Search

Applause is a common behavior during simulation case learning sessions. Some simulation facilitators believe that this should not be allowed, arguing that it can mislead students when they make mistakes during simulation. This study was conducted to explore the opinions of students about spontaneous applause (initiated by the participants), as a habitual behavior in the simulation sessions, in the undergraduate and postgraduate nursing degrees.A qualitative research study was conducted based on the content analysis of 7 focus groups composed of simulation students (N = 101, both undergraduate and graduate students). The participants were asked to conduct a debate about the following question: What is your opinion about the spontaneous applause given to participants by their peers at the completion of the scenario as they go to the debriefing, and why? An inductive method of content analysis was used to interpret the data.The majority considered applause as a sign of support; one student disapproved of the practice. For most participants, receiving spontaneous applause from their peers after finishing the simulation represented a spontaneous example of moral support that reduced the participants' stress.Applause within the context of clinical simulation is a motivational act, which should not be repressed by the facilitator, as long as it is a spontaneous and genuine act by the participants once the simulation experience ends.

9 pages, 1 figure, 3 tables, Strain ISS155T, isolated from surface Mediterranean seawater, has cells that are Gram-reaction-negative, motile, strictly aerobic chemoorganotrophic, oxidase-positive, unable to reduce nitrate to nitrite, and able to grow with cellulose as the sole carbon and energy source. It is mesophilic, neutrophilic, slightly halophilic and has a requirement for sodium and magnesium ions. Its 16S rRNA gene sequence places the strain among members of Cellvibrionaceae, in the Gammaproteobacteria, with Agarilytica rhodophyticola 017T as closest relative (94.3¿% similarity). Its major cellular fatty acids are C18¿:¿1, C16¿:¿0 and C16¿:¿1; major phospholipids are phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine and an unidentified lipid, and the major respiratory quinone is Q8. The genome size is 6.09 Mbp and G+C content is 45.2¿mol%. A phylogenomic analysis using UBCG merges strain ISS155T in a clade with A. rhodophyticola, Teredinibacter turnerae, Saccharophagus degradans and Agaribacterium haliotis type strain genomes, all of them possessing a varied array of carbohydrate-active enzymes and the potential for polysaccharide degradation. Average amino acid identity indexes determined against available Cellvibrionaceae type strain genomes show that strain ISS155T is related to them by values lower than 60¿%, with a maximum of 58¿% to A. rhodophyticola 017T and 57¿% to T. turnerae T7902T and S. degradans 2-40T. These results, together with the low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and differences in phenotypic profiles, indicate that strain ISS155T represents a new genus and species in Cellvibrionaceae, for which we propose the name Thalassocella blandensis gen. nov., sp. nov., and strain ISS155T (=CECT 9533T=LMG 31237T) as the type strain, Sequencing was funded by grant CTM2016-80095-C2-1-R to C.P.A. from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Additional funding was obtained by grant CTM2017-87736-R to S.G.A. from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad, With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)

21 pages, 7 figures, 6 tables, Two strains isolated from a sample of activated sludge that was obtained from a seawater-based wastewater treatment plant on the southeastern Mediterranean coast of Spain have been characterized to achieve their taxonomic classification, since preliminary data suggested they could represent novel taxa. Given the uniqueness of this habitat, as this sort of plants are rare in the world and this one used seawater to process an influent containing intermediate products from amoxicillin synthesis, we also explored their ecology and the annotations of their genomic sequences. Analysis of their 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that one of them, which was orange-pigmented, was distantly related to Vicingus serpentipes (family Vicingaceae) and to other representatives of neighbouring families in the order Flavobacteriales (class Flavobacteriia) by 88–89 % similarities; while the other strain, which was yellow-pigmented, was a putative new species of Lysobacter (family Xanthomonadaceae, order Xanthomonadales, class Gammaproteobacteria) with Lysobacter arseniciresistens as closest relative (97.3 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity to its type strain). Following a polyphasic taxonomic approach, including a genome-based phylogenetic analysis and a thorough phenotypic characterization, we propose the following novel taxa: Parvicella tangerina gen. nov., sp. nov. (whose type strain is AS29M-1T=CECT 30217T=LMG 32344T), Parvicellaceae fam. nov. (whose type genus is Parvicella), and Lysobacter luteus sp. nov. (whose type strain is AS29MT=CECT 30171T=LMG 32343T), Financial support was received from grant AICO-2020-181 (Generalitat Valenciana) to M.J.P. S.G.A. was supported by Plan Nacional I+D+I 2020 (PID2020-116489RB-I00), With the institutional support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S)

Strain CECT 7735T, a marine Gram-reaction negative, aerobic, non-motile bacterium, was isolated from coastal seawater in Valencia, Spain. Strain CECT 7735T is chemoorganotrophic, mesophilic, slightly halophilic, grows at 15–28 °C but not at 4 or 37 °C, requires seawater for growth and grows up to 6 % salinity. The major cellular fatty acid is summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c). The G+C content of the genome is 55.7 mol%. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence shows the strain is affiliated to the family Rhodobacteraceae , in the class Alphaproteobacteria , with highest similarities to Phaeobacter species (97.0–97.5 %), Shimia species (96.5–97.3 %) and Pseudopelagicola gijangensis (96.5 %). Further phylogenomic analysis through the up-to-date-bacterial core gene (UBCG) set showed P. gijangensis to be its closest relative. Average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization values are lower than 85 and 21 %, respectively, with its phylogenetic relatives, suggesting that strain CECT 7735T represents a new species. The average amino acid identity value was over 70 % with the genome of the type strain of P. gijangensis and with all those of Shimia species. These values, together with UBCG set trees, suggest that the new species and P. gijangensis belong to the same genus and that Pseudopelagicola should be reclassified as a Shimia species. We conclude that strain CECT 7735T represents a new species in the genus Shimia , for which we propose the name Shimia thalassica sp. nov. In addition, Pseudopelagicola gijangensis is reclassified as Shimia gijangensis comb. nov. From the same phylogenomic study, it can be concluded that Thalassobius activus should be reclassified in the genus Cognatishimia as Cognatishimia activa comb. nov.

