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Microbial culturomics represents an ongoing revolution in the characterization of the human gut microbiota. By using three culture media containing high salt concentrations (10, 15, and 20% [w/v] NaCl), we attempted an exhaustive exploration of the halophilic microbial diversity of the human gut and isolated strain Marseille-P2481 (= CSUR P2481 =  DSM 103076), a new moderately halophilic bacterium. This bacterium is a Gram-positive, strictly aerobic, spore-forming rod that is motile by use of a flagellum and exhibits catalase, but not oxidase activity. Strain Marseille-P2481 was cultivated in media containing up to 20% (w/v) NaCl, with optimal growth being obtained at 37°C, pH 7.0-8.0, and 7.5% [w/v] NaCl). The major fatty acids were 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid and hexadecanoic acid. Its draft genome is 4,548,390 bp long, composed of 11 scaffolds, with a G+C content of 39.8%. It contains 4,335 predicted genes (4,266 protein coding including 89 pseudogenes and 69 RNA genes). Strain Marseille-P2481 showed 96.57% 16S rRNA sequence similarity with Gracilibacillus alcaliphilus strain SG103 T , the phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature. On the basis of its specific features, strain Marseille-P2481 T was classified as type strain of a new species within the genus Gracilibacillus for which the name Gracilibacillus timonensis sp. nov. is formally proposed., (© 2018 The Authors. MicrobiologyOpen published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.)

'Massilibacteroïdes vaginae' sp. nov. strain MV12 T is the type strain of 'Massilibacteroïdes' gen. nov., a new genus within the family of Porphyromonadaceae. This strain was isolated in Marseille from a patient with vaginosis. 'Massilibacteroïdes vaginae' is a Gram-negative, aero-anaerobic bipolar bacillus. Here we describe the phenotypic characteristics and complete genome sequence of this bacterium. The EMBL accession number is FXDJ00000000 (FXDJ01000001-FXDJ01000009), and its genome consists of nine scaffolds. The strain was deposited in two culture collections under the numbers CSUR P1477 and DSM 100704.

Amoeba-associated microorganisms (AAMs) are frequently isolated from water networks. In this paper, we report the isolation and characterization of Protochlamydia massiliensis , an obligate intracellular Gram-negative bacterium belonging to the Parachlamydiaceae family in the Chlamydiales order, from a cooling water tower. This bacterium was isolated on Vermamoeba vermiformis . It has a multiple range of hosts among amoeba and is characterized by a typical replication cycle of Chlamydiae with a particularity, recently shown in some chlamydia, which is the absence of inclusion vacuoles in the V. vermiformis host, adding by this a new member of Chlamydiae undergoing developmental cycle changes in the newly adapted host V. vermiformis . Draft genome sequencing revealed a chromosome of 2.86 Mb consisting of four contigs and a plasmid of 92 Kb.

Chlamydiae are pathogenic and symbiotic bacteria, which form an important part of amoeba-associated microorganisms. In this paper, we report the isolation, developmental cycle and genome analysis of Protochlamydia phocaeensis sp. nov., an obligate intracellular parasite with a large host spectrum, able to infect Acanthamoeba castellanii, Acanthamoeba polyphaga, and Vermamoeba vermiformis. The genome size is 3,424,182 bp with a GC content of 42%. This bacterium displayed a particular developmental cycle depending on the infected host. The P. phocaeensis showed typical inclusion vacuoles in A. castellanii, while these were absent in V. vermiformis. Since "Chlamydiae-amoebae" interactions are supposed to depend on the chlamydial species, our findings speculate that variations in the developmental cycle of certain Chlamydiae are also host dependent., (Copyright © 2017 Institut Pasteur. Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.)

The study of amoeba-associated Chlamydiae is a dynamic field in which new species are increasingly reported. In the present work, we characterized the developmental cycle and analyzed the genome of a new member of this group associated with Vermamoeba vermiformis, we propose to name "Rubidus massiliensis." This bacterium is well-adapted to its amoeba host and do not reside inside of inclusion vacuoles after phagocytosis. It has a developmental cycle typical of this family of bacteria, with a transition from condensed elementary bodies to hypodense replicative reticulate bodies. Multiplication occurs through binary fission of the reticulate bodies. The genome of "R. massiliensis" consists of a 2.8 Mbp chromosome and two plasmids (pRm1, pRm2) consisting of 39,075 bp and 80,897 bp, respectively, a feature that is unique within this group. The Re-analysis of the Chlamydiales genomes including the one of "R. massiliensis" slightly modified the previous phylogeny of the tlc gene encoding the ADP/ATP translocase. Our analysis suggested that the tlc gene could have been transferred to plant and algal plastids before the transfer to Rickettsiales, and that this gene was probably duplicated several times.

Lactobacillus mucosae strain Marseille, isolated from stool samples of a child suffering from a malnutrition disorder called Kwashiorkor, produces bacteriocin and seems to have specific carbohydrate and lipid metabolisms different from those of other Lactobacillus organisms. The draft genome sequence of this strain is presented here., (Copyright © 2015 Drissi et al.)

Nosocomiicoccus massiliensis strain NP2(T) sp. nov. is the type strain of a new species within the genus Nosocomiicoccus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of an AIDS-infected patient living in Marseille, France. N. massiliensis is a Gram-positive aerobic coccus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 1,645,244 bp long genome (one chromosome but no plasmid) contains 1,738 protein-coding and 45 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes.