 %, and 39.1 and 35.1 %, respectively. Based on physiological, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses, strain LN3S3T could be discriminated from its phylogenetic relatives. Echinicola soli sp. nov. is therefore proposed with strain LN3S3T (=CGMCC 1.17081T=KCTC 72458T) as the type strain.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain 501str8T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from the East Pacific Ocean. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain 501str8T belonged to the genus Muricauda , with closely related type strains Muricauda aquimarina SW-63T (98.5 %), Muricauda lutimaris SMK-108T (98.3 %) and Muricauda ruestringensis B1T (97.9 %). Up-to-date bacterial core gene set analysis revealed that strain 501str8T represented one independent lineage with M. aquimarina SW-63T. The average nucleotide identity values of strain 501str8T with M. aquimarina SW-63T and M. lutimaris SMK-108T were 80.2 and 81.3 %, respectively. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 501str8T and M. aquimarina SW-63T and M. lutimaris SMK-108T were 22.8 and 32.9 %, respectively. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6, and iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C15 : 1 G were the dominant cellular fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 42.8 mol%. Differential phylogenetic distinctiveness and chemotaxonomic differences, together with the phenotypic properties observed in this study, revealed that strain 501str8T could be differentiated from closely related species. Therefore, we propose that strain 501str8T represents a novel species of the genus Muricauda , for which the name Muricauda oceani sp. nov. is suggested. The type strain is 501str8T (=JCM 33902T=MCCC 1K04567T).

A novel bacterial strain, designated ysch24T, was isolated from a forest soil sample collected from the Cat Tien National Park, southern Vietnam. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, gliding, filamentous or rod-shaped. The results of 16S rRNA gene analyses revealed that strain ysch24T belongs to the genus Chitinophaga , and was most closely related to Chitinophaga silvisoli GDMCC 1.1411T (97.4 %), followed by Chitinophaga oryziterrae JCM 16595T (97.3 %) and Chitinophaga sancti NBRC 15057T (96.9 %). The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain ysch24T and closely related type strains were 72.0–74.0 % and 19.1–19.4 %, respectively. Major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7. Polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified phospholipids and four unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 45.6 mol%. The study clearly showed that strain ysch24T should represent a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga tropicalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ysch24T (=GDMCC 1.1355T=KACC 21527T).

A Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, gliding motility, none-spore forming, yellow, rods bacterial strain, designated XS-5T, was isolated from rhizosphere soil of Suaeda salsa, in Tumd Right Banner, Inner Mongolia, PR China. A phylogenetic tree based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences and the phylogenomic tree both showed that strain XS-5T clustered with Flavobacterium beibuense F44-8T (shared 97.2 % of 16S rRNA gene similarity) and Flavobacterium rakeshii FCS-5T (97.6 %), and shared T contained MK-6 as the major respiratory quinone. Its major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminolipid and an unidentified lipid; and the major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, Summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c), and Summed feature 9 (iso-C17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl). The genome consisted of a 3 985 855 bp circular chromosome, with a G+C content of 37.9 mol%, predicting 3616 coding sequences genes, 45 tRNA genes and three rRNA operons. The average nucleotide identity, amino acid identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of strain XS-5T to F. beibuense F44-8T and F. rakeshii FCS-5T were 79.2 and 79.2 %, 81.7 and 81.6 %, 22.3 and 22.2 %, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical tests allowed the discrimination of strain XS-5T from its phylogenetic relatives. Flavobacterium alkalisoli sp. nov. is therefore proposed with strain XS-5T (=CGMCC 1.17077T=KCTC 72459T) as the type strain.

A novel rod-shaped and Gram-stain-negative bacterium, designated strain RZ05T, was isolated from a sand sample collected from the intertidal zone of the Yellow Sea, PR China. Results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain RZ05T clusters within the genus Maribacter , a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae , and has the highest sequence similarity to Maribacter polysiphoniae KCTC 22021T (97.8 %), followed by Maribacter arenosus KCTC 52191T (97.2 %). Cells of this strain were observed to be aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, motile by gliding and formed yellow colonies. Growth occurred at 7–40 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.5–9.5 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0.5–6 % (optimum, 2 %) NaCl. Its polar lipid profile included phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified glycolipids, one unidentified aminolipid and four unidentified lipids. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, summed feature 9 (10-methyl C16 : 0/iso-C17 : 1 ω9c) and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH/C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c). The only respiratory quinone was menaquinone 6 (MK-6). The genome of strain RZ05T was 4.65 Mbp with a G+C content of 38.9 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain RZ05T and its most closely related type strain M. polysiphoniae KCTC 22021T were 80.3 and 26.3 %, respectively. The results of phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses indicated that strain RZ05T represents a novel species of the genus Maribacter , for which the name Maribacter luteus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is RZ05T (=KCTC 62834T=MCCC 1K03617T).

This study presents taxonomic description of strains LB-D12T, AT-3-2T, AT-3–7, and TSA-D2T isolated from Arctic soil. All strains were psychrophilic, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, and rod-shaped. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these strains belonged to the genus Flavobacterium . Strains LB-D12T, AT-3-2T and AT-3–7 were closest to Flavobacterium psychrolimnae LMG 22018T (98.5–98.8% sequence similarity). Strain TSA-D2T was closest to Flavobacterium degerlachei DSM 15718T (98.3 % sequence similarity). These strains shared common chemotaxonomic features comprising MK-6 as a sole quinone, phosphatidylethanolamine as the principal polar lipid, and summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1ω7c), iso-C16 : 0 3-OH, C15 : 1ω6c, iso-C16 : 0, and anteiso-C15 : 0 as the main fatty acids. The ANI and dDDH values between these novel isolates and their closest relatives were below the cut-off values of 95 and 70 %, respectively used for species demarcation. The DNA G+C content of all strains ranged from 34.2 to 34.6 mol%. The obtained polyphasic taxonomic data suggested that the isolated strains represent novel species within the genus Flavobacterium , for which the names Flavobacterium sandaracinum sp. nov. (type strain LB-D12T=KEMB 9005-737T=KACC 21180T=NBRC 113784T), Flavobacterium caseinilyticum sp. nov. (type strain AT-3–2T=KEMB 9005-738T=KACC 21176T=NBRC 113785T), and Flavobacterium hiemivividum sp. nov. (type strain TSA-D2T=KEMB 9005-741T=KACC 21179T=NBRC 113788T) are proposed.

Fifteen isolates of the genus Pedobacter were obtained from Arctic soil samples. All isolates were Gram-stain-negative and rod-shaped. Cells were strictly aerobic, psychrotolerant and grew optimally at 15–20 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that all the isolated strains formed a lineage within the family Sphingobacteriaceae and clustered as members of the genus Pedobacter . The sole respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 02-OH/C16 : 1ω7c/ω6c), iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The DNA G+C content of the novel strains was 33.9–41.8 mol%. In addition, the average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between the novel type strains and phylogenetically related type strains were below the threshold values used for species delineation. Based on genomic, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses, the isolated strains represent novel species in the genus Pedobacter , for which the names Pedobacter cryotolerans sp. nov. (type strain AR-2-6T=KEMB 9005-717T=KACC 19998T=NBRC 113826T), Pedobacter cryophilus sp. nov. (type strain AR-3-17T=KEMB 9005-718T=KACC 19999T=NBRC 113827T), Pedobacter frigiditerrae sp. nov. (type strain RP-1-13T=KEMB 9005-720T=KACC 21147T=NBRC 113829T), Pedobacter psychroterrae sp. nov. (type strain RP-1-14T=KEMB 9005-721T=KACC 21148T=NBRC 113830T), Pedobacter hiemivivus sp. nov. (type strain RP-3-8T=KEMB 9005-724T=KACC 21152T=NBRC 113833T), Pedobacter frigidisoli sp. nov. (type strain RP-3-11T=KEMB 9005-725T=KACC 21153T=NBRC 113927T), Pedobacter frigoris sp. nov. (type strain RP-3-15T=KEMB 9005-726T=KACC 21154T=NBRC 113834T), Pedobacter psychrodurus sp. nov. (type strain RP-3-21T=KEMB 9005-728T=KACC 21156T=NBRC 113835T) and Pedobacter polaris sp. nov. (type strain RP-3-22T=KEMB 9005-729T=KACC 21157T=NBRC 113836T) are proposed.

Two Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, marine bacteria, designated as strains RKSG066T and RKSG123T, were isolated from a sponge Aplysina fistularis collected at a depth of 15 m off the west coast of San Salvador, The Bahamas. Investigation of nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene and whole genome-based phylogenies revealed that both strains belong to the order Cytophagales within the class Cytophagia and phylum Bacteroidetes . Strain RKSG066T formed a monophyletic clade with described members of the genus Fulvivirga , while strain RKSG123T formed a well-supported paraphyletic branch apart from this and other related genera within the family Flammeovirgaceae . For both RKSG066T and RKSG123T, optimal growth parameters were 30–37 °C, pH 7–8 and 2–3 % (w/v) NaCl; cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive, and flexirubin-type pigments were absent. The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 1 ω5c, iso-C15 : 0 3-OH, C18 : 1 ω9c and iso-C15 : 1 G for RKSG066T, and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 1 ω5c, iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B) for RKSG123T. Menaquinone-7 was the major respiratory quinone for both strains. The DNA G+C contents of RKSG066T and RKSG123T were 39.5 and 36.7 mol%, respectively. On the basis of phylogenetic distinctiveness and polyphasic analysis, the type strain RKSG066T (=TSD-73T=LMG 29870T) is proposed to represent a novel species of the genus Fulvivirga , for which the name Fulvivirga aurantia sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain RKSG123T (=TSD-75T=LMG 30075T) is proposed to represent the type species of a novel genus and species with the proposed name Xanthovirga aplysinae gen. nov., sp. nov. Additionally, the genus Fulvivirga is emended to include strains of orange-pigmented colonies that contain the predominant cellular fatty acids C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c and C18 : 1 ω9c.

A bacterial strain designated FSY-15T was isolated from a freshwater mesocosm in Taiwan and characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strain FSY-15T were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore forming, non-motile rods and formed orange coloured colonies. Growth occurred at 20–30 °C (optimum, 25 °C), at pH 6–7.5 (optimum, pH 7) and with 0–0.5 % NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and coding sequences of 92 protein clusters indicated that strain FSY-15T formed a phylogenetic lineage in the the family Cytophagaceae . Strain FSY-15T was most closely related to the genera Pseudarcicella and Arcicella, and the levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence identity with respect to members of related genera are less than 94.1 %. Strain FSY-15T showed less than 68.8 % average nucleotide identity and less than 24.7 % digital DNA–DNA hybridisation identity compared to the type strains of related genera within the family Cytophagaceae . The predominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c and the major hydroxyl fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0 3-OH. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 35.8 mol%. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and several uncharacterised aminophospholipid, aminolipid, phospholipid and lipid. The major polyamine was spermidine. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data, strain FSY-15T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Cytophagaceae , for which the name Sandaracinomonas limnophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FSY-15T (=BCRC 81011T =LMG 29732T =KCTC 52445T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated 1505T, was isolated from marine sediment that was obtained off the coast of Weihai, PR China. Strain 1505T was found to grow at 10–35 °C (optimum, 28 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, 7.5) and in the presence of 1–4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 %). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the nearest phylogenetic neighbours of strain 1505T were Seonamhaeicola algicola Gy8T (97.1 %), Seonamhaeicola marinus B011T (96.3 %) and Seonamhaeicola aphaedonensis KCTC 32578T (95.6 %). Based on phylogenomic analysis, the average nucleotide identity values between strain 1505T and S. algicola Gy8T, S. marinus B011T and S. aphaedonensis KCTC 32578T were 75.9, 76.0 and 77.7 %, respectively; the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values based on the draft genomes between strain 1505T and S. algicola Gy8T, S. marinus B011T and S. aphaedonensis KCTC 32578T were 20.0, 20.7 and 21.4 %, respectively. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G and C18 : 1ω9c. The DNA G+C content of strain 1505T was 33.3 mol%. The polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, six aminolipids and four unidentified lipids. Based on its phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 1505T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Seonamhaeicola , for which the name Seonamhaeicola maritimus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1505T (=KCTC 72528T=MCCC 1H00389T).

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, gliding-motile, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated 1494T, was isolated from marine sediment collected off the coast of Weihai, PR China. Strain 1494T was found to grow at 4–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), at pH 6.0–9.0 (pH 7.0) and in the presence of 0–8 % (w/v) NaCl (2 %). Cells were positive for oxidase and catalase activity. The results of 16S rRNA gene based phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain 1494T belonged to the genus Formosa and exhibited the highest sequence similarity to Formosa spongicola KCTC 22662 T (98.4 %). Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was detected as the major respiratory quinone. The dominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 1 G and iso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content of strain 1494T was 31.1 mol%. The major polar lipids included phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified lipid. Based on its phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 1494T is considered to represent a novel species from the genus Formosa , for which the name Formosa maritima sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1494T (=KCTC 72531T=MCCC 1H00385T).

