Transfer of Hongia koreensis Lee et al. 2000 to the genus Kribbella Park et al. 1999 as Kribbella koreensis comb. nov.

The taxonomic status of Hongia koreensis was investigated by molecular systematic methods. On the basis of 16S rDNA phylogeny, H. koreensis was closely associated with Kribbella flavida and Kribbella sandramycini and formed a monophyletic clade with these species. These three taxa shared over 98% 16S rDNA sequence similarity and many chemotaxonomic properties, which strongly indicates that they belong to the same genus. DNA-DNA pairing was employed to elucidate the genomic relatedness among these taxa. H. koreensis represented a distinct genomic species that can be differentiated from members of the genus Kribbella. Physiological characteristics and phospholipid and cellular fatty acid compositions can be also used to separate H. koreensis from species of the genus Kribbella. On the basis of data presented in this and earlier studies, it is proposed that H. koreensis Lee et al. 2000 should be transferred to the genus Kribbella Park et al. 1999 as Kribbella koreensis comb. nov.