A polyphasic taxonomic study was conducted on three strains isolated from drinking water systems that had previously been deposited as Chryseobacterium species at the Spanish Type Culture Collection in order to complete their classification. Strains CECT 9293T, CECT 9390T and CECT 9393T were isolated from sites in Barcelona, Spain, in the framework of a project aimed at generating the first MALDI-TOF database specific for bacteria present in water for human consumption. Their partial 16S rRNA sequences showed that their closest relatives among the type strains of Chryseobacterium exhibited 98 % similarity or less, supporting their taxonomic novelty. At the same time, comparison between them revealed that strains CECT 9293T and CECT 9393T could perhaps be related at the species level as they shared 99.5 % similarity. However, whole genome sequencing was performed and the subsequent calculation of relatedness indices, average nucleotide identity and estimated DNA–DNA hybridization, ruled out that possibility and confirmed instead that each of the strains should be considered a separate species in the genus Chryseobacterium . Having clarified their status, we also performed phylogenomic analyses and searched for possible environmental or non-type material sequences that could be related to any of them at the species level. In parallel, the strains were characterized phenotypically and compared to their closest relatives to determine diagnostic traits to support their formal proposal. The proposed species are Chryseobacterium potabilaquae sp. nov. with the type strain CECT 9293T (=LMG 32084T), Chryseobacterium aquaeductus sp. nov. with the type strain CECT 9390T (=LMG 32085T) and Chryseobacterium fistulae sp. nov. with the type strain CECT 9393T (=LMG 32086T).

16 pages, 5 figures, 3 tables, supplementary information https://doi.org/10.1186/s12866-020-01884-7, Isolation of marine microorganisms is fundamental to gather information about their physiology, ecology and genomic content. To date, most of the bacterial isolation efforts have focused on the photic ocean leaving the deep ocean less explored. We have created a marine culture collection of heterotrophic bacteria (MARINHET) using a standard marine medium comprising a total of 1561 bacterial strains, and covering a variety of oceanographic regions from different seasons and years, from 2009 to 2015. Specifically, our marine collection contains isolates from both photic (817) and aphotic layers (744), including the mesopelagic (362) and the bathypelagic (382), from the North Western Mediterranean Sea, the North and South Atlantic Ocean, the Indian, the Pacific, and the Arctic Oceans. We described the taxonomy, the phylogenetic diversity and the biogeography of a fraction of the marine culturable microorganisms to enhance our knowledge about which heterotrophic marine isolates are recurrently retrieved across oceans and along different depths, Projects Arctic Tipping Points (ATP, contract #226248), in the FP7 program of the European Union, and DOREMI (CTM2012–34294), from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, allowed the collection of samples from the Arctic and NW Mediterranean Sea, respectively. Research, including laboratory experiments and analyses, was mainly funded by grant BIOSENSOMICS “Convocatoria 2015 de ayudas Fundación BBVA a investigadores y creadores culturales” and, MAGGY, Plan Nacional I + D + I 2017 (CTM2017–87736-R), awarded to S.G.A. Analyses were also possible thank to the King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) through baseline funding to C.M.D. and a subaward agreement OSR-2014-CC-1973-02 between KAUST and Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona (UAB). Additional funding for analyses and interpretation of the data was provided by projects REMEI (ref. CTM2015–70340-R) and MIAU-S3 (ref. RTI2018-101025-B-I00) from the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Competitiveness, With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)

10 pages, 4 figures, 3 tables, Strain ISS653T, isolated from Atlantic seawater, is a yellow pigmented, non-motile, Gram-reaction-negative rod-shaped bacterium, strictly aerobic and chemoorganotrophic, slightly halophilic (1–15 % NaCl) and mesophilic (4–37 °C), oxidase- and catalase-positive and proteolytic. Its major cellular fatty acids are iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH; the major identified phospholipid is phosphatidylethanolamine and the major respiratory quinone is MK6. Genome size is 4.28 Mbp and DNA G+C content is 34.9 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity places the strain among members of the family Flavobacteriaceae, with the type strains of Mesonia phycicola (93.2 %), Salegentibacter mishustinae (93.1 %) and Mesonia mobilis (92.9 %) as closest relatives. Average amino acid identity (AAI) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) indices show highest values with M. mobilis (81 % AAI; 78.9 % ANI), M. phycicola (76 % AAI; 76.3 % ANI), Mesonia maritima (72 % AAI, 74.9 % ANI), Mesonia hippocampi (64 % AAI, 70.8 % ANI) and Mesonia algae (68 % AAI; 72.2 % ANI). Phylogenomic analysis using the Up-to-date-Bacterial Core Gene set (UBCG) merges strain ISS653T in a clade with species of the genus Mesonia. We conclude that strain ISS653T represents a novel species of the genus Mesonia for which we propose the name Mesonia oceanica sp. nov., and strain ISS653T (=CECT 9532T=LMG 31236T) as the type strain. A second strain of the species, ISS1889 (=CECT 30008) was isolated from Pacific Ocean seawater. Data obtained throughout the Tara oceans expedition indicate that the species is more abundant in the mesopelagic dark ocean than in the photic layer and it is more frequent in the South Pacific, Indian and North Atlantic oceans, Sequencing was funded by grant CTM2016-80095-C2-1-R to C.P.A. from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Additional funding was obtained by grant CTM2017-87736-R to S.G.A. from the Spanish Ministerio de Economía y Competitividad. Other parts of this work received no specific grant from any funding agency, With the funding support of the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000928-S), of the Spanish Research Agency (AEI)

Thalassobius gelatinovorus is a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae previously classified in the genera Agrobacterium and Ruegeria . Strain Ahrens B6 T (= ATCC 25655 T , = B6 T , = CECT 4357 T , = CIP 105976 T , = DSM 5887 T , = IAM 12617 T , = JCM 20688 T , = KCTC 22092 T , = LMG 129 T , = NBRC 15761 T , = NCIMB 2206 T ) was isolated in 1967 from a sea water sampled in Kiel Fjord in Baltic Sea. Genomic DNA sequence of T. gelatinovorus CECT 4357 T was assembled into a draft genome and annotated. Here we report the main features of this draft genome composed by 3,902,797 bp arranged in 30 contigs with a G + C content of 58.4%, 3770 protein coding genes, 44 tRNA genes, 7 rRNA genes. The draft genome encodes genes involved in poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) synthesis, ectoine synthesis, degradation of aromatic compounds and pathways involved in the biogeochemical cycles of carbon, nitrogen and sulfur.

Two bacterial strains, EAod9T and SMJ21T, isolated from salt-marsh plants, were determined to be related to species of the genus Vibrio from from 16S rRNA sequence comparisons. Their closest phylogenetic relatives are members of the Gazogenes clade, Vibrio mangrovi and Vibrio rhizosphaerae , which show the greatest similarity to the SMJ21TrRNA sequence (97.3 and 97.1 %, respectively), while EAod9T had less than 97.0 % similarity to any other species of the genus Vibrio . Both strains share the basic characteristics of the genus Vibrio , as they are Gram-stain negative, motile, slightly halophilic, facultatively anaerobic bacteria. In addition, they are oxidase-negative and unable to grow on TCBS Agar; they grow between 15 to 26 °C, pH 6 to 8 and in up to 10 % (w/v) total salinity. They produce indol, are positive in the Voges-Proskauer test and are negative for arginine dihydrolase, lysine and ornithine decarboxylases. Strain SMJ21T is aerogenic and red-pigmented, due to prodigiosin production, while strain EAod9T ferments glucose without gas and is not pigmented. The major cellular fatty acids of both novel strains were C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c and C16 : 0. WGSobtained for both strains, along with the other five members of the clade, allowed the determination of ANI indexes and in silico estimations of DDH values, which confirmed that the two strains represent two novel species of the genus Vibrio: Vibrio palustris sp. nov. (with EAod9T=CECT 9027T=LMG 29724T as the proposed type strain) and Vibrio spartinae sp. nov. (with SMJ21T=CECT 9026T=LMG 29723T as the proposed type strain).

The genomes of the type strains of Roseivivax atlanticus and Roseivivax marinus ( Rhodobacteraceae , Alphaproteobacteria ), were analysed to determine their respective Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) values. These species were proposed and effectively published relatively closely in time (February and August 2014, respectively) and so not taking account of the other. The intergenomic relatedness between both type strains, 97.0–97.4 % ANI and 82.8 % in silico DDH, confirm that they represent members of the same genomic species. This conclusion is also supported at the phenotypic level. Since the name Roseovarius marinus was validly published earlier, R. atlanticus (Validation List 161, IJSEM 65, 1–4. 2015) should be considered a later heterotypic synonym of R. marinus (Dai, Shi, Gao, Liu and Zhang, 2014), in application of the priority rule.

A multilocus sequence analysis was undertaken in order to redefine the Splendidus clade of the genus Vibrio, a large group of species containing several pathogenic members that affect fish and shellfish, and are difficult to identify through both phenotypic and genotypic approaches. The study included analysis of partial sequences of recA, gyrB, mreB, rpoD and pyrH genes, as well as the 16S rRNA gene. Seventeen type strain species were included that were complemented with other reference strains and a collection of isolates tentatively identified as members of this clade, as well as a set of other Vibrio species. The clade was well defined and stable in all analyses, and was confirmed to contain V. celticus, V. atlanticus, V. artabrorum, V. toranzoniae and V. hemicentroti, in addition to the twelve previously recognized species. While some species were well-defined members (e.g. Vibrio cyclitrophicus, V. chagasii) others formed tight groups that were related by sequence similarities and lineage topology, which suggested a synonymy among their members, particularly the V. splendidus-V. hemicentroti pair. Most of the isolates were related to two major groups: the V. celticus-V. crassostreae-V. gigantis subclade that contained all isolates from oysters sampled in the cold season, and V. chagasii that included oyster isolates from warm months. This suggested a sharp seasonal occurrence for these species. None of the single genes were able to mimic the resolving power of the five-gene MLSA and none worked well for the identification of the whole group of species in the clade.

Strain 96-237T, a Gram-reaction-negative, curved- to spiral-shaped motile bacterium, isolated from coastal marine water, was found to be related to species of the genus Grimontia by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison, sharing 98.3 % similarity to Grimontia marina CECT 8713Tand 98.8 % to 'Grimontiaindica' AK16. Phenotypic analysis revealed that strain 96-237T is slightly halophilic, mesophilic and facultatively anaerobic, fermenting d-glucose, d-ribose, d-mannose, d-mannitol, maltose and sucrose. It was positive for oxidase and indole production and negative for arginine dihydrolase and lysine and ornithine decarboxylases. Its major fatty acids were C16 : 1ω7c/C16 : 1ω6c (SF3), C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. Its DNA G+C content was 48.4 mol%. The strain was different at the species level from all other species of the genusGrimontia, with average nucleotide identity indices of 79.6 % to Grimontia. hollisae CECT 8713T, 87.8 % to G. marina CECT 5069T and 89.1 % to 'G. indica' AK16 genomes. Thus, the strain represents a novel species for which we propose the name Grimontia celer and 96-237T (=CECT 9029T =KCTC 42960T =LMG 29238T) as the type strain.

Strain CECT 5091T, an aerobic, marine, Gram-reaction- and Gram-stain-negative, chemoheterotrophic bacterium was isolated from oysters harvested off the Spanish Mediterranean coast. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the strain within the genus Ruegeria , in the family Rhodobacteraceae , with 16S rRNA gene similarities of 98.7, 98.7 and 98.4 % to Ruegeria conchae , Ruegeria atlantica and Ruegeria arenilitoris , respectively. Average nucleotide identities (ANI) and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) were determined, comparing the genome sequence of CECT 5091T with those of the type strains of 12 species of the genus Ruegeria : the values obtained were always below the thresholds (95–96 % ANI, 70 % in silico DDH) used to define genomic species, proving that CECT 5091T represents a novel species of the genus Ruegeria . The strain was slightly halophilic and mesophilic, with optimum growth at 26 °C, pH 7.0 and 3 % salinity, it required sodium and magnesium ions for growth and was able to reduce nitrate to dinitrogen. Carbon sources for growth include some carbohydrates (d-ribose, d-glucose, l-rhamnose, N-acetyl-d-glucosamine) and multiple organic acids and amino acids. The major cellular fatty acid was summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), representing 70 % of the total fatty acids. Carbon monoxide oxidation, cyanophycin synthetic ability and phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine production are predicted from genome annotation, while bacteriochlorophyll a production was absent. The DNA G+C content of the genome was 56.7 mol%. We propose the name Ruegeria denitrificans sp. nov. and strain CECT 5091T (=5OM10T=LMG 29896T) as the type strain for the novel species.