A novel, Gram-stain-negative, motile, flagellated, aerobic, rod-shaped (0.5–0.7 µm wide and 1.0–1.2 µm long) and faint-yellow strain, designated ALS 84T, was isolated from marine sediment sampled at Ailian bay, Rongcheng, PR China. Growth occurred in the presence of 1–3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2 % NaCl), at pH 4.0–8.0 (pH 6.0–7.0) and at 8–30 °C (28 °C). The genome size was 4.37 Mbp. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 33.6 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences suggested that strain ALS 84T belongs to the genus Flavicella within the family Flavobacteriaceae , and is most closely related to Flavicella marina (95.6 % similarity). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0 3-OH (22.9 %), iso-C15 : 0 (14.0 %) and C16 : 0 (10.9 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and three unidentified lipids. Menaquinone-6 (MK-6) was identified as the respiratory quinone. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data obtained in the study, strain ALS 84T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Flavicella , for which the name Flavicella sediminum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the novel species is strain ALS 84T (=KCTC 62398T=MCCC 1K03480T).

A Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented, strictly aerobic bacterium, designated strain MaA-Y11T, was isolated from a culture of Microcystis aeruginosa in the Republic of Korea. Cells were non-motile rods showing catalase- and oxidase-positive reactions. Growth of strain MaA-Y11T was observed at 25–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum, 7.0) and in the presence of 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0 %). Strain MaA-Y11T did not produce flexirubin-type pigments. Strain MaA-Y11T contained iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) as major cellular fatty acids and menaquinone-6 as the sole isoprenoid quinone. Phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified aminolipids and four unidentified lipids were detected as the major polar lipids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 37.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, showed that strain MaA-Y11T formed a phyletic lineage with Flavobacterium lindanitolerans IP-10T within the genus Flavobacterium . Strain MaA-Y11T was most closely related to Flavobacterium lindanitolerans IP-10T, with a 98.85 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, and shared less than 93.87 % sequence similarities with other type strains. Average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain MaA-Y11T and the type strain of F. lindanitolerans were 87.0 and 32.3 %, respectively. Here, we conclude that strain MaA-Y11T represents a new species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium microcysteis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MaA-Y11T (=KACC 21225T=JCM 33501T).

A novel psychrophilic, light-yellow-coloured, aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium, designated strain AR-3-4T was isolated from a sample of Arctic soil. Strain AR-3-4T grew at 0–25 °C, pH 6.0–9.0 and 0–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl concentration. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain AR-3-4T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium , with nearest phylogenetic neighbour being Flavobacterium fluvii H7T (97.5 % sequence similarity). The strain comprised phosphatidylethanolamine as the main polar lipid, MK-6 as predominant respiratory quinone, and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c), anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain AR-3-4T and closest members were below the threshold values of 95 % and 70 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content was 33.0 mol%. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, the novel species Flavobacterium cellulosilyticum sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain AR-3-4T (=KEMB 9005–740T=KACC 21171T=NBRC 113787T).

To date, there is sparse information for the genus Robertkochia with Robertkochia marina CC-AMO-30DT as the only described member. We report here a new species isolated from mangrove soil collected at Malaysia Tanjung Piai National Park and perform polyphasic characterization to determine its taxonomic position. Strain CL23T is a Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented, strictly aerobic, catalase-positive and oxidase-positive bacterium. The optimal growth conditions were determined to be at pH 7.0, 30–37 °C and in 1–2 % (w/v) NaCl. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6) and the highly abundant polar lipids were four unidentified lipids, a phosphatidylethanolamine and two unidentified aminolipids. The 16S rRNA gene similarity between strain CL23T and R. marina CC-AMO-30DT is 96.67 %. Strain CL23T and R. marina CC-AMO-30DT clustered together and were distinguished from taxa of closely related genera in 16S rRNA gene phylogenetic analysis. Genome sequencing revealed that strain CL23T has a genome size of 4.4 Mbp and a G+C content of 40.72 mol%. Overall genome related indexes including digital DNA–DNA hybridization value and average nucleotide identity are 17.70 % and approximately 70%, below the cutoffs of 70 and 95%, respectively, indicated that strain CL23T is a distinct species from R. marina CC-AMO-30DT. Collectively, based on the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic evidences presented here, strain CL23T is proposed to represent a new species with the name Robertkochia solimangrovi sp. nov. (KCTC 72252T=LMG 31418T). An emended description of the genus Robertkochia is also proposed.

