Comamonas zonglianii sp. nov., isolated from phenol-contaminated soil

A bacterial strain, designated BF-3(T), was isolated from phenol-contaminated soil and investigated using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells were Gram-reaction-negative, non-sporulating, non-motile, short rods. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BF-3T formed a monophyletic branch at the periphery of the evolutionary radiation occupied by the genus Comamonas; it showed highest sequence similarities to Comamonas aquatica LMG 2370(T) (96.8%), C. nitrativorans DSM 13191(T) (96.4%), C. odontotermitis LMG 235791 (96.4 %), C. kerstersii LMG 3475(T) (96.3 %), C. koreensis KCTC 12005(T) (96.1 %) and C. terrigena LMG 1253(T) (96.0%). The major cellular fatty acids were C-16:0, C-18:1/C-18:1 omega 7c, C-17:0 cyclo and summed feature 3 (C-16:1 omega 7c and/or iso-C-15:0 2-OH). Based on the phylogenetic analysis, DNA DNA hybridization, whole-cell fatty acid composition and biochemical characteristics, strain BF-3(T) was clearly distinct from type strains of other recognized species of the genus Comamonas and, as such, represents a novel species of the genus Comamonas, for which the name Comamonas zonglianii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BF-3(T) (=CCTCC AB 209170(T) =DSM 22523(T)).