Two strains of Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, slightly halophilic bacteria, isolated from healthy gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) cultured in Spanish Mediterranean fish farms, were different from their closest relatives,Vibrio scophthalmiandV. ichthyoenteri, by phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic standards. The strains were negative for decarboxylase tests and lacked extracellular hydrolytic activities, but were able to fermentd-mannitol, sucrose, cellobiose andd-gluconate, among other carbohydrates. The major cellular fatty acids were C16:1and C16:0, in agreement with other species of the genusVibrio. Their 16S rRNA gene sequences were 98.4 and 97.2 % similar to those of the type strains ofV. scophthalmiandV. ichthyoenteri, and the similarities using other housekeeping genes (ftsZ,rpoD,recA,mreBandgyrB) and indices of genomic resemblance (average nucleotide identity and estimated DNA–DNA hybridization) between the isolates and those type strains were clearly below intraspecific levels, supporting the recognition of the strains as members of a separate novel species. Thus, we propose the nameVibrio renipiscariussp. nov., with DCR 1-4-2T( = CECT 8603T = KCTC 42287T) as the type strain.

The synonymy between Vibrio hemicentroti Kim et al. 2013 and Vibrio splendidus (Beijerinck 1900) Baumann et al. 1981 was suggested after a recent multilocus sequence analysis of the Splendidus clade, which included the type strains of both species. To clarify their status, we have determined genomic indexes from whole genome sequences of strains V. hemicentroti CECT 8714T and V. splendidus NCCB 53037T. Average Nucleotide Identities of 96.0–96.7 % and an in silico DNA–DNA hybridization value of 70.2 %, as well as similarity levels of selected housekeeping gene sequences support the consideration of V. hemicentroti as a later heterotypic synonym of V. splendidus .

Strain 4SM10T, an aerobic marine, Gram-negative, heterotrophic and non pigmented bacterium isolated from seawater from Vinaroz in Castellon, Spain, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence placed the strain within the Roseobacter clade in the family Rhodobacteraceae. Phylogenetic analyses also showed that strain 4SM10T forms a stable clade with species of the genus Roseovarius, being related to Roseovarius nubinhibens ISMT and Roseovarius aestuarii SMK-122T at 97.5 and 97.4 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity, respectively. Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) values, determined as a measure of overall genomic resemblance, confirmed that strain 4SM10T does not belong to the same species as R. aestuarii CECT 7745T and Roseovarius nubinhibens CECT 7750T displaying ANI values well below the 95 % boundary for genomic species. Strain 4SM10T requires Na+ plus a divalent cation (either Mg2+ or Ca2+) to grow, reduces nitrate to nitrite and uses a large number of amino acids and organic acids (but no carbohydrates) as sole carbon sources. Enzymatic activities displayed in API ZYM tests are alkaline phosphatase, leucine arylamidase and acid phosphatase. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as C18:1 ω7c and/or C18:1 ω6c (67.1 %). The DNA G+C content was determined to be 54.27 mol%. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic data obtained, the name Roseovarius albus sp. nov. is proposed for this novel taxon, with the type strain 4SM10T (=CECT 7450T = KCTC 22653T).

Strain R46T, a marine alphaproteobacterium, was isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. It is an aerobic chemo-organotrophic, mesophilic and slightly halophilic organism, with complex ionic requirements. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences showed that strain R46T formed a separate branch within the family Rhodobacteraceae , bearing similarities below 94.7 and 80.3 %, respectively, to any other recognized species. It contained Q10 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c as the major cellular fatty acid. Phosphatidylglycerol was the only identified polar lipid, although other lipids were also detected. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 61.3 mol%. On the basis of extensive phenotypic and phylogenetic comparative analysis, it is concluded that the strain represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Actibacterium mucosum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is Actibacterium mucosum R46T ( = CECT 7668T = KCTC 23349T).

Nereida ignava strain 2SM4T (= CECT 5292T = DSM 16309T = CIP 108404T = CCUG 49433T) is a marine bacterium belonging to the Roseobacter group of the family Rhodobacteraceae within the class Alphaproteobacteria. The strain was isolated from sea water surrounding cultivated oysters 2–3 miles off the Mediterranean coast near Valencia (Spain) and was phylogenetically related to uncultured clones of gall symbiont bacteria of some species of Prionitis alga. Here we describe the genome sequence and annotation of this organism, the type strain of the single species of this genus. The genome comprised 2,888,349 bp, 2,872 protein-coding genes and 52 RNA genes. The annotation revealed the capacity to produce bacteriocins, vitamins and auxins. Besides, it contained sulfur cycling related genes.

