Branchiibius hedensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from a Japanese codling (Physiculus japonicus)

Abstract

A novel, Gram-stain-positive bacterial strain, Mer 29717T, was isolated from the branchia (gills) of a Japanese codling, Physiculus japonicus, collected from bottom waters of Suruga Bay in Shizuoka, Japan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that this strain represents a distinct lineage within the family Dermacoccaceae and was related most closely to members of the genera Demetria and Yimella. It shared highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (95.1 %) with Yimella lutea YIM 45900T. Strain Mer 29717T contained MK-8(H2) and MK-8(H4) as menaquinones, and iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, C17 : 1 cis-9, C17 : 0, C18 : 1 cis-9 and C19 : 1 cis-10 were the major cellular fatty acids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain Mer 29717T was composed of l-Lys, d-Ser, l-Ser, Gly, d-Glu and d-Ala. Polar lipids were phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and one unidentified phospholipid. Mycolic acids were not detected. The G+C content of the DNA of strain Mer 29717T was 68 mol%. On the basis of differential chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical data, strain Mer 29717T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Branchiibius hedensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Branchiibius hedensis is Mer 29717T ( = NBRC 106121T  = DSM 22951T).