Algiphilus aromaticivorans gen. nov., sp nov., an aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium isolated from a culture of the marine dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum, and proposal of Algiphilaceae fam. nov.

A strictly aerobic, halotolerant, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DG1253(T), was isolated from a laboratory culture of the marine dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (CCAP 1121/2). The strain was able to degrade two- and three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It exhibited a narrow nutritional spectrum, preferring to utilize aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds and small organic acids. Cells produced surface blebs and contained a single polar flagellum. The predominant isoprenoid quinone of strain DG1253(T) was Q-8. The fatty acid profile was dominated by C-18:1 omega 7c. The mean DNA G + C content of strain DG1253(T) was 63.6 +/- 0.25 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed this organism within the order Xanthomonadales of the class Gammaproteobacteria. Its closest relatives included representatives of the Hydrocarboniphaga-Nevskia-Sinobacter clade (<= 89.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) in the family Sinobacteraceae. On the basis of distinct phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain DG1253(T) is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the class Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Algiphilus aromaticivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species, Algiphilus aromaticivorans, is DG1253(T) (=ATCC BAA-2243(T)=DSM 24793(T)). In addition, a new family, Algiphilaceae fam. nov., is proposed to accommodate the genus Algiphilus.