Two strains of Gram-stain-negative, chemo-organotrophic, aerobic and halophilic gammaproteobacteria, isolated from within the stem and roots of Spartina maritima in salt marshes from the south Atlantic Spanish coast, were found to represent a novel species in the genus Marinomonas through phylogenetic analysis of their 16S rRNA genes and phenotypic characterization. 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two strains shared

Two new Vibrio species, Vibrio aestivus and Vibrio quintilis , are described after a polyphasic characterization of strains M22 T , M61 and M62 T , isolated from seawater collected off a beach on the East coast of Spain (Valencia). All three strains are Gram negative, mesophilic, slightly halophilic, fermentative rods. V. aestivus (M22 T = CECT 7558 T = CAIM 1861 T = KCTC 23860 T and M61 = CECT 7559 = CAIM 1862 = KCTC 23861) is oxidase positive, reduces nitrates to nitrites, is negative for Voges Proskauer, arginine dihydrolase and indole and non hydrolytic on most substrates tested. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of M22 T and M61 are most similar to Vibrio marisflavi (97.1–97.2%) but phylogenetic analysis using NJ, MP and ML methods display Vibrio stylophorae (96.2% similarity) as sibling species. The three species form a deep clade in the genus Vibrio . Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) values, determined as a measure of overall genomic resemblance, confirmed that strains M22 T and M61 are members of the same species, different to V. marisflavi CECT 7928 T . V. quintilis (M62 T = CECT 7734 T = CAIM 1863 T = KCTC 23833 T ) is aerogenic, arginine dihydrolase and Voges Proskauer positive, oxidase negative and unable to reduce nitrate, traits shared by most species in the Gazogenes clade. It is unpigmented and does not grow on TCBS Agar. 16S rRNA gene similarities to its nearest species, Vibrio aerogenes and Vibrio mangrovi , are 97.6% and 96.0% respectively. Strain M62 T and V. aerogenes CECT 7868 T display ANI values well below the 95% boundary for genomic species.

A facultatively anaerobic marine gammaproteobacterium, designated strain M46T, was isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. The strain was characterized by using a polyphasic approach and was found to be situated within the genus Photobacterium in the family Vibrionaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain M46T was closely related to P. rosenbergii CECT 7644T, P. halotolerans CECT 5860T and P. ganghwense CECT 7641T, showing sequence similarities of 96.8, 96.4 and 96.2 %, respectively. According to the results of phylogenetic analyses based on recA and gyrB gene sequences, the most closely related taxon was P. ganghwense CECT 7641T with 87.4 and 85.0 % sequence similarity, respectively. Regardless of the gene used in phylogenetic analysis, strain M46T always formed a separate and stable clade containing these three species of the genus Photobacterium. Strain M46T was not luminescent and produced a diffusible brown pigment. It required NaCl to grow, reduced nitrate to nitrite and oxidized a small number of substrates in Biolog GN plates. Strain M46T was positive for arginine dihydrolase (ADH), β-galactosidase, aesculin hydrolysis and DNase activity. In API ZYM tests, the novel strain was positive for alkaline phosphatase, leucine arylamidase and acidic phosphatase activities. The major cellular fatty acids were unsaturated C18 and C16, as in other members of the genus Photobacterium, but their relative amounts and the presence or absence of other fatty acids differentiated strain M46T from its closest relatives. Based on the results of this polyphasic taxonomic study, strain M46T represents a novel species of the genus Photobacterium, for which the name Photobacterium aphoticum is proposed. The type strain is M46T ( = CECT 7614T = KCTC 23057T).

Vibrio2009, the third international conference on the biology of Vibrios, was held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, in November 2009. This conference united researchers studying various aspects of pathogenesis, symbiosis and environmental persistence of this diverse group of marine bacteria. Through many of the presentations, it became apparent how horizontal gene transfer and genetic flexibility has driven the incredible diversity of these microbes. Interestingly, unifying themes of behaviour could be seen in the interaction(s) of Vibrios with other organisms, such as with other bacteria, corals, invertebrates and humans. Presentations illuminated the idea that the path towards symbiosis is not that different from the path towards disease, and that alterations in environmental conditions, such as climate change, can tip the balance and change the Vibrio interactions from benign to pathogenic.

5 pages, 2 figures, 1 table, A novel heterotrophic, marine, strictly aerobic, motile bacterium was isolated from the Red Sea at a depth of 1 m. Analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence, retrieved from the whole-genome sequence, showed that this bacterium was most closely related to the genera Oleispira, Oceanobacter and Thalassolituus, each of which contains a single species, within the class Gammaproteobacteria. Phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic analyses supported the creation of a novel genus and species to accommodate this bacterium, for which the name Bermanella marisrubri gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Bermanella marisrubri is RED65T (=CECT 7074T =CCUG 52064T). © 2009 IUMS, This work was supported by the Swedish Science Council (project 621-2003-2692, to J. P.) and the Spanish Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia (project CGL-2005-02292, to M. J. P.). D. R. A. has a contract with the Universitat de València under the ‘Ramón y Cajal’ program (Ministerio de Educación y Ciencia, Spain)

Nautella italica is a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae described in 2009. Strain LMG 24365(T) (=CECT 7645(T), =DSM 26436(T), =CCUG 55857(T)) was isolated from a marine electroactive biofilm growing in a stainless steel cathode exposed to natural water in Genoa, Italy. Strain AD 41 (=CECT 7321) was isolated from water surrounding cultivated gilthead seabream larvae in Cadiz, Spain. The genomes of strains CECT 7645(T) and CECT 7321 were sequenced, assembled, annotated and compared. Here we describe the most relevant findings: biofilm formation, quorum sensing, resistance to multiple drugs, heavy metals and oxidative stress, cytotoxins, and poly-β-hydroxybutyrate (PHB) production genes. These genomes were also compared to current available genomes in NCBI Genome Database from members of the genus Nautella, Nautella sp. R11 and Nautella sp. ECSMB14104. The comparison showed a higher similarity between strains CECT 7645(T) and R11 compared to strain CECT 7321 and strain ECSMB14104. The genome similarity indexes allowed confirming and assigning strains CECT 7321, R11 and ECSMB14104 to the species N. italica.

A Multilocus Sequence Analysis (MLSA) was performed on members of the Scophthalmi clade in the genus Vibrio, including type and reference strains of the species V. scophthalmi, V. ichthyoenteri, and 39 strains phenotypically identified as Vibrio ichthyoenteri-like, with the aim of better defining boundaries between these two closely related, fish-associated species. The type strain of V. ponticus, recently added to the clade Scophthalmi, was also included. The study was based on partial sequences of the protein-coding housekeeping genes rpoD, mreB, recA, ftsZ, and gyrB, and the 16S rRNA. While the 16S rRNA gene-based trees were unable to pull apart members of V. scophthalmi or V. ichthyoenteri, both the other individual gene trees and the trees obtained from the five-genes concatenated sequences were able to consistently differentiate four subclades within the main clade, corresponding to the bona fide V. scophthalmi, V. ichthyoenteri, and two small ones that may represent a new species each. The best genes to differentiate V. scophthalmi from V. ichthyoenteri were rpoD, recA, and mreB. Vibrio ponticus failed to associate to the clade in the MLSA and in most single gene trees for which it should not be considered part of it. In this study we also confirm using genomic indexes that V. ichthyoenteri and V. scophthalmi are two separate species.

