Relatedness Values Research Articles

Young university students’ cultural values, filial obligation norms, and ageism toward older people

AbstractThe present study examined Turkish young university students’ cultural values and filial obligation norms in association with their ageism toward older people. Participants (N = 369) completed scales measuring relatedness and autonomy values, filial obligation norms, prescriptive intergenerational‐tension ageism, ambivalent ageism, warmth and competence stereotypes toward older people, and frequency of intergenerational contact. Multiple hierarchical regression analyses showed that relatedness values were negatively associated with succession prejudice; and positively associated with benevolent ageism and competence and warmth stereotypes. Relatively authoritarian filial obligation norms were further negatively associated with consumption prejudice, and positively associated with benevolent ageism and competence and warmth stereotypes. Finally, mediation analyses showed that relatively authoritarian and emotional filial obligation norms explained the indirect association between the variables, the former for benevolent ageism and competence and warmth stereotypes; the latter for warmth stereotypes and frequency of intergenerational contact. The present study suggests that young people's relatively traditional cultural values and hierarchical familial norms play a role in their positive prejudice and stereotypes whereas relationship‐oriented cultural values and emotional familial norms play a role in their warmth stereotypes and frequency of intergenerational contact. The findings help us understand how different contents and components of ageism toward older people are linked with young people's cultural values and familial norms.

From phylogenomics to breeding: Can universal target capture probes be used in the development of SNP markers for kinship analysis?

AbstractPremiseLeveraging DNA markers, particularly single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), in parentage analysis, sib‐ship reconstruction, and genomic relatedness analysis can enhance plant breeding efficiency. However, the limited availability of genomic information, confined to the most commonly used species, hinders the broader application of SNPs in species of lower economic interest (e.g., most tree species). We explored the possibility of using universal target capture probes, namely Angiosperms353, to identify SNPs and assess their effectiveness in genomic relatedness analysis.MethodsWe tested the approach in 11 tree species, six of which had a half‐sib family structure. Variants were called within species, and genomic relatedness analysis was conducted in species with two or more families. Scalability via amplicon sequencing was tested by designing primers and testing them in silico.ResultsAdequate SNPs for relatedness analysis were identified in all species. Relatedness values from Angiosperms353‐based SNPs highly correlated with those from thousands of genome‐wide DArTseq SNPs in Cordia africana, one of the species with a family structure. The in silico performance of designed primers demonstrated the potential for scaling up via amplicon sequencing.DiscussionUtilizing universal target capture probes for SNP identification can help overcome the limitations of genomic information availability, thereby enhancing the application of genomic markers in breeding plant species with lower economic interest.

From inbreeding to social behaviour: exploring female-biased sex allocation in the silk wasp Microstigmus rosae

In the Hymenoptera, female-biased sex ratios are often attributed to Local Mate Competition (LMC), which occurs when related males compete for access to the same mates, reducing fitness returns for male offspring relative to females. In social species, advantageous interactions between cooperating females can also promote female bias via Local Resource Enhancement (LRE). Despite recent theory suggesting potential interactions between these phenomena, studies of LMC in social species remain scarce. This study investigates female-biased sex ratio adjustment in the silk wasp Microstigmus rosae, a species exhibiting both incipient sociality and likely localised mating. Our analyses reveal several genetic indicators of local mating, including heterozygote deficiency and high inbreeding coefficients. Moreover, pairwise relatedness values between mothers and their inferred mates indicate that 35% of mating pairs were siblings or parent-offspring. In further support of the role of LMC, we find that our observed sex investment ratio of 0.35 is statistically equivalent to the theoretically expected evolutionary stable sex ratio, as predicted by partial LMC. We also find a clearly defined male-first sequential sex allocation strategy (M-F-F), a pattern typically attributed to extreme LMC. In contrast, we find no perceivable effect of cooperative behaviour (LRE) on the brood sex ratio. This rare demonstration of inbreeding and LMC in a social aculeate hymenopteran highlights the potential role of these factors in driving the evolution of social group formation in this species.

