Description of Cohnella rhizoplanae sp. nov., isolated from the root surface of soybean (Glycine max)

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic bacterium, designated strain JJ-181 T, was isolated from the root surface of soybean. Based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities, strain JJ-181 T was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella hashimotonis F6_2S_P_1T (98.85%) and C. ginsengisoli GR21-5 T (98.3%). The pairwise average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridisation values of the JJ-181 T genome assembly against publicly available Cohnella type strain genomes were below 84% and 28%, respectively. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates, the cell wall diaminoacid, the quinone system, the polar lipid profile, and the polyamine pattern supported the allocation of strain JJ-181 T to the genus Cohnella. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain JJ-181 T from its closely-related Cohnella species. Functional analysis revealed that strain JJ-181 T has different gene clusters related to swarming motility, chemotaxis ability, and endospore and biofilm formations. The gene content also suggests the ability of strain JJ-181 T to synthesise biotin and riboflavin, as well as indole-3-acetic acid, an important phytohormone for plant growth. Based on polyphasic analyses, strain JJ-181 T can be classified as a new species of the genus Cohnella, for which we propose the name Cohnella rhizoplanae sp. nov., with strain JJ-181 T (= LMG 31678 T = CIP 112018 T = CCM 9031 T = DSM 110650 T) as the type strain.

Comparative genomic analysis of Cohnella hashimotonis sp. nov. isolated from the International Space Station

A single strain from the family Paenibacillaceae was isolated from the wall behind the Waste Hygiene Compartment aboard the International Space Station (ISS) in April 2018, as part of the Microbial Tracking mission series. This strain was identified as a gram-positive, rod-shaped, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative motile bacterium in the genus Cohnella, designated as F6_2S_P_1T. The 16S sequence of the F6_2S_P_1T strain places it in a clade with C. rhizosphaerae and C. ginsengisoli, which were originally isolated from plant tissue or rhizosphere environments. The closest 16S and gyrB matches to strain F6_2S_P_1T are to C. rhizosphaerae with 98.84 and 93.99% sequence similarity, while a core single-copy gene phylogeny from all publicly available Cohnella genomes places it as more closely related to C. ginsengisoli. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values to any described Cohnella species are <89 and <22%, respectively. The major fatty acids for strain F6_2S_P_1T are anteiso-C15:0 (51.7%), iso-C16:0 (23.1%), and iso-C15:0 (10.5%), and it is able to metabolize a wide range of carbon compounds. Given the results of the ANI and dDDH analyses, this ISS strain is a novel species within the genus Cohnella for which we propose the name Cohnella hashimotonis, with the type strain F6_2S_P_1T (=NRRL B-65657T and DSMZ 115098T). Because no closely related Cohnella genomes were available, this study generated the whole-genome sequences (WGSs) of the type strains for C. rhizosphaerae and C. ginsengisoli. Phylogenetic and pangenomic analysis reveals that F6_2S_P_1T, C. rhizosphaerae, and C. ginsengisoli, along with two uncharacterized Cohnella strains, possess a shared set of 332 gene clusters which are not shared with any other WGS of Cohnella species, and form a distinct clade branching off from C. nanjingensis. Functional traits were predicted for the genomes of strain F6_2S_P_1T and other members of this clade.

Cohnella terricola sp. nov., isolated from soil

A Gram-positive, aerobic, flagellated, endospore-forming, rod-shaped strain, designated as G13^T, was isolated from soil. The results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis led to the conclusion that strain G13^T was phylogenetically related to Cohnella boryungensis BR29^T (97.5 %) and Cohnella phaseoli CECT 7287^T (96.9 %) with digital DNA-DNA hybridization values of 21.0 and 21.4 %, and distantly related to Cohnella thermotolerans CCUG 47242^T (94.8 %), type species of the genus Cohnella, at 19.0 %. The genome size of strain G13^T was 5 387 258 bp, with 51.3 mol% G+C content. The predominant fatty acids were summed feature 9 (iso-C_17 : 1  ω9c and/or C_16 : 0 10-methyl), anteiso-C_17 : 0, iso-C_17 : 0 and iso-C_15 : 0. The predominant quinone was menaquinone-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidyglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, lysylphosphatidylglycerol, three aminophospholipids, two phosphoglycolipids, three aminolipids and two unidentified lipids. Based on the data from phenotypic tests and the genotypic differences between strain G13^T and its close phylogenetic relatives, strain G13^T represents a new species belonging to the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella terricola sp. nov. (=KACC 19905^T=NBRC 113748^T) is proposed.

