Sphingobacterium micropteri sp. nov. and Sphingobacterium litopenaei sp. nov., isolated from aquaculture water

Two novel bacterial strains, designated as DN00404T and DN04309T, were isolated from aquaculture water and characterized by using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of strains DN00404T and DN04309T were Gram- stain- negative, aerobic, nonmotile, oxidase- positive and catalase- positive. Cells of DN00404T were short rod- shaped and those of DN04309T were long rodshaped. Strain DN00404T was found to grow at 15-37 degrees C (optimum, 25-30 degrees C), at pH 6.0-11.0 (optimum, pH 7.5) and in 0-2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1.0 %). Strain DN04309T was found to grow at 15-45 degrees C (optimum, 20-37 degrees C), at pH 5.5-11.0 (optimum, 7.5) and in 0-4.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences revealed that the two strains belonged to the genus Sphingobacterium and were distinct from all known species of this genus. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two strains and between each of the two strains and related type strains of this genus were well below the recognized thresholds of 95.0-96.0 % ANI and 70.0 % dDDH for species delineation. The genomic DNA G+C contents of strains DN00404T and DN04309T were 41.6 and 36.0 mol%, respectively. The respiratory quinone in both strains was identified as MK- 7, and their major fatty acids were iso- C15: 0 and summed feature 3 (C16:1 omega 6c and/or C16: 1 omega 7c), which were similar to those of other species of this genus. The two major fatty acids C16: 0 and iso- C17: 0 3- OH were also found in strain DN00404T. Based on genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, two novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium are proposed: Sphingobacterium micropteri sp. nov. with DN00404T (=GDMCC 1.1865T=KACC 21924T) as the type strain and Sphingobacterium litopenaei sp. nov. with DN04309T (=GDMCC 1.1984T=KCTC 82348T) as the type strain.

Automated summary

Two novel bacterial strains were isolated from aquaculture water and characterized, identified as Sphingobacterium species. They showed distinctive genetic and physiological characteristics, suggesting the proposal of two new species named Sphingobacterium micropteri and Sphingobacterium litopenaei.