A yellow-pigmented bacterial strain, designated T13T, was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of Alhagi sparsifolia collected from Xinjiang, PR China. Cells were rod-shaped, Gram-stain-negative, aerobic and gliding. Strain T13T grew optimally at 25–30 °C and pH 7.0–8.0 with a NaCl tolerance of 0–2 % on Reasoner's 2A agar. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain T13T belonged to the genus Flavobacterium within the family Flavobacteriaceae and was closely related to Flavobacterium nitrogenifigens KCTC 42884T with a similarity value of 97.4 %. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine; the only respiratory quinone was MK-6, and the polyamine profile contained sym-homospermidine as the major polyamine and a trace amount of spermidine. The major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω7c and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c or C16 : 1ω6c). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 34.1 mol%. It is concluded from the phenotypic and genotypic data that strain T13T represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium , for which the name Flavobacterium ustbae sp. nov. with the type strain T13T (=KCTC 62874T=ACCC 60126T) is proposed.

A strain of an obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative rod-shaped bacterium is described by phenotypical, biochemical and genotypical characterization. Strain A2672T was isolated from a wound of a patient sampled during routine care at hospital. Phylogenetic analysis was based on full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and revealed the strain to belong to the genus Prevotella , but to be distant from known species, with the closest relationship to Prevotella corporis . The genomic DNA G+C content was 44.0 mol%. Strain A2672T was moderately saccharolytic and proteolytic. The most abundant cellular long-chain fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. In view of these characteristics as well as whole-genome sequence analysis, strain A2672T is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Prevotella , for which the name Prevotella brunnea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A2672T (=DSM 108033T=CCOS 1231T=CCUG 72809T).

A Gram-reaction-negative bacterial strain, designated Kb22T, was isolated from agricultural soil and characterized using a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain shows highest similarity (94.39 %) to Sphingobacterium nematocida M-SX103T. The highest average nucleotide identity value (71.83 %) was found with Sphingobacterium composti T5-12T, and the highest amino acid identity value (66.65 %) was found with Sphingobacterium olei HAL-9T. Cells are aerobic, non-motile rods. The isolate was found to be positive for catalase and oxidase tests. The assembled genome of strain Kb22T has a total length of 4,06 Mb, the DNA G+C content is 38.1 mol%. The only isoprenoid quinone is menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major fatty acids are iso-C15:0 (28.4%), summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c and/or iso-C15:0 2-OH) (25.7 %) and iso-C17:0 3-OH (19.7 %). Based on phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic results, it is concluded that strain Kb22T is a member of the genus Sphingobacterium and represents a novel species for which the name Sphingobacterium hungaricum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is strain Kb22T (=LMG 31574T=NCAIM B.02638T).

A Gram-stain-negative, yellow-pigmented bacterium, designated as L7T, was isolated from seeds of Alhagi sparsifolia Shap., a leguminous plant that grows in northwest PR China. Strain L7T was found to be non-flagellated, non-spore forming rods which can grow at 10–37 °C, pH 6.0–8.5 and in 0–3 % (v/w) NaCl concentration. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain L7T belongs to the genus Chryseobacterium with sequence similarities to Chryseobacterium vietnamense GIMN1.005T (98.1%), C. bernardetii NCCTC13530T (98.0%), C. vrystaatense LMG 22846T (97.9%), C. nakagawai NCTC13529T (97.7%), C. shigense DSM 17126T (97.6%) and C. rhizosphaerae RSB3-1T (97.5%). The average nucleotide identity of strain L7T to 31 reference strains were 78.6–85.6 %, lower than the species delineation threshold of 95 %. MK-6 was the only respiratory quinone of L7T and major fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, C16 : 1 ω7c and/or C16 : 1 ω6c, isoC17 : 1 ω9c and/or C16 : 0 10-methyl. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified aminolipids, three unidentified glycolipids and two unidentified lipids. The G+C content of the genome was 38.58 mol%. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomy analyses in this study, strain L7T is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Chryseobacterium , for which the name Chryseobacterium endalhagicum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is L7T (=MCCC 1K05687T=JCM 34506T)

A bacterial strain, arapr2T, was isolated from agricultural soil sampled in Reims, France. Based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence, the strain was affiliated to the family Sphingobacteriaceae and more specifically to the genus Sphingobacterium . The strain had 98.31 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to its closest relative Sphingobacterium canadense CR11T and 98.25 % to Sphingobacterium pakistanensis NCCP-246T. Genome relatedness indexes revealed that the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between arapr2T and its closest relative ( S. canadense CR11T) were 92.97 % and 52.00 %, respectively; for S. pakistanensis NCCP-246T, the ANI and dDDH values were 82.46 and 27.6%, respectively. The genomic DNA of strain arapr2T was 6.02 Mbp long, had a DNA G+C content of 40.4 mol% and had 5504 protein-coding genes. The results obtained in this study suggests that strain arapr2T (CIP 111872T=LMG 31848T) represents a new species for which the name Sphingobacterium prati sp. nov. is proposed. Due to the fact that this strain has been isolated using wheat straw as carbon source, this novel bacterial strain represents a promising biotechnological tool for the fractionation of lignocellulosic biomass in the context of biorefinery development.