What can heroes and villains teach young audiences? A research brief investigating the values emphasized in family-rated Walt Disney films

ABSTRACT Due to the popularity of Walt Disney Studio films and characters, and the fact that young audiences often emulate their favorite Disney characters’ actions, an understanding of the values depicted by Disney’s popular heroes and villains is warranted. Guided by the model of intuitive motivation and exemplars, and extending previous work investigating broader altruism and egoism in Disney films, we content-analyzed the population of N = 442 family-rated (i.e. G- and PG-rated) Walt Disney Studio film synopses to extract the specific values depicted by films’ heroes and villains and examined the extent to which values depicted as socially desirable were predictive of audience reception (i.e. IMDb.com ratings and votes). Results from this research brief revealed that (1) heroes were more likely to violate personal safety considerations in pursuit of upholding care, loyalty, competence, autonomy, and relatedness, (2) villains were more likely to violate care and fairness in pursuit of power goals, and (3) films emphasizing the desirability of care, loyalty, and relatedness values were more popular with audiences via IMDb votes. Implications of these results are discussed.

Persistence of social structuring in an arid zone mammal following reintroduction

Animal social relationships affect animal survival, reproduction, and resource exploitation, and are important to translocation success, but little is known on how they are impacted in reintroduced populations. Here, we investigate the social genetic structure in a reintroduced population of boodies (Bettongia lesueur), one of few social burrowing marsupial species in Australia. Pairwise relatedness of male and female individuals located within seven warrens was determined using 12 microsatellite markers, while mitochondrial DNA was used to identify maternal ancestral lineage. Females were significantly more related within warrens than between warrens, while the difference among males was not significant. We also found evidence of fine-scale genetic structure up to distances of 2 km in females consistent with patterns found in natural populations. Although mean relatedness values were low, our results support the hypothesis that boodies exhibit a female social structure. Multiple maternal lineages were present within all warrens with one exception, suggesting boodies appear to be non-selective when living with individuals from different ancestral backgrounds. We found a significant positive relationship between female sex bias and the number of active entrances in each warren. Together, these results suggest that social structuring should be a key consideration in future reintroductions of boodies.

Genome-Based Classification of Pedobacter albus sp. nov. and Pedobacter flavus sp. nov. Isolated from Soil

Two rod-shaped, non-spore-forming, Gram-negative bacteria, strain KR3-3T isolated from fresh soil in Korea and strain VNH31T obtained from soil samples from motorbike repair workshop floors in Vietnam, were identified. Phylogenetic analysis utilizing 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed their affiliation with the family Sphingobacteriaceae and their relation to the genus Pedobacter, exhibiting 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities lower than 98.00% with all known species within the genus Pedobacter. Growth of VNH31T and KR3-3T was impeded by NaCl concentrations exceeding >0.5% and 1.5%, respectively, while they both thrived optimally at temperatures ranging between 25 and 30 °C. Notably, neither strain reduced nitrate to nitrite nor produced indole. Negative results were observed for the acidification of D-glucose and hydrolysis of urea, gelatin, casein, and starch. VNH31T exhibited growth on β-galactosidase, sodium acetate, L-serine, and L-proline, whereas KR 3-3T demonstrated growth on D-glucose, D-mannose, D-maltose, N-acetyl-glucosamine, sucrose, sodium acetate, L-serine, 4-Hydroxybenzoic acid, and L-proline. Core genome-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two isolates formed distinct clusters within the genus Pedobacter. The DNA G+C contents of KR3-3T and VNH31T were determined to be 44.12 mol% and 32.96 mol%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values (67.19–74.19% and 17.6–23.6%, respectively) between the Pedobacter isolates and the closely related type strains fell below the threshold values utilized for species delineation. Following comprehensive genomic, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, and phylogenetic analyses, the isolated strains are proposed as two novel species within the genus Pedobacter, named Pedobacter albus sp. nov. (type strain KR3-3T = KACC 23486T = NBRC 116682T) and Pedobacter flavus sp. nov. (type strain VNH31T = KACC 23297T = CCTCC AB 2023109T).

Sinomonas terricola sp. nov., a plant-beneficial bacterium isolated from litchi rhizosphere soil in Guangdong, China.