Cohnella pontilimi sp. nov., isolated from tidal-flat mud

A Gram-positive, aerobic, endospore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, CAU 1483 ^T, was isolated from tidal-flat mud in the Republic of Korea. It grew optimally at 30 °C, in a pH 7.0 medium with 2% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain CAU 1483 ^T formed a separate clade within Paenibacillaceae together with members of the genus Cohnella. Strain CAU 1483 ^T exhibited the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.1%) to C. candidum 18JY8-7 ^T. Whole genome of strain CAU 1483 ^T was 4.29 Mb in size with a 53.7 mol% G + C content, and included 4046 coding sequences and included 4046 coding sequences, some of which associated with stress response. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization similarity between strain CAU 1483 ^T and related members of the genus Cohnella were 71.8-74.9% and 22.6-33.9%, respectively. The major respiratory quinone present in this strain was menaquinone-7. Strain CAU 1483 ^T contained anteiso-C_15:0 and iso-C_16:0 as the major fatty acids, while its polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, three unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified lipids and an unidentified phospholipid. Peptidoglycan type was A1γ meso-Dpm. On the basis of taxonomic characterization, strain CAU 1483 ^T constitutes a novel species, for which the name Cohnella pontilimi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this novel species is CAU 1483 ^T (= KCTC 43047 ^T = NBRC 113953 ^T).

Cohnella fermenti sp. nov., isolated from a fermentation process

A novel Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, motile with peritrichous flagella, rod-shaped bacterium, designated CC-MHH1044^T, was isolated from a preserved vegetable sample. A polyphasic taxonomic approach was applied to the isolates in order to clarify its taxonomic position. Growth of the strain CC-MHH1044^T occurred at 15-50 °C (optimum, 30 °C), pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and with 0-2.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1 %, w/v). The genome of strain CC-MHH1044^T consisted of 8.5 Mb and the genomic DNA G+C content was 58.5 mol%. Comparison of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that CC-MHH1044^T belonged to the genus Cohnella and showed a close relationship with the type strains of Cohnella damuensis (96.2 %) and Cohnella panacarvi (95.9 %), and lower sequence similarity to other species. Average nucleotide identity values calculated from whole-genome sequencing data proved that CC-MHH1044^T represents a distinct Cohnella species. The dominant cellular fatty acids (>5 %) included iso-C_14 : 0(7.4 %), iso-C_15 : 0 (6.4 %), anteiso-C_15 : 0(40.3 %), C_16 : 0 (6.6 %) and iso-C_16 : 0 (27.0 %). The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified aminophospholipids, one unidentified phospholipid and glycolipid. The major polyamine was spermidine. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaqinone 7 (MK-7). Based on its distinct phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic traits, together with results of comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization analyses, we conclude that strain CC-MHH1044^T represents a novel member of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella fermenti sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-MHH1044^T (=BCRC 81147^T=JCM 32834^T).

Cohnella faecalis sp. nov., isolated from animal faeces in a karst cave

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, motile and aerobic bacterial isolate, designated strain K2E09-144^T, was obtained from animal faeces that were collected from a karst cave in Guizhou province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain K2E09-144^T represents a novel member of the genus Cohnella within the family Paenibacillaceae of the phylum Firmicutes. Strain K2E09-144^T was phylogenetically closely related to Cohnella nanjingensis D45^T (16S rRNA gene sequence similarity 97.0 %). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, iso-C16:0 and C16 : 0. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaqinone 7 (MK-7). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid, four unidentified aminophospholipids, one glycolipid and one unidentified lipid. The isomer type of diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The genome of strain K2E09-144^T comprised 6.43 Mb, and encoded 6029 genes in total. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 53.3 mol%. Based on its phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strain K2E09-144^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella faecalis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K2E09-144^T (=CGMCC 1.13587^T=NBRC 113454^T).

Cohnella kolymensis sp. nov., a novel bacillus isolated from Siberian permafrost

A facultative anaerobic, rod-shaped, endospore-forming and non-motile bacterium was isolated from permafrost sediment cores in the Kolyma lowland, Siberia, Russia. The permafrost isolate clustered with members of the genus Cohnella on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and showed the highest sequence similarity to Cohnella saccharovorans CJ22^T (96.3 %), followed by Cohnella cellulosilytica FCN3-3^T (96.0 %) and Cohnella panacarvi KCTC 13060^T (96.0 %). The chemotaxonomic characteristics (quinone system, cellular fatty acids and polar lipid profile) of strain 20.16^T were consistent with members of the genus Cohnella. The peptidoglycan diaminoacids included meso-diaminopimelic acid and a small amount of ll-diaminopimelic acid. The molar ratio and composition of major amino acids (meso-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, and glutamic acid) correspond to the peptydoglycan type A1γ. The estimated genome size of strain 20.16^T is 4.34 Mb (lower than those in other Cohnella species). The genome has a G+C content of 50.5 mol% and encodes 4843 predicted genes, of these 4740 are protein-coding ones. The results of chemotaxonomic, physiological and biochemical characterization allowed clear differentiation of strain 20.16^T from the closest Cohnella species. Based on data provided, a new species Cohnella kolymensis sp. nov. is proposed, with 20.16^T (=VKM B-2846^T=DSM 104983^T) as the type strain.