A strictly aerobic, Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain R1DC9T, was isolated from sediments of a mangrove stand on the Red Sea coast of Saudi Arabia via diffusion chamber cultivation. Strain R1DC9T grew at 20–40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), pH 6–10 (optimum, pH 8) and 3–11 % NaCl (optimum, 7–9 %) in the cultivation medium. The genome of R1DC9T was 4 661 901 bp long and featured a G+C content of 63.1 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence and whole-genome multilocus sequence analysis using 120 concatenated single-copy genes revealed that R1DC9T represents a distinct lineage in the order Cytophagales and the phylum Bacteroidetes separated from the Roseivirgaceae and Marivirgaceae families. R1DC9T displayed 90 and 89 % 16S rRNA gene sequence identities with Marivirga sericea DSM 4125T and Roseivirga ehrenbergii KMM 6017T, respectively. The predominant quinone was MK7. The polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unknown phospholipids and two unknown lipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids were the saturated branch chain fatty acids iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0, along with a low percentage of the monounsaturated fatty acid C16 : 1 ω5c. Based on differences in phenotypic, physiological and biochemical characteristics from known relatives, and the results of phylogenetic analyses, R1DC9T (=KCTC 72349T=JCM 33609T=NCCB 100698T) is proposed to represent a novel species in a new genus, and the name Mangrovivirga cuniculi gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The distinct phylogenetic lineage among the families in the order Cytophagales indicates that R1DC9T represents a new family for which the name Mangrovivirgaceae fam. nov. is proposed.

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic, yellow-pigmented bacterium was isolated from chicken feather waste collected from an abattoir in Bloemfontein, South Africa. A polyphasic taxonomy study was used to describe and name the bacterial isolate, strain 1_F178T. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and sequence comparison data indicated that strain 1_F178T was a member of the genus Chryseobacterium and was closely related to Chryseobacterium jejuense (99.1%) and Chryseobacterium nakagawai (98.7%). Overall genome similarity metrics (average nucleotide identity, digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity) revealed greatest similarity to the C. jejuense and C. nakagawai type strains but were below the threshold for species delineation. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 6.18 Mbp and a G+C content of 35.6 mol%. The major respiratory quinone and most abundant polar lipid of strain 1_F178T were menaquinone-6 and phosphatidylethanolamine, respectively. Strain 1_F178T had a typical fatty acid composition for Chryseobacterium species. On the basis of physiological, genotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic data, strain 1_F178T constitutes a novel species of Chryseobacterium , for which the name Chryseobacterium pennae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1_F178T (=LMG 30779T=KCTC 62759T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, aerobic bacterium, designated type strain SSI9T, was isolated from sand fly (Phlebotomus papatasi Scopoli; Diptera: Psychodidae) rearing substrate and subjected to polyphasic taxonomic analysis. Strain SSI9T contained phosphatidylethanolamine as a major polar lipid, MK-7 as the predominant quinone, and C16 : 1ω6c/C16 : 1ω7c, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and C16 : 0 as the major cellular fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that SSI9T represents a member of the genus Sphingobacterium , of the family Sphingobacteriaceae sharing 96.5–88.0 % sequence similarity with other species of the genus Sphingobacterium . The results of multilocus sequence analysis using the concatenated sequences of the housekeeping genes recA, rplC and groL indicated that SSI9T formed a separate branch in the genus Sphingobacterium . The genome of SSI9T is 5 197 142 bp with a DNA G+C content of 41.8 mol% and encodes 4395 predicted coding sequences, 49 tRNAs, and three complete rRNAs and two partial rRNAs. SSI9T could be distinguished from other species of the genus Sphingobacterium with validly published names by several phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characteristics. On the basis of the results of this polyphasic taxonomic analysis, the bacterial isolate represents a novel species within the genus Sphingobacterium , for which the name Sphingobacterium phlebotomi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SSI9T (=ATCC TSD-210T=LMG 31664T=NRRL B-65603T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium (designated strain N24T) with gliding motility was isolated from thermal spring water sampled at Xi’an, PR China. Cells were 0.4–0.8 µm wide and 1.8–7.8 µm long. Optimal growth occurred at 33 °C and pH 7.0 on Reasoner's 2A (R2A) agar. Strain N24T could produce exopolysaccharide on R2A agar at 33 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain N24T formed a distinct phyletic lineage within the family Chitinophagaceae and was most closely related to members of the genera Flavisolibacter , Cnuella , Niveitalea , Flavitalea , Flaviaesturariibacter and Niastella with 91.7–93.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. The major fatty acids of strain N24T were iso-C15 : 0 (31.8 %), iso-C17 : 0 3-OH (16.1 %) and iso-C15 : 1 G (12.9 %). The polar lipid profile consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, two aminolipids and six unknown lipids; the quinone system consisted of menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The genomic G+C content was 49.3 mol%. On the basis of the evidence presented in this study, strain N24T represents a novel species of a new genus in the family Chitinophagaceae , for which the name Paracnuella aquatica gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type species is N24T (=KCTC 62083T=MCCC 1H00301T).

