Marinobacterium halophilum sp. nov., a marine bacterium isolated from the Yellow Sea

Marinobacterium lacunae sp. nov. isolated from estuarine sediment

A novel motile bacterium was isolated from a sediment sample collected in Kochi backwaters, Kerala, India. This bacterium is Gram negative, rod shaped, 1.0-1.5 µm wide, and 2.0-3.0 µm long. It was designated as strain AK27T. Colonies were grown on marine agar displayed circular, off-white, shiny, moist, translucent, flat, margin entire, 1-2 mm in diameter. The major fatty acids identified in this strain were C18:1 ω7c, C16:0, and summed in feature 3. The composition of polar lipids in the strain AK27T included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified amino lipid, two unidentified aminophospholipids, two unidentified phospholipids, and six unidentified lipids. The genomic DNA of strain AK27T exhibited a G+C content of 56.4 mol%. Based on the analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence, strain AK27T showed sequence similarity to M. ramblicola D7T and M. zhoushanense WM3T as 98.99% and 98.58%, respectively. Compared to other type strains of the Marinobacterium genus, strain AK27T exhibited sequence similarities ranging from 91.7% to 96.4%. When compared to Marinobacterium zhoushanense WM3T and Marinobacterium ramblicola D7T, strain AK27T exhibited average nucleotide identity values of 80.25% and 79.97%, and dDDH values of 22.9% and 22.6%, respectively. The genome size of the strain AK27T was 4.55 Mb, with 4,229 coding sequences. Based on the observed phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features, and the results of phylogenetic and phylogenomic analysis, this study proposes the classification of strain AK27T as a novel species within the genus Marinobacterium. The proposed name for this novel species is Marinobacterium lacunae sp. nov.

Inputs don't equal outputs: bacterial microbiomes of the ingesta, gut, and feces of the keystone deposit feeder Ilyanassa obsoleta

Bacteria drive energy fluxes and geochemical processes in estuarine sediments. Deposit-feeding invertebrates alter the structure and activity of microbial communities through sediment ingestion, gut passage, and defecation. The eastern mud snail, Ilyanassa obsoleta, is native to estuaries of the northwestern Atlantic, ranging from Nova Scotia, Canada, to Florida in the USA. Given extremely high densities, their deposit-feeding and locomotory activities exert ecological influence on other invertebrates and microbes. Our aim was to characterize the bacterial microbiome of this 'keystone species' and determine how its feeding alters the native bacterial microbiota. We gathered snails from both mudflat and sandflat habitats and collected their fresh fecal pellets in the laboratory. Dissection of these same snails allowed us to compare bacterial assemblages of ingested sediments, shell surfaces, gut sections (esophagus, stomach, intestine), and feces using DNA metabarcoding. Our findings indicate a diverse, resident gut microbiota. The stomach and intestines were dominated by bacteria of the genus Mycoplasma. Comparison of ingesta and feces revealed digestion of several bacterial taxa, introduction of gut residents during passage, in addition to unique bacterial taxa within the feces of unknown provenance. Our results demonstrate that I. obsoleta has the potential to modify microbial community structure in estuarine sediments.

Long-Term Amelioration Practices Reshape the Soil Microbiome in a Coastal Saline Soil and Alter the Richness and Vertical Distribution Differently Among Bacterial, Archaeal, and Fungal Communities

Globally soil salinity is one of the most devastating environmental stresses affecting agricultural systems and causes huge economic losses each year. High soil salinity causes osmotic stress, nutritional imbalance and ion toxicity to plants and severely affects crop productivity in farming systems. Freezing saline water irrigation and plastic mulching techniques were successfully developed in our previous study to desalinize costal saline soil. Understanding how microbial communities respond during saline soil amelioration is crucial, given the key roles soil microbes play in ecosystem succession. In the present study, the community composition, diversity, assembly and potential ecological functions of archaea, bacteria and fungi in coastal saline soil under amelioration practices of freezing saline water irrigation, plastic mulching and the combination of freezing saline water irrigation and plastic mulching were assessed through high-throughput sequencing. These amelioration practices decreased archaeal and increased bacterial richness while leaving fungal richness little changed in the surface soil. Functional prediction revealed that the amelioration practices, especially winter irrigation with saline water and film mulched in spring, promoted a community harboring heterotrophic features. β-null deviation analysis illustrated that amelioration practices weakened the deterministic processes in structuring coastal saline soil microbial communities. These results advanced our understanding of the responses of the soil microbiome to amelioration practices and provided useful information for developing microbe-based remediation approaches in coastal saline soils.