A Gram-negative, slightly halophilic, non-pigmented, strictly aerobic, chemo-organotrophic bacterium was isolated from sea water off the western Mediterranean coast near Valencia (Spain). This strain was able to grow on several organic acids and amino acids added to a minimal medium as carbon sources, but used few carbohydrates or yielded slight growth when sugars were used. Phylogenetic analysis based on an almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain XSM19T was a member of the Roseobacter group within the ‘Alphaproteobacteria’, with its closest phylogenetic neighbour being Ruegeria gelatinovorans (97·6 % sequence similarity). Following a polyphasic approach, it was concluded that strain XSM19T represents a new genus and novel species, for which the name Thalassobius mediterraneus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is XSM19T (=CECT 5383T=CIP 108400T=CCUG 49438T). It is also proposed that R. gelatinovorans ( Ruger & Hofle 1992 ) Uchino et al. 1999 is reclassified as Thalassobius gelatinovorus comb. nov.

Three bacterial strains isolated from oysters recovered at the Spanish Mediterranean coast have been phenotypically and genetically characterized. The results of the phylogenetic analysis based on almost complete 16S rDNA sequences clustered all three strains together with 99.9% average sequence similarity and situated them in the neighbourhood of the genera Stappia , Roseibium and Pannonibacter , Stappia aggregata being their closest neighbour with sequence similarities between 98.8% and 98.9%. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments using DNA of strains 5OM6 T and S. aggregata CECT 4269 T as reference DNAs confirmed the independent status at species level of the oyster isolates. Phenotypically, they can be distinguished from the closest relatives by the ionic requirements, growth temperatures and use of carbon compounds. We propose these oyster strains constitute a new species of Stappia , for which the name Stappia alba sp. nov. has been chosen, and strain 5OM6 T (=CECT 5095 T =CIP 108402 T ) as its type strain.

The type strains of Jannaschia cystaugens (LMG 22015T) and Thalassobacter stenotrophicus (CECT 5294T) were analysed by means of genomic DNA–DNA hybridization, comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences and phenotypic properties determined under the same methodological conditions. J. cystaugens LMG 22015T showed DNA–DNA relatedness levels of 72 % when hybridized with the genomic DNA of T. stenotrophicus CECT 5294T. Sequence comparisons revealed that the 16S rRNA genes of the two strains had a similarity of 99·8 %. The cellular fatty acid and polar lipid compositions of the two strains and their DNA mol% G+C contents were almost identical. Bacteriochlorophyll a (Bchl a) and polyhydroxybutyrate were produced by both strains under the same culture conditions. Their closest phylogenetic neighbours were Jannaschia helgolandensis and Jannaschia rubra; however, the low sequence similarity values (95·7–95·9 %) and several important differences in phenotypic traits (ionic requirements, Bchl a production and polar lipids) support the distinction between the genera Thalassobacter and Jannaschia. Thus, we propose the unification of J. cystaugens (LMG 22015T) and T. stenotrophicus (CECT 5294T) as Thalassobacter stenotrophicus (type strain, CECT 5294T=DSM 16310T). An emended description of the genus Thalassobacter is also presented.

The possible influence of the feeding regime (FR) on the immune system and pathological status of gilthead sea bream was studied. Two growth trials were performed starting at different seasons (trial 1 = March; trial 2 = June) under controlled experimental conditions. In both trials, FR-1 groups received a restricted amount of food, whereas FR-2 groups were fed to visual satiety. The pathology study included parasitological and bacteriological examination, and the immunological traits analysed were respiratory burst activity of head kidney leucocytes, serum lysozyme and alternative pathway complement activity (ACH50). The immunological status of gilthead sea bream not only was not impaired by the restricted feeding regime, but also seemed to be enhanced in some aspects, as the respiratory burst of FR-1 fish of trial 2 was significantly higher. No differences in the bacterial isolates were detected between the two feeding regimes, and Vibrio harveyi was the most prevalent species in both cases, especially in warm months. Also, fish under FR-1 regimes had significantly lower mortality, lower prevalence of infection of all the parasites except Cryptosporidium molnari, and less histopathological alterations in liver and intestine than those under FR-2 regimes. © 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved., This work was supported by research grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte under FEDER Program no. 1FD97-979-C02. M. Mingarro was recipient of a fellowship from the Diputación de Castellón. We are thankful to M.L. Alonso, M.A. González and G. Sanza for technical assistance in the samplings, and to J. Montfort for the histological processing.

Two strains of a novel bacterium were isolated independently of each other, from different depths in the Mediterranean Sea, within a time period of 7 months, using two different isolation approaches that were focused on different objectives. Both strains, designated ISO1 and ISO4T, were halophilic, Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, straight rods that were oxidase- and catalase-positive. Both strains produced mucoid colonies in some defined minimal media and were able to grow with organic acids and some alkanes; they were also able to accumulate intracellular poly-beta-hydroxybutyrate granules. The G + C content of the DNA of strain ISO4T was 66 mol%. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the closest described species to the novel strains were Alcanivorax borkumensis and Fundibacter jadensis, both of the gamma-Proteobacteria. Both of these recognized species were originally isolated from North Sea waters and are able to degrade aliphatic compounds, a property shared with strains ISO1 and ISO4T. However, strains ISO1 and ISO4T were different from A. borkumensis and F. jadensis, not only in their 16S rDNA sequences but also in the motility of their cells (by polar flagella) and by the presence of C19:Ocyclo in their cellular fatty acids, among other differential features. On the basis of biochemical and molecular data, it is suggested that strains ISO1 and ISO4T be recognized as a novel species of the genus Alcanivorax, for which the name Alcanivorax venustensis (ISO4T =DSM 13974T =CECT 5388T) is proposed. On the basis of its high phenotypic similarity and close phylogenetic relatedness to A. borkumensis, it is also proposed that F. jadensis (DSM 12178T) be reclassified as Alcanivorax jadensis in the genus Alcanivorax, and that the description of the genus Alcanivorax be emended.