A novel plant-beneficial bacterium strain, designated as JGH33T, which inhibited Peronophythora litchii sporangia germination, was isolated on Reasoner's 2A medium from a litchi rhizosphere soil sample collected in Gaozhou City, Guangdong Province, PR China. Cells of strain JGH33T were Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-motile, bent rods. The strain grew optimally at 30-37 °C and pH 6.0-8.0. Sequence similarity analysis based on 16S rRNA genes indicated that strain JGH33T exhibited highest sequence similarity to Sinomonas albida LC13T (99.2 %). The genomic DNA G+C content of the isolate was 69.1 mol%. The genome of JGH33T was 4.7 Mbp in size with the average nucleotide identity value of 83.45 % to the most related reference strains, which is lower than the species delineation threshold of 95 %. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization of the isolate resulted in a relatedness value of 24.9 % with its closest neighbour. The predominant respiratory quinone of JGH33T was MK-9(H2). The major fatty acids were C15 : 0 anteiso (43.4 %), C16 : 0 iso (19.1 %) and C17 : 0 anteiso (19.3 %), and the featured component was C18 : 3 ω6c (1.01 %). The polar lipid composition of strain JGH33T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, dimannosylglyceride, phosphatidylinositol and glycolipids. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomy analyses data, strain JGH33T represents a novel species of the genus Sinomonas, for which the name Sinomonas terricola sp. nov. is proposed, with JGH33T (=JCM 35868T=GDMCC 1.3730T) as the type strain.

Ciceribacter sichuanensis sp. nov., a plant growth promoting rhizobacterium isolated from root nodules of soybean in Sichuan, China.

The fast-growing rhizobia-like strains S101T and S153, isolated from root nodules of soybean (Glycine max) in Sichuan, People's Republic of China, underwent characterization using a polyphasic taxonomy approach. The strains exhibited growth at 20-40°C (optimum, 28°C), pH 4.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and up to 2.0% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.01%) on Yeast Mannitol Agar plates. The 16S rRNA gene of strain S101T showed 98.4% sequence similarity to the closest type strain, Ciceribacter daejeonense L61T. Major cellular fatty acids in strain S101T included summed feature 8 (C18:1ω7c and/or C18:1ω6c) and C19:0 cyclo ω8c. The predominant quinone was ubiquinone-10. The polar lipids of strain S101T included diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylmethyl ethanolamine, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, amino phospholipid, unidentified phosphoglycolipid and unidentified amino-containing lipids. The DNA G + C contents of S101T and S153 were 61.1 and 61.3mol%, respectively. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness and average nucleotide identity values between S101T and C. daejeonense L61T were 46.2% and 91.4-92.2%, respectively. In addition, strain S101T promoted the growth of soybean and carried nitrogen fixation genes in its genome, hinting at potential applications in sustainable agriculture. We propose that strains S101T and S153 represent a novel species, named Ciceribacter sichuanensis sp. nov., with strain S101T as the type strain (= CGMCC 1.61309T = JCM 35649T).

Pedigree analysis in the mhorr gazelle (Nanger dama mhorr): Genetic variability evolution of the captive population.

Breeding programs have an essential role in the recovery of threatened populations through optimal genetic management and mating strategies. The dama gazelle (Nanger dama) is a North African ungulate listed as critically endangered. The mhorr subspecies is extinct in the wild and currently survives thanks to the creation in 1971 of an ex situ breeding program. The aim of the present study was to assess the evolution of genetic variability in this mhorr gazelle captive population, as well as the mating strategy used in two reference populations studied (Almeria and Europe). The entire pedigree, with 2739 animals, was analyzed to measure demographic characters, pedigree completeness level, probability of gene origin, level of relatedness and genetic structure of the population. The population size has been progressively increasing, with up to 264 individuals alive in Europe at the time of the study. The average number of equivalent complete generations was 5.55. The effective number of founders and ancestors was both 3, and the founder genome equivalent was 1.99. The genetic contributions of the four main ancestors were unbalanced. The average values of inbreeding and average relatedness for the whole pedigree were, respectively, 28.34% and 50.14%. The effective population size was 8.7 by individual increase in inbreeding and 9.8 by individual increase in coancestry. F-statistics evidenced a very small level of population subdivision (F ST = 0.033370). The mating strategy used, based on the minimum coancestry of the individuals, has minimized the losses of genetic variability and helped to balance the genetic contributions between ancestors. The strategy also avoided large subdivisions within the population and the appearance of new bottlenecks. This study shows how pedigree analysis can both be used to determine the genetic variability of the population and to assess the influence of the mating strategy used in the breeding program on such variability.