Cohnella lubricantis sp. nov., isolated from a coolant lubricant solution

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, non-endospore-forming organism, isolated from a coolant lubricant solution was studied for its taxonomic position. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain KSS-154-50T was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella formosensisCC-ALFALFA-35T (97.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), Cohnella rhizosphaerae CSE-5610T (97.1 %) and Cohnella nanjingensis D45T (97.0 %); the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other species of the genus Cohnella was <97.0 %. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates was very similar to those reported for other species of the genus Cohnella and supported the allocation to the genus Cohnella. In the fatty acid profiles, iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids were found as major compounds. The quinone system consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile contained the major lipids diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified phospholipid. The major polyamine is spermidine. The results of physiological and biochemical characterization allowed in addition a phenotypic differentiation of strain KSS-154-50T from the three most closely related species. Hence, strain KSS-154-50T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella lubricantis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KSS-154-50T (=LMG 29763T=CCM 8707T).

Cohnella collisoli sp. nov., isolated from lava forest soil

A novel bacterial strain, NKM-5T, was isolated from soil of a lava forest in Nokkome Oreum, Jeju, Republic of Korea. Cells of strain NKM-5T were Gram-stain-positive, motile, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and oxidase- and catalase-positive. Strain NKM-5T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the major fatty acids; menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the predominant isoprenoid quinone; diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid and three unidentified aminophospholipids as the polar lipids; and meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 48.3 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, showed that strain NKM-5T was most closely related to Cohnella lupini RLAHU4BT (96.9 % sequence similarity) and fell into a clade in the genus Cohnella. On the basis of phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain NKM-5T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella collisoli sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NKM-5T ( = KCTC 33634T = CECT 8805T).

Ammoniibacillus agariperforans gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic, agar-degrading bacterium isolated from compost

A thermophilic, agar-degrading bacterium, strain FAB2(T), was isolated from sewage sludge compost. According to phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain FAB2(T) belonged to the family Paenibacillaceae within the phylum Firmicutes. However, FAB2(T) was different enough at the genus level from closely related species. The percentages of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with related organisms were 90.4 % for Thermobacillus xylanilyticus, 91.8 % for Paenibacillus barengoltzii, 89.4 % for Cohnella lupini, 90.1 % for Fontibacillus aquaticus, and 89.0 % for Saccharibacillus sacchari. Morphological and physiological analyses revealed that the strain was motile, rod-shaped, Gram-stain-positive, aerobic and able to form oval endospores in swollen sporangia. Ammonium was required as a nitrogen source while nitrate, nitrite, urea and glutamate were not utilized. Catalase and oxidase activities were weakly positive and positive, respectively. The bacterium grew in the temperature range of 50-65 °C and in media with pH 7.5 to 9.0. Optimal growth occurred at 60 °C and pH 8.0-8.6. Growth was inhibited at pH≤7.0 and NaCl concentrations ≥2.5 % (w/v). In chemotaxonomic characterization, MK-7 was identified as the dominant menaquinone. Major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and C16 : 0. Dominant polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. Phosphatidylcholine was present in a moderate amount. The diamino acid in the cell wall was meso-diaminopimelic acid. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 49.5 mol% in a nucleic acid study. On the basis of genetic and phenotypic characteristics, strain FAB2(T) ( = NBRC 109510(T) = KCTC 33130(T)) showed characteristics suitable for classification as the type strain of a novel species of a new genus in the family Paenibacillaceae, for which the name Ammoniibacillus agariperforans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Cohnella nanjingensis sp. nov., an extracellular polysaccharide-producing bacterium isolated from soil

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming bacterium, strain D45T, was isolated from soil in Nanjing, China. The organism grew optimally at 30 °C, pH 7.0 and with 0 % NaCl (w/v). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate showed similarities lower than 97 % with respect to species of the genus Cohnella . The predominant respiratory quinone was MK-7, with MK-6 present as a minor component; anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 were the major fatty acids. The polar lipids of strain D45T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two aminophospholipids, four phospholipids, two glycolipids, one aminolipid and two lipids. The DNA G+C content was 59.5 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization of the isolate with two reference strains showed relatedness values of 33.4 % with Cohnella ginsengisoli DSM 18997T and 25.8 % with Cohnella thermotolerans DSM 17683T. The phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data supported the classification of strain D45T as a representative of a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which the name Cohnella nanjingensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is D45T ( = CCTCC AB 2014067T = DSM 28246T).

