Sphingobacterium soli sp nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-negative, strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming bacterial strain, designated YIM X0211(T), was isolated from a soil sample of Shiling County, Yunnan Province, south-west China. The new isolate was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. The strain grew optimally at 30 degrees C, at pH 7.0 and with 0-3% (w/v) NaCl. It was positive for catalase and oxidase but negative for H2S production. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain YIM X0211(T) fell within the cluster comprising Sphingobacterium species and clustered with Sphingobacterium mizutaii DSM 11724(T) (97.93% similarity). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 41.2 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-7. The major fatty acids were iso-C-15:0 2-OH, iso-C-17:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C-16:1 omega 7c/C-16 (:1)omega 6c). The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, sphingolipid, and several unknown phospholipids or lipids. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between strain YIM X0211(T) and S. mizutaii DSM 11724(T) was 42.3 +/- 0.4 %, which is below the 70% limit for species delineation. These chemotaxonomic data supported the affiliation of strain YIM X0211(T) to the genus Sphingobacterium. Based on the recorded phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, it is determined that the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Sphingobacterium, for which the name Sphingobacterium soli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM X0211(T) (= KCTC 42696(T) =CGMCC 1.15966(T)).