Vibrio harveyi was isolated from internal organs or ulcers of diseased and apparently healthy gilthead sea bream (Sparus aurata) and European sea bass (Dicentrarchus labrax) cultured in several fish farms located on the Spanish Mediterranean coast. The prevalence of the bacterium was significantly higher in European sea bass than in gilthead sea bream, and was closely related to the season in both fish species, occurring almost exclusively on warm months (June to November). After phenotypic characterization, a selection of forty five isolates from gilthead sea bream, sea bass, and several isolates previously obtained from common dentex (Dentex dentex) of the same area, were molecularly typed by automated ribotyping and random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. Cluster analysis of data established 8 RAPD types and 13 ribotypes among wild isolates, and the combination of both techniques allowed to define fourteen different groups and a clear discrimination of all outbreaks and samplings. Several strains isolated from diseased gilthead sea bream and sea bass and also from asymptomatic sea bream, were tested for virulence in both fish species by intracoelomic injection. All the isolates (11) were pathogenic for sea bass, with nine out of the eleven LD50 values ranging from 1.5 × 105 to 1.6 × 106 cfu/fish. Gilthead sea bream was unaffected by the seven tested strains, even by those more virulent for sea bass, and only one strain caused a 10% mortality at 4.2 × 107 cfu/fish. This is the first report on virulence of V. harveyi for sea bass., This work was supported by research grants from the Spanish Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte MAR-98/1000 C02 and FEDER Program 1FD97-979-C02. We are thankful to M.L. Alonso for technical assistance in the samplings.

A novel bacterium from the Mediterranean Sea was isolated under oligotrophic conditions at in situ temperature after prolonged continuous culture. The isolates were initially characterized by partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Similarity searches of one of the isolates, QMT2T, indicated high sequence identity to the well-characterized Rhodospirillum rubrum, [Aquaspirillum] itersonii and [Oceanospirillum] pusillum micro-organisms, which are representatives of the alpha-subclass of the Proteobacteria. The highest level of similarity of the complete 165 rRNA gene with respect to these microorganisms was 89%. Features such as the low similarities of 165 rRNA of QMT2T with its phylogenetically close neighbours, the distinct G+C content, and the differences in phenotypic features, including pigmentation, fatty acid composition, salt tolerance, the lack of bacteriochlorophyll a, and the capacity to use carbohydrates as carbon sources, are indicative of the novel nature of the isolate QMT2T among the alpha-Proteobacteria. This report describes the classification of strain QMT2T (= DSM 14000T = CECT 5390T) as a new genus and species, Thalassospira lucentensis gen. nov, sp. nov., in the family Rhodospirillaceae.

A bacteriological and parasitological study on cultured common dentex, Dentex dentex L., was conducted in a 2-year survey. Two different groups of fish were studied: (1) sampled only when mortalities occurred; and (2) sampled periodi-cally from 10days post-hatch until the juvenile stage. In both groups, peaks of mortalities coincided with high water temperatures. The same parasites were detected in both groups, except Ichthyophonus sp., which was identified only in the trunk kidney of fish from group 1. Two myxosporeans, Ceratomyxa sp. and Lepthotheca sp., were found in the bile and the trunk kidney, respectively. Epitheliocystis infection was also very frequent in the gills. An unidentified microsporidium, which was found in the liver, occurred very infrequently. Vibrio harveyi was dominant in samples from diseased animals (79%) and clearly associated with mortalities. It was not detected in water or larval homogenates. A high percentage (60%) of the isolates of this species were sorbitol positive. Other less frequently occurring bacteria were V. alginolyticus and Photobacterium (V.) damselae. The disease conditions found in common dentex were considered to be multifactorial in origin.

Strain R46 (CECT 7668; KCTC 23349), a nomenclatural type of Actibacterium mucosum , was isolated from surface seawater collected at Malvarrosa Beach (Valencia, Spain) in July 2008. The draft genome sequence of strain R46 (approximately 3.72 Mbp) contains 22 scaffolds and 3,619 protein-encoding genes, with a G+C content of 60.8 mol%.

The family Rhodobacteraceae can be considered a paradigm of modern taxonomy of prokaryotes. Taking into account the number of species and genera that conforms the family, together with the knowledge about their abundance and vast global distribution, it surprises that most of them have been described relatively recent to our days. Two notable exceptions are Rhodonostoc capsulatum (Molisch, Die purpurbakterien nach neuen untersuchungen, vols i–vii. G. Fischer, Jena, pp 1–95, 1907) and Micrococcus denitrificans Beijerinck and Minkman (Zentbl Bakteriol, Parasitenkd, Infektionskr Hyg. Abt II 25:30–63, 1910), early basonyms of Rhodobacter capsulatus and Paracoccus denitrificans, respectively. The fact that so many descriptions within this family are recent means that some studies have been concomitant and pose a challenge not only for pure taxonomic studies but also for interpreting other studies in which a rapidly evolving nomenclature had to be used anyway. The metabolic and ecological diversity of the group adds further complexity. In spite of all these difficulties, the picture is far from being a chaos and it can be considered an exciting and important bacterial group to study. Rhodobacteraceae are, fundamentally, aquatic bacteria that frequently thrive in marine environments. They comprise mainly aerobic photo- and chemoheterotrophs but also purple non-sulfur bacteria which perform photosynthesis in anaerobic environments. They are deeply involved in sulfur and carbon biogeochemical cycling and symbiosis with aquatic micro- and macroorganisms. One hundred genera are currently recognized as members of the family although the Stappia group, Ahrensia, Agaricicola, and Rhodothalassium do not belong, phylogenetically, to the family. The 90 other genera are distributed in 5 phylogenetic groups (the Rhodobacter, the Paracoccus, the Rhodovulum, the Amaricoccus, and the Roseobacter clades) that might be considered a family on its own.