Taxogenomic and Metabolic Insights into Marinobacterium ramblicola sp. nov., a New Slightly Halophilic Bacterium Isolated from Rambla Salada, Murcia

A Gram-negative, motile, rod-shaped bacteria, designated D7^T, was isolated by using the dilution-to-extinction method, from a soil sample taken from Rambla Salada (Murcia, Spain). Growth of strain D7^T was observed at 15–40 °C (optimum, 37 °C), pH 5–9 (optimum, 7) and 0–7.5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3%). It is facultatively anaerobic. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence showed it belongs to the genus Marinobacterium. The in silico DDH and ANI against closest Marinobacterium relatives support its placement as a new species within this genus. The major fatty acids of strain D7^T were C_16:0, summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c/C_16:1 ω6c) and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c/C_18:1 ω6c). The polar lipid profile consists of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and two uncharacterized lipids. Ubiquinone 8 was the unique isoprenoid quinone detected. The DNA G + C content was 59.2 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic characterization, strain D7^T (= CECT 9818^T = LMG 31312^T) represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium for which the name Marinobacterium ramblicola sp. nov. is proposed. Genome-based metabolic reconstructions of strain D7^T suggested a heterotrophic and chemolitotrophic lifestyle, as well as the capacity to biosynthetize and catabolize compatible solutes, and to degrade hydrocarbon aromatic compounds.

Marinobacterium alkalitolerans sp. nov., with nitrate reductase and urease activity isolated from green algal mat collected from a solar saltern

A novel Gram-staining-negative, rod-shaped, 0.6-0.8 µm wide and 2.0-3.0 µm in length, motile bacterium designated strain AK62^T, was isolated from the green algal mat collected from saltpan, Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India. Colonies on ZMA were circular, off-white, shiny, moist, translucent, 1-2 mm in diameter, flat, with an entire margin. The major fatty acids include C_16:0, C_18:1 ω7c, and summed feature 3 (C_16:1 ω7c and/or C_16:1 ω6c and/or iso-C_14:0 3-OH). Polar lipids include diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminophospholipid, three unidentified phospholipids, and one unidentified lipid. Polyamine includes Spermidine. The DNA G + C content of the strain AK62^T was 58.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain AK62^T was closely related to the type strains Marinobacterium sediminicola, Marinobacterium coralli and Marinobacterium stanieri with a pair-wise sequence similarity of 96.9, 96.6 and 96.6%, respectively, forming a distinct branch within the genus Marinobacterium and clustered with M. stanieri, M. sediminicola, M. coralli and M. maritimum cluster. Strain AK62^T shares average nucleotide identity (ANIb, based on BLAST) of 78.44, 76.69, and 76.95% with M. sediminicola CGMCC 1.7287^T, M. stanieri DSM 7027^T, and Marinobacterium halophilum Mano11^T respectively. Based on the observed phenotypic, chemotaxonomic characteristics, and phylogenetic analysis, strain AK62^T is described in this study as a novel species in the genus Marinobacterium, for which the name Marinobacterium alkalitolerans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of M. alkalitolerans is AK62^T (= MTCC 12102^T = JCM 31159^T = KCTC 52667^T).