Parendozoicomonas callyspongiae sp. nov. Isolated from a Marine Sponge, Callyspongia elongate, and Reclassification of Sansalvadorimonas verongulae as Parendozoicomonas verongulae comb. nov.

A strictly aerobic Gram-negative bacterium, designated 2012CJ34-2T, was isolated from marine sponge to Chuja-do in Jeju-island, Republic of Korea and taxonomically characterized. Cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive, and non-motile rods (without flagella). Growth was observed at 15-42°C (optimum, 30°C), pH 6-9 (optimum, pH 7), and in the presence of 0.5-10% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 2-3%). The major cellular fatty acid and respiratory quinones were identified summed feature 3 (C16:1 ω7c/C16:1 ω6c), and Q-8 and Q-9, respectively. The polar lipids comprised diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified aminophospholipid, two unidentified phospholipids, and three unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content was 48.0mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequences showed that strain 2012CJ34-2T formed a clade with Parendozoicomonas haliclonae S-B4-1UT and Sansalvadorimonas verongulae LMG 29871T within the family Endozoicomodaceae. Genome relatedness values, including dDDH, ANI and AF, and AAI and POCP, among strain 2012CJ34-2T, P. haliclonae S-B4-1UT, and S. verongulae LMG 29871T were within the range of the bacterial genus cut-off values. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic analyses, strain 2012CJ34-2T represents a novel bacterial species of the family Endozoicomodaceae, for which the name Parendozoicomonas callyspongiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 2012CJ34-2T (= KACC 22641T = LMG 32581T). Additionally, we proposed the reclassification of Sansalvadorimonas verongulae of the family Hahellaceae as Parendozoicomonas verongulae of the family Endozoicomonadaceae.

Acidovorax benzenivorans sp. nov., a novel aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium isolated from a xylene-degrading enrichment culture.

A Gram-stain-negative strain, designated as D2M1T was isolated from xylene-degrading enrichment culture and characterized using a polyphasic approach to determine its taxonomic position. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain D2M1T belongs to the genus Acidovorax, with the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity to Acidovorax delafieldii DSM 64T (99.93 %), followed by Acidovorax radicis DSM 23535T (98.77 %) and Acidovorax kalamii MTCC 12652T (98.76 %). The draft genome sequence of strain D2M1T is 5.49 Mb long, and the G+C content of the genome is 64.2 mol%. Orthologous average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain D2M1T and its closest relatives were below the threshold values for species demarcation confirming that strain D2M1T is distinctly separated from its closest relatives. The whole genome analysis of the strain revealed a phenol degradation gene cluster, encoding a multicomponent phenol hydroxylase (mPH) together with a complete meta-cleavage pathway including an I.2.C-type catechol 2,3-dioxygenase (C23O) gene. The strain was able to degrade benzene and ethylbenzene as sole sources of carbon and energy under aerobic and microaerobic conditions. Cells were facultatively aerobic rods and motile with a single polar flagellum. The predominant fatty acids (>10 % of the total) of strain D2M1T were summed feature 3 (C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c), C16 : 0 and summed feature 8 (C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c). The major ubiquinone of strain D2M1T was Q8, while the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Based on polyphasic data, it is concluded that strain D2M1T represents a novel species of the genus Acidovorax, for which the name of Acidovorax benzenivorans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species is strain D2M1T (=DSM 115238T=NCAIM B.02679T).

Climate change perception scale: Adaptation and psychometric properties in the Indonesian context

AbstractOne of the crucial factors in changing behaviour towards pro‐environmental actions is climate change perception. The latest measurement tool for assessing this variable is the Climate Change Perception Scale (CCPS). However, CCPS has not gained widespread adoption and usage across different cultures, including Indonesia, and no analyses have been conducted to adapt and validate CCPS in the Indonesian context. Therefore, this study aimed to adapt, validate, and assess the measurement tool's consistency in Indonesia's cultural context. To investigate the instrument's psychometric properties, two studies (n = 358, 415) were conducted in Indonesia to provide evidence of the internal consistency, convergent validity, and predictive validity of CCPS. The results of a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) showed that the Indonesian version of CCPS, which consists of 15 items, with three for each dimension, accurately and reliably measured perception of climate change. CCPS also demonstrated good convergent validity, as indicated by the significant correlations with a nature relatedness (r = 0.425, p < 0.01) and biospheric value (r = 0.341, p < 0.01) construct. Furthermore, it exhibited predictive validity by predicting pro‐environmental behaviour, β = 0.243, b = 0.176, t(413) = 5.10, p < 0.01. However, the Indonesian version of CCPS still needs to be tested and confirmed through various studies, considering the poor validity of the temporal dimension and the weak factor loading of the consequence dimension in Study 2.