Cohnella rhizosphaerae sp. nov., isolated from the rhizosphere environment of Zea mays

A Gram-staining-positive, aerobic, non-endospore forming organism, isolated as a seed endophyte (colonizing the internal healthy tissue of plant seed) of sweet corn (Zea mays), strain CSE-5610T, was studied for its taxonomic allocation. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons, strain CSE-5610T was grouped into the genus Cohnella, most closely related to Cohnella ginsengisoli GR21-5T (98.1%) and 'Cohnella plantaginis' YN-83 (97.5%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to other members of the genus Cohnella was <96.6%. DNA-DNA hybridization of strain CSE-5610T with C. ginsengisoli DSM 18997T and 'C. plantaginis' DSM 25424 was 58% (reciprocal 24%) and 30% (reciprocal 27%), respectively. The fatty acid profile from whole cell hydrolysates supported the allocation of the strain to the genus Cohnella; iso- and anteiso-branched fatty acids were found as major compounds. meso-Diaminopimelic acid was identified as the cell-wall diamino acid. The quinone system consisted predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile was composed of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, two aminophospholipids, a phospholipid and minor amounts of two polar lipids. In the polyamine pattern, spermidine was the major polyamine. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 60 mol%. In addition, the results of physiological and biochemical tests also allowed phenotypic differentiation of strain CSE-5610T from the two closely related strains. Hence, CSE-5610T represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella, for which we propose the name Cohnella rhizosphaerae sp. nov., with CSE-5610T (=LMG 28080T=CIP 110695T) as the type strain.

Cohnella formosensis sp. nov., a xylanolytic bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of Medicago sativa L

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, aerobic, rod-shaped, xylanolytic bacterium designated strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) was isolated from the rhizosphere of Medicago sativa L. in Taiwan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) was affiliated to the genus Cohnella. Strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) shared 95.3 % pairwise 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strain of the type species of the genus Cohnella (Cohnella thermotolerans DSM 17683(T)) besides showing a similarity of 97.4-93.6 % with other recognized species of the genus Cohnella. The DNA-DNA hybridization value between CC-Alfalfa-35(T) and Cohnella thailandensis KCTC 22296(T) was 37.7 % ± 1.7 % (reciprocal value, 55.7 % ± 3.0 %). Predominant cellular fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The polar lipid profile constituted diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol, three unidentified phospholipids and three unidentified aminophospholipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 58.3 mol%. Strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the major diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Based on the polar lipid and fatty acid profiles, which were in line with those of C. thermotolerans DSM 17683(T), coupled with additional distinguishing genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, strain CC-Alfalfa-35(T) is proposed to represent a novel species within the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella formosensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC-Alfalfa-35(T) ( = JCM 18405(T) = BCRC 80428(T)).

Cohnella cellulosilytica sp. nov., isolated from buffalo faeces

A cellulose-degrading bacterium, strain FCN3-3T, was isolated from buffalo faeces collected in Nakhonnayok province, Thailand. The strain was characterized based on its phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. Strain FCN3-3T was a Gram-positive, aerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium. It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in cell-wall peptidoglycan. The major menaquinone was MK-7. Anteiso-C15 : 0 (52.5 %), iso-C16 : 0 (18.9 %) and C16 : 0 (9.1 %) were the predominant cellular fatty acids, and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol were the major phospholipids. The DNA G+C content was 58.0 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FCN3-3T was affiliated to the genus Cohnella and was closely related to Cohnella phaseoli GSPC1T, Cohnella luojiensis HY-22RT and Cohnella hongkongensis HKU3T, with 97.2, 96.8 and 96.3 % sequence similarity, respectively. Strain FCN3-3T could be clearly distinguished from all known species of the genus Cohnella by its physiological and biochemical characteristics as well as its phylogenetic position and level of DNA–DNA relatedness. Therefore, the strain represents a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which the name Cohnella cellulosilytica sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is FCN3-3T ( = KCTC 13645T = TISTR 1996T = PCU 323T).

Cohnella arctica sp. nov., isolated from Arctic tundra soil

A psychrotolerant Gram-reaction-negative, rod-shaped and orange-pigmented bacterium, designated strain M9-62T, which was motile by means of peritrichous flagella, was isolated from tundra soil sampled near Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard Islands, Norway (78° N). Growth occurred at 4–30 °C (optimum, 25 °C) and pH 5.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.0–7.0). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain M9-62T placed it in the genus Cohnella ; sequence similarities of the isolate with type strains of members of related genera ranged from 92.0 to 96.3 %. Strain M9-62T contained anteiso-C15 : 0 (51.1 %), iso-C16 : 0 (7.5 %) and C16 : 0 (6.1 %) as the major cellular fatty acids and diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and lysyl-phosphatidylglycerol as the main polar lipids. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the DNA G+C content was 50.3 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic data, strain M9-62T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Cohnella , for which the name Cohnella arctica sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is M9-62T ( = CCTCC AB 2010228T = NRRL B-59459T).