Strain M8-2T, which was isolated from brackish lake water (Lake Sanaru) in Japan, was characterized for representation of a novel species in the genus Algoriphagus . Cells of strain M8-2T were aerobic, Gram-stain-negative and curved-rod-shaped (0.2–0.5 µm wide and 0.7–1.9 µm long). Strain M8-2T grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 6.5–7.5 and in the presence of 0.5–1.0 % (w/v) NaCl. MK-7 was the sole isoprenoid quinone. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified phospholipid and an unidentified polar lipid. The predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain M8-2T belonged to the genus Algoriphagus and was closely related to Algoriphagus aquatilis A8-7T, Algoriphagus boseongensis BS-R1T, Algoriphagus aquaeductus T4T, Algoriphagus olei CC-Hsuan-617T, Algoriphagus shivajiensis NIO-S3T and Algoriphagus mannitolivorans DSM 15301T with sequence similarities of 96.6–97.4 %. Results of average nucleotide identity (

A yellow-coloured bacterial strain, designated ZY74T, was isolated from arsenic contaminated soil (34 mg kg−1) sample collected in Longkou, Hubei Province, PR China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile and rod-shaped. Strain ZY74T produced round, yellow-pigmented, smooth and opaque colonies. Based on the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain ZY74T was found to be affiliated with members of the genus Chitinophaga . Its closest members were Chitinophagabarathri YLT18T (97.72 %) and Chitinophaganiabensis JS13-10T (97.17 %). The genome size of strain ZY74T was 6.61 Mb, containing 5351 predicted protein-coding genes, with a DNA G+C content of 55.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity values of strain ZY74T with C. barathri YLT18T and C. niabensis DSM 24787T were 76.12 and 73.32 %, respectively. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization values of strain ZY74T with C. barathri YLT18T and C. niabensis JS13-10T were 20.60 and 19.40 %, respectively. The major respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7 and the predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C15:0, C16 : 1ω5c and iso-C17 : 03-OH. On the basis of phylogenetic, genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization, strain ZY74T represents a novel species in the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga lutea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ZY74T (=CCTCC AB2018369T=KCTC 72039T).

A Gram-stain-negative, facultative anaerobic, red-coloured, rod-shaped, non-flagellated, non-motile and non-gliding bacterium, designated strain Z0201T, was isolated from lake water in Yunnan, China (26° 16′ N, 99° 94′ E). Cells of strain Z0201T were 0.2–0.4 µm wide and 1.4–2.5 µm long, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Strain Z0201T was found to grow at 4–37 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and pH 6.5–8.5 (pH 7.5) in the presence of 0–2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (0–0.5 %). The sole respiratory quinone of strain Z0201T was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 41.2 mol%. The major fatty acid was iso-C15 : 0 (49.4 %). The polar lipid profile of strain Z0201T consisted of aminophospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified phospholipids and five unidentified lipids. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Z0201T was a member of the genus Aquiflexum , appearing to be closely related to Aquiflexum balticum (95.4 %). On the basis of phenotypic distinctiveness and phylogenetic divergence, strain Z0201T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Aquiflexum , for which the name Aquiflexum aquatile sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Z0201T (=KCTC 62450T=MCCC 1H00328T).