Acinetobacter thutiue sp. nov. Isolated from Oil-Contaminated Soil in Motorbike Repair Workshops

Two Acinetobacter isolates were found in soil samples from motorbike repair workshop floors in Vietnam. The two Acinetobacter isolates were Gram-stain-negative, coccobacilli-shaped, aerobic, non-motile, non-hemolytic, oxidase-negative, and catalase-positive. They were designated as strains VNH17T and VNK23. Their growth was inhibited by NaCl concentrations of >3%, and they grew at an optimal temperature of 20–35 °C. Acidification of D-glucose and hydrolysis of gelatin were negative. They grew on β-alanine, ethanol, L-histidine, D-malate, and L-ornithine whereas L-arginine, citrate, L-glutamate, and L-phenylalanine were not utilized. Core genome-based phylogenetic analysis revealed that the two isolated strains formed a lineage within the genus Acinetobacter in the family Moraxellaceae, the closest relative was Acinetobacter pavus (91.70–91.95%), and were grouped within a hemolytic clade with other closely-related relatives. The DNA G+C content of VNH17T and VNK23 was 42.07% and 41.75%, respectively. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization relatedness values (74.41–91.61% and 20.6–45.40%, respectively) between the Acinetobacter isolates and phylogenetically related type strains were below the threshold values used for species delineation. Based on genomic, chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, and phylogenomic analyses, the isolated strains represent novel species in the genus Acinetobacter, for which the name Acinetobacter thutiue sp. nov. (type strain VNH17T = KACC 23003T = CCTCC AB 2023063T) is proposed.

Peptoniphilus equinus sp. nov., a novel Gram-stain-positive anaerobic coccus isolated from the faeces of a thoroughbred racehorse.

A novel, anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive coccoid strain, CBA3646T, was isolated from the faeces of a thoroughbred racehorse. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing yielded results indicative of CBA3646T representing a member of the genus Peptoniphilus, with the species most closely related to it being Peptoniphilus asaccharolyticus DSM 20463T, with a similarity of 94.79 %. DNA-DNA relatedness and average nucleotide identity values between CBA3646T and P. asaccharolyticus DSM 20463T were 21.4 and 67.6 %, respectively. CBA3646T has a circular chromosomal genome of 1 709 189 bp (45.5 mol% DNA G+C content), containing 1652 genes in total, 1584 predicted protein-coding genes, 3 complete rRNA loci and 47 tRNA genes. The cells were non-motile diplococci, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Growth of CBA3646T was observed at 20-40 °C (optimal temperature, 35 °C) and in the presence of 0-4 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum concentration, 1 %). The major fatty acids (>10 %) of CBA3646T were C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and C18 : 1ω9c dimethyl acetal, with its major polar lipids being diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The elucidated phylogenetic, physiological, chemotaxonomic and molecular properties are indicative of strain CBA3646T representing a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus, or which the name Peptoniphilus equinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CBA3646T (= KACC 22890T = JCM 35845T).

Helicobacter zhangjianzhongii sp. nov., isolated from dog feces.

In 2019, two distinct bacterial isolates were independently isolated from the fecal samples of separate dogs in Beijing, China. These cells exhibit microaerobic, are Gram-negative, motile, and possess a characteristic spiral shape with bipolar single flagellum. They display positive results for the oxidase test while being negative for both catalase and urease. These organisms measure approximately 0.2-0.3μm in width and 4.5-6μm in length. The colonies are wet, flat, grey, circular, and smooth with sizes ranging from 1 to 2mm in diameter after 2days of growth. However, strains may exhibit variations in size and morphology following extended incubation. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and core genome indicated that these two isolates belong to the genus Helicobacter and formed a robust clade that was remains distinctly separate from currently recognized species. These two isolates shared low dDDH relatedness and ANI values with their closest species Helicobacter canis CCUG 32756T, with these values falling below the commonly cutoff values for strains of the same species. The genomic DNA G + C contents of strain XJK30-2 were 44.93mol%. Comparing the phenotypic and phylogenetic features between these two isolates and their closely related species, XJK30-2 represents a novel species within the genus Helicobacter, for which the name Helicobacter zhangjianzhongii sp. nov. (Type strain XJK30-2T = GDMCC 1.3695T) is proposed.