Mitigating Sulfidogenesis With Simultaneous Perchlorate and Nitrate Treatments

Sulfide biogenesis (souring) in oil reservoirs is an extensive and costly problem. Nitrate is currently used as a souring inhibitor but often requires high concentrations and yields inconsistent results. Recently, perchlorate has displayed promise as a more potent inhibitor in lab scale studies. However, combining the two treatments to determine synergy and effectiveness in a dynamic system has never been tested. Nitrate inhibits perchlorate consumption by perchlorate reducing bacteria, suggesting that the combined treatment may allow deeper penetration of the perchlorate into the reservoir matrix. Furthermore, the metabolic intermediates of perchlorate and nitrate reduction (nitrite and chlorite, respectively) are synergistic with the primary electron acceptors for inhibition of sulfate reduction. To assess the possible synergies between nitrate and perchlorate treatments, triplicate glass columns packed with pre-soured marine sediment were flushed with media containing sulfate and an inhibitor treatment [(i) perchlorate; (ii) nitrate; (iii) perchlorate and nitrate; or (iv) none]. Internal geochemistry and microbial community changes were monitored along the length of the columns during six phases of increasing treatment concentrations. In a final phase all treatments were removed. Sulfide production decreased in all treated columns in conjunction with increased inhibitor concentrations relative to the untreated control. Interestingly, the potency of the "mixed" treatment was additive relative to the individual treatments suggesting no interaction. Microbial community analyses indicated community shifts and clustering by treatment. The mixed treatment column community's trajectory closely resembled that of the community found in the perchlorate only treatment, suggesting that perchlorate was the dominant control on the "mixed" community structure. In contrast, the nitrate and untreated column communities had unique trajectories. This study indicates that concurrent nitrate and perchlorate treatment is not more effective than perchlorate treatment alone but is more effective than nitrate treatment. As such, treatment decisions may be based on economic factors.

Draft genome sequence of Marinobacterium rhizophilum CL-YJ9T (DSM 18822T), isolated from the rhizosphere of the coastal tidal-flat plant Suaeda japonica

The genus Marinobacterium belongs to the family Alteromonadaceae within the class Gammaproteobacteria and was reported in 1997. Currently the genus Marinobacterium contains 16 species. Marinobacterium rhizophilum CL-YJ9^T was isolated from sediment associated with the roots of a plant growing in a tidal flat of Youngjong Island, Korea. The genome of the strain CL-YJ9^T was sequenced through the Genomic Encyclopedia of Type Strains, Phase I: KMG project. Here we report the main features of the draft genome of the strain. The 5,364,574 bp long draft genome consists of 58 scaffolds with 4762 protein-coding and 91 RNA genes. Based on the genomic analyses, the strain seems to adapt to osmotic changes by intracellular production as well as extracellular uptake of compatible solutes, such as ectoine and betaine. In addition, the strain has a number of genes to defense against oxygen stresses such as reactive oxygen species and hypoxia.

Marinobacterium zhoushanense sp. nov., isolated from surface seawater

A Gram-stain-negative, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated WM3T, was isolated from surface seawater collected from the East China Sea. Cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive, short rods and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Growth occurred at 15-43 °C (optimum 37-40 C), pH 5.5-9.5 (optimum pH 6.5-7.5) and with 0.25-9.0 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1.0-1.5 %). Chemotaxonomic analysis showed that the respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-8, the major fatty acids included C16 : 0 (23.6 %), C18 : 1ω7c (26.2 %) and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, 22.1 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain WM3T was most closely related to the genus Marinobacterium, sharing the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.5 % with both Marinobacterium litorale KCTC 12756T and Marinobacterium mangrovicola DSM 27697T. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain WM3T was 55.8 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic characteristics presented in this study, strain WM3T is suggested to represent a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium, for which the name Marinobacterium zhoushanense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WM3T (=KCTC 42782T=CGMCC 1.15341T).

Marinobacterium profundum sp. nov., a marine bacterium from deep-sea sediment

A Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped and motile strain, designated PAMC 27536^T, was isolated from deep-sea sediment in the East Sea, Korea. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the strain showed an affiliation with the genus Marinobacterium. Phylogenetic analyses revealed that strain PAMC 27536^T was related most closely to Marinobacterium rhizophilum CL-YJ9^T with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 98.5 % and to other members of the genus Marinobacterium (94.0-91.7 %). Genomic relatedness analyses between strain PAMC 27536^T and M. rhizophilum KCCM 42386^T gave an average nucleotide identity of 85.6 % and an estimated DNA-DNA hybridization of 24.6 % using the genome-to-genome distance calculator, indicating that they represent genomically distinct species. Cells of strain PAMC 27536^T grew optimally at 25-30 °C and pH 7.0-7.5 in the presence of 3 % (w/v) sea salts. The major cellular fatty acids were C_16 : 1ω6c and/or C_16 : 1ω7c, C_18 : 1ω6c and/or C_18 : 1ω7c, and C_16 : 0. The major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The genomic DNA G+C content was 56.1-57.2 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic, genomic and phenotypic data presented, a novel species with the name Marinobacterium profundum sp. nov. is proposed, with PAMC 27536^T ( = KCCM 43095^T = JCM 30410^T) as the type strain.

Marinobacterium aestuariivivens sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, aerobic, rod- or ovoid-shaped bacterium, designated DB-1T, was isolated from a tidal flat on the Yellow Sea in South Korea and subjected to a taxonomic study using a polyphasic approach. Strain DB-1T grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-8.0 and in the presence of 0.5-2.0% (w/v) NaCl. The neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain DB-1T falls within the clade comprising species of the genus Marinobacterium, clustering coherently with the type strain of Marinobacterium nitratireducens and showing a sequence similarity value of 98.4 %. The novel strain exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 91.5-94.4 % to the type strains of other species of the genus Marinobacterium. Strain DB-1T contained Q-8 as the predominant ubiquinone and C18:1ω7c, summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c and/or C16:1ω6c) and C16:0 as the major fatty acids. The major polar lipids detected in strain DB-1T were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified glycolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified lipids. The DNA G+C content of strain DB-1T was 62.3 mol% and the mean DNA-DNA relatedness value with the type strain of M. nitratireducens was 21±4.6%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain DB-1T is separated from recognized species of the genus Marinobacterium. On the basis of the data presented, strain DB-1T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium, for which the name Marinobacterium aestuariivivens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DB-1T (=KCTC 42778T=NBRC 111756T).

Phylogenetic analysis of the microbial community in hypersaline petroleum produced water from the Campos Basin

In this work the archaea and eubacteria community of a hypersaline produced water from the Campos Basin that had been transported and discharged to an onshore storage facility was evaluated by 16S recombinant RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis. The produced water had a hypersaline salt content of 10 (w/v), had a carbon oxygen demand (COD) of 4,300 mg/l and contains phenol and other aromatic compounds. The high salt and COD content and the presence of toxic phenolic compounds present a problem for conventional discharge to open seawater. In previous studies, we demonstrated that the COD and phenolic content could be largely removed under aerobic conditions, without dilution, by either addition of phenol degrading Haloarchaea or the addition of nutrients alone. In this study our goal was to characterize the microbial community to gain further insight into the persistence of reservoir community members in the produced water and the potential for bioremediation of COD and toxic contaminants. Members of the archaea community were consistent with previously identified communities from mesothermic reservoirs. All identified archaea were located within the phylum Euryarchaeota, with 98 % being identified as methanogens while 2 % could not be affiliated with any known genus. Of the identified archaea, 37 % were identified as members of the strictly carbon-dioxide-reducing genus Methanoplanus and 59 % as members of the acetoclastic genus Methanosaeta. No Haloarchaea were detected, consistent with the need to add these organisms for COD and aromatic removal. Marinobacter and Halomonas dominated the eubacterial community. The presence of these genera is consistent with the ability to stimulate COD and aromatic removal with nutrient addition. In addition, anaerobic members of the phyla Thermotogae, Firmicutes, and unclassified eubacteria were identified and may represent reservoir organisms associated with the conversion hydrocarbons to methane.

Marinobacterium mangrovicola sp. nov., a marine nitrogen-fixing bacterium isolated from mangrove roots of Rhizophora mangle

A nitrogen-fixing marine bacterium, designated strain Gal22(T), was isolated from mangrove roots of Rhizophora mangle. Cells were Gram-stain-negative rods, motile with a single polar flagellum. Growth was observed at 4-42 °C, pH 5.5 to 10 and with 0-18 % (w/v) NaCl. Strain Gal22(T) was positive for catalase and oxidase. Q-8 was the predominant lipoquinone. The DNA G+C content was 57.0 mol%. Based on phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene, strain Gal22(T) belongs to the genus Marinobacterium. The closely related strains were shown to be Marinobacterium lutimaris DSM 22012(T) and Marinobacterium litorale IMCC1877(T) with 99 % and 96 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, respectively. DNA-DNA relatedness analysis indicated that strain Gal22(T) was different from M. lutimaris DSM 22012(T). On the basis of genotypic, morphological and biochemical characteristics, a novel species, Marinobacterium mangrovicola sp. nov. (type strain, Gal22(T) = DSM 27697(T) = CIP 110653(T)), is proposed.

Motiliproteus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from coastal sediment

A novel Gram-stain-negative, rod-to-spiral-shaped, oxidase- and catalase- positive and facultatively aerobic bacterium, designated HS6(T), was isolated from marine sediment of