An aerobic bacterial strain, designated XJ-2T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from Gurbantunggut Sandy Desert in PR China. Cells of strain XJ-2T were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped and non-spore-forming. The new isolate grew well at 10–37 °C (optimum, 28–30 °C), pH 6.0–11.0 (pH 7.0) and 0–1 % (w/v) NaCl (0 %). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain XJ-2T showed the highest similarity to that of Chitinophaga rhizosphaerae T16R-86T (99.0 %), followed by Chitinophaga barathri YLT18T (97.0 %), Chitinophaga humicola Ktm-2T (96.7 %) and Chitinophaga niabensis JS13-10T (96.4 %). The major menaquinone of strain XJ-2T was menaquinone 7 and the predominant fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1 ω5c and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid, three unidentified aminolipids and five unidentified lipids. The genome size was 6.33 Mb, comprising 5268 predicted genes with a G+C content of 41.5 mol%. The DNA G+C content was 50.5 mol% based on total genome calculations. The average nucleotide identity and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain XJ-2T and strain T16R-86T were 79.6 and 22.3 %, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain XJ-2T and strain YLT18T was 17.0 %. Based on the physiological, biochemical and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain XJ-2T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga deserti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XJ-2T (KCTC 62443T=CCTCC AB 2018019T).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and aerobic bacterium, designated K20C18050901T, was isolated from forest soil collected on 11 September 2017 from Dinghushan Biosphere Reserve, Guangdong Province, PR China (23° 10′ 24′′ N; 112° 32′ 10′′ E). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain K20C18050901T belongs to the genus Chitinophaga , and showed the highest similarities to Chitinophaga sancti NBRC 15057T (98.6 %) and Chitinophaga oryziterrae JCM 16595T (96.9 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0, C16 : 1ω5c, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω6c and/or C16 : 1ω7c) and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone-7. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine. The draft genome size of strain K20C18050901T was 8.36 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 44.7 mol%. The digital DNA–DNA hybridization and average nucleotide identity values between strain K20C18050901T and C. sancti NBRC 15057T were 31.40 and 85.82 %, respectively. On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analysis, strain K20C18050901T represents a novel species of the genus Chitinophaga , for which the name Chitinophaga silvisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K20C18050901T (=GDMCC 1.1411T=KCTC 62860T).

Strain SYSU D60016T, a rod-shaped bacterium that tends to form clusters, was isolated from a soil sample collected from the Gurbantunggut desert, China. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, catalase-negative and oxidase-positive. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain SYSU D60016T shared less than 94 % sequence identity with members of the family Hymenobacteraceae . The strain exhibited growth at 15–50 °C, pH 6–8 and in the presence of up to 3 % (w/v) NaCl. Its chemotaxonomic features included MK-7 as the respiratory menaquinone, iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 4 (iso-C17 : 1 I and/or anteiso-C17 : 1 B) as major cellular fatty acids and phosphatidylethanolamine as the main polar lipid. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 50.1 % (genome). Analyses of the phylogenetic data and differences in the chemotaxonomic and biochemical features from related genera in the family Hymenobacteraceae indicated that strain SYSU D60016T merits representation of a novel species of a novel genus in the family Hymenobacteraceae . The name Botryobacter ruber gen. nov., sp. nov. is, therefore, proposed to represent the phylogenetic position of strain SYSU D60016T in the family Hymenobacteraceae . The type strain of the proposed new taxon is SYSU D60016T (=KCTC 52794T=NBRC 112957T).

A polyphasic taxonomic approach was applied to characterize an anaerobic bacterial strain, 426-9T, that was isolated from human faeces. The strain was Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, non-pigmented and rod-shaped. Strain 426-9T grew anaerobically at 20–45 °C (optimally at 37–40 °C) and at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimally at pH 6.0–8.0). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, seven amino phospholipids and three phospholipids. The major fatty acids of strain 426-9T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH, and the predominant respiratory quinones were menaquinones MK-9 and MK-10. End-products of glucose fermentation were acetate, propionate, iso-butyrate and iso-pentanoate. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain 426-9T was a member of the genus Parabacteroides . The level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of strain 426-9T to the type species of the genus, Parabacteroides distasonis ATCC 8503T, was 91.0 %. Within the genus Parabacteroides , strain 426-9T was phylogenetically closely related to Parabacteroides johnsonii M-165T (96.0 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). The draft genome of strain 426-9T comprised 5.15 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 45.9 mol%. A total of 4088 genes were predicted and, of those, 3744 were annotated. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characterization, strain 426-9T represents a novel species within the genus Parabacteroides , for which the name Parabacteroides acidifaciens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 426-9T (=CGMCC 1.13558T=NBRC 113433T).