The intraspecific variability of Vibrio splendidus, V. harveyi and V. tubiashii recovered from oysters (Ostrea edulis) collected at the Mediterranean coast near Valencia, Spain, was analyzed by ribotyping. The two former species represented the most abundant ones, and the third one was the only species described as pathogenic for oysters. A total of 115 environmental strains were studied, 84 of V. splendidus, 23 of V. harveyi and 8 of V. tubiashii. Chromosomal DNA was digested with KpnI and hybridized with an oligonucleotide probe complementary to a highly conserved sequence in the 23S rRNA gene. Ribotyping among natural populations of the three species rendered 5 to 9 bands, and showed a high genetic diversity, with a ratio no. of strains/no. of ribotypes between 1.1 and 1.5. Cluster analysis of V. splendidus ribotypes suggests a seasonal pattern of incidence, with those ribotypes corresponding to winter and spring samples being maintained in the oysters over the year.

Four strains (M15∅_3, M17(T), M49 and R37(T)) were isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. Together with an older preserved isolate (strain 2OM6) from cultured oysters at Vinaroz, Castellón, Spain, the strains were thoroughly characterized in a polyphasic study and were placed phylogenetically within the Roseobacter clade in the family Rhodobacteraceae. Highest 16S rRNA sequence similarities of the five strains to the types of any established species corresponded to Tropicibacter multivorans (95.8-96.4%), Phaeobacter inhibens (95.9-96.3%) and Phaeobacter gallaeciensis (95.9-96.2%). On the other hand, whole genome (ANI) and protein fingerprinting (MALDI-TOF) data proved: (i) non clonality among the strains, and (ii) the existence of two genospecies, one consisting of strains M15∅_3, M17(T), M49 and 2OM6 and another one consisting of strain R37(T). Phenotypic traits determined allow differentiating both genospecies from each other and from closely related taxa. In view of all data collected we propose to accommodate these isolates in two species as members of the genus Tropicibacter, Tropicibacter mediterraneus sp. nov. (type strain M17(T)=CECT 7615(T)=KCTC 23058(T)) and Tropicibacter litoreus sp. nov. (type strain R37(T)=CECT 7639(T)=KCTC 23353(T)).

A facultatively anaerobe, moderately halophilic, Gram-negative, filamentous, non motile and unpigmented bacterium, designated M30 T , was isolated from coastal Mediterranean Sea water in Valencia, Spain. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA sequences placed this strain in the phylum “ Bacteroidetes ” with Marinifilum fragile JC2469 T as its closest relative with 97% sequence similarity. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between both strains were far below the 95% threshold value for species delineation (about 89% using BLAST and about 90% using MUMmer). A comprehensive polyphasic study, including morphological, biochemical, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, confirmed the independent species status of strain M30 T within the genus Marinifilum , for which the name Marinifilum flexuosum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Marinifilum flexuosum is M30 T (=CECT 7448 T = DSM 21950 T ).

Strain MD5T, an aerobic marine alphaproteobacterium, was isolated from Mediterranean seawater at Malvarrosa beach, Valencia, Spain. The strain was characterized in a polyphasic study and was placed phylogenetically within the Roseobacter clade in the family Rhodobacteraceae . Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain MD5T is related to Tropicibacter naphthalenivorans C02T, Phaeobacter inhibens T5T, P. gallaeciensis BS107T and P. daeponensis TF-218T, with 96.9, 96.2, 96.1 and 96.1 % sequence similarity, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses also showed that strain MD5T forms a stable clade only with T. naphthalenivorans C02T. Strain MD5T requires Na+ plus a divalent cation (either Mg2+ or Ca2+) to grow, does not reduce nitrate to nitrite and uses a large number of carbohydrates as sole carbon sources. It is positive for β-galactosidase and urease activities and aesculin hydrolysis. Enzyme activities displayed in the API ZYM strip were alkaline phosphatase, leucine arylamidase, acid phosphatase and α-glucosidase. Major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c; 70.9 %) and C16 : 0 (8.2 %). The results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed clear phenotypic differentiation of this isolate from the only described species of the genus Tropicibacter . It is evident from the genotypic and phenotypic data obtained that the strain should be classified in a novel species in the genus Tropicibacter . The name Tropicibacter multivorans sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain MD5T ( = CECT 7557T = KCTC 23350T).

Strain 7SM30T , an aerobic marine, Gram-negative, heterotrophic and yellow- to orange-pigmented bacterium isolated from seawater from Castellón, Spain, was characterized using a polyphasic approach. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the isolate represented a novel lineage within the family Flavobacteriaceae. The most closely related genera were Pseudozobellia, Zobellia and Kriegella. Cells of strain 7SM30T were non-motile rods that required sea salts for growth, used a wide variety of carbohydrates as sole carbon and energy sources and, unlike species of the genera Pseudozobellia and Zobellia, did not possess flexirubin-type pigment or hydrolyse agar. Strain 7SM30T contained MK6 as the sole respiratory quinone. Phosphatidylethanolamine (PE) was the only identifiable polar lipid, although other lipids were also detected. The predominant cellular fatty acids were saturated C15 and monounsaturated C15. The DNA G+C content was around 40 mol%. On the basis of extensive phenotypic and phylogenetic comparative analysis, it is concluded that the new strain represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Euzebyella saccharophila gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of the type species is 7SM30T (=CECT 7477T=KCTC 22655T).

Summary Vibrio mediterranei was characterized phenotypically and genotypically to determine both intraspecific and interspecific relationships. Phenotypic characterization (ninety-seven tests) of forty-six V. mediterranei strains yielded additional information for improving the species description. Unweighted pair group analysis, using arithmetic averages and the Jaccard similarity coefficient for analysis of phenotypic data for the V. mediterranei strains and twenty-two Vibrio reference strains was done. The phenon recovered by numerical taxonomy analysis was confirmed as a separate species by DNA/DNA hybridization. Guanine plus cytosine content was determined to be 42–45 mol% G + C. Analysis of 5S ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) sequences substantiated the assignment of V. mediterranei to the family Vibrionaceae and indicated a close phylogenetic relationship to V. pelagius and V. tubiashii.