Phenotypic and Genomic Characteristics of Campylobacter gastrosuis sp. nov. Isolated from the Stomachs of Pigs in Beijing.

Campylobacter is among the four main causes of gastroenteritis worldwide. Most reported Campylobacter infections are caused by C. jejuni and C. coli. However, other emerging Campylobacter pathogens have been recognized as important pathogens in humans and animals. A novel bacterial strain, PS10T, was isolated from the gastric mucous of pigs in 2022 in Beijing, China. The cell was Gram-negative, microaerobic, motile, and negative for catalase, oxidase, and urease. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and core genome indicated that this isolate belongs to the genus Campylobacter. There were low dDDH relatedness and ANI values shared within this strain and its closest species C. mucosalis below the cut-off values generally recognized for isolates of the same species. The draft genome size of PS10T is 2,240,910 bp in length with a percentage of DNA G+C contents of 37.72%. Comparing the phenotypic and phylogenetic features among this isolate and its related organisms, strain PS10T represents a novel species within the genus Campylobacter, for which the name Campylobacter gastrosuis sp. nov. (Type strain PS10T = GDMCC 1.3686T = JCM 35849T) is proposed.

Streptomyces learnhanii sp. nov., unveiling a Mangrove-Derived Novel “Modern Actinobacteria” in Malaysia

Streptomyces learnhanii sp. nov. MUM 203JT was isolated from Malaysia mangrove soil. This Gram-positive bacterium produces pale greenish-yellow aerial and greyish-yellow substrate mycelia on ISP 2 agar. The taxonomy status of strain MUM 203JT was determined via a polyphasic approach comprising phenotypic observations, genomic and phylogenetic analyses, and chemotaxonomic analyses. The strain demonstrated typical Streptomyces features based on a series of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic evaluations. In particular, the cell wall peptidoglycan contained LL-diaminopimelic acid, and the predominant menaquinones detected include MK9(H8). Analysis of whole-cell sugars revealed the presence of glucose, ribose and mannose. The polar lipid profile of the strain comprised lipid, glycolipid, phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphoglycolipid, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids (>10.0 %) were anteiso-C15:0 (24.7 %), anteiso-C17:0 (16.4 %), iso-C16:0 (15.7 %), iso-C15:0 (11.5 %), and C16:0 (11.1 %). The closely related type strains for strain MUM 203JT, as determined by phylogenetic analysis, include Streptomyces coeruleorubidus JCM 4359T (98.8 %), Streptomyces coeruleoprunus JCM 6919T (98.5 %), Streptomyces thermocarboxydovorans NBRC 16324T (98.1 %). The DNA–DNA relatedness values between strain MUM 203JT and closely related type strains ranged from 10.7 ± 0.6 % to 23.3 ± 4.7 %. Strain MUM 203JT has a genome size of 6,446,886 bp, with DNA G + C content of 72.26 mol%. Based on the polyphasic study of strain MUM 203JT, it can be concluded that this strain represents a novel species, for which the name Streptomyces learnhanii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MUM 203JT (= NBRC 114250T = MCCC 1K04200T).

Natrinema salsiterrestre sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from a hypersaline soil.

An extremely halophilic archaeal strain, designated S1CR25-10T, was isolated from hypersaline soil sampled in the Odiel Saltmarshes Natural Area in Southwestern Spain (Huelva) and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic characterization. The cells were Gram-stain-negative, motile and their colonies were pink-pigmented. It was a strictly aerobic haloarchaeon that could grow at 25-55 °C (optimum, 37 °C), at pH 6.0-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0-8.0) and in the presence of 12-30 % (w/v) total salts (optimum, 20-25 %, w/v). The phylogenetic analysis based on the comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain S1CR25-10T belongs to the genus Natrinema, with 98.9 % similarity to Natrinema salinisoli SLN56T. In addition, the values of orthologous average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization and average amino acid identity were below the threshold limits accepted for prokaryotic species delineation, with N. salinisoli SLN56T showing the highest relatedness values (92.6 % and 48.4 %, respectively). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and a glycolipid chromatographically identical to sulfated diglycosyl diether. The DNA G+C content of the isolate was 63.8 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization and the whole genome results, strain S1CR25-10T represents a new species within the genus Natrinema, for which the name Natrinema salsiterrestre sp. nov., with type strain S1CR25-10T (=CECT 30623T=CCM 9251T), is proposed.

Nocardiopsis suaedae sp. nov. and Nocardiopsis endophytica sp. nov., two novel halophilic actinobacteria isolated from halophytes.

A polyphasic approach was used to describe two halophilic actinobacterial strains, designated LSu2-4T and RSe5-2T, which were isolated from halophytes [Suaeda maritima (L.) Dum. and Sesuvium portulacastrum (L.) L.] collected from Prachuap Khiri Khan province, Thailand. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains LSu2-4T and RSe5-2T were assigned to the genus Nocardiopsis, with Nocardiopsis chromatogenes YIM 90109T(99.2 and 99.2 % similarities, respectively) and Nocardiopsis halophila DSM 44494T(99.0 and 98.8 % similarities, respectively) being their closely related strains. Whereas the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between LSu2-4T and RSe5-2T was 99.4 %. Phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequences revealed that both strains clustered with N. chromatogenes YIM 90109T and N. halophila DSM 44494T. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) based on blast, ANI based on MUMmer and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) relatedness values between the two strains and their closest type strains were below the threshold values for identifying a novel species. Morphological characteristics and chemotaxonomic features of both strains were typical for the genus Nocardiopsis by formed well-developed substrate mycelia and aerial mycelia which fragmented into rod-shaped spores. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant menaquinones were variously hydrogenated with 10 isoprene units and contained phosphatidylcholine in their polar lipid profiles. Major fatty acids were iso-C16:0 and 10-methyl C18:0. In silico analysis predicted that the genomes of LSu2-4T and RSe5-2T contained genes associated with stress responses and biosynthetic gene clusters encoding diverse bioactive metabolites. Characterization based on chemotaxonomic, phenotypic, genotypic and phylogenetic evidence demonstrated that strains LSu2-4T and RSe5-2T represents two novel species of the genus Nocardiopsis, for which the names Nocardiopsis suaedae sp. nov. (type strain LSu2-4T=TBRC 16415T=NBRC 115855T) and Nocardiopsis endophytica sp. nov. (type strain RSe5-2T=TBRC 16416T=NBRC 115856T) are proposed.

Methylocystis iwaonis sp. nov., a type II methane-oxidizing bacterium from surface soil of a rice paddy field in Japan, and emended description of the genus Methylocystis (ex Whittenbury et al. 1970) Bowman et al. 1993.

A novel methane-oxidizing bacterial strain SS37A-ReT was isolated from surface soil of a rice paddy field in Japan. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, motile rods with single polar flagellum and type II intracytoplasmic membrane arrangement. The strain grew on methane or methanol as the sole carbon and energy source. It grew at 15–37 °C (optimum 25–30 °C), pH 6.0–9.0 (optimum 7.0–8.0) and with 0–0.1 % (w/w) NaCl (no growth at 0.5 % or above). Cells formed cysts, but not exospores. The results of sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that SS37A-ReT represented a member of the family Methylocystaceae , with the highest similarity (98.9 %) to Methylocystis parva corrig. OBBPT. Phylogenetic analysis of pmoA and mxaF genes and core genes in the genome indicated that the strain was closely related to the members of the genus Methylocystis , while the analysis of the mmoX gene indicated the close relationships with the genus Methylosinus . The values of genome relatedness between SS37A-ReT and species of the genera Methylocystis and Methylosinus were 78.6–82.5% and 21.7–24.9 % estimated by the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridisation, respectively, showing the highest values with Methylocystis echinoides LMG 27198T. The DNA G+C content was 63.2 mol% (genome). The major quinone and fatty acids were Q-8 and, C18 : 1 (C18 : 1ω8t and C18 : 1ω8c) and C18 : 2, respectively. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic features, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Methylocystis , for which the name Methylocystis iwaonis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SS37A-ReT (=JCM 34278T =NBRC 114996T=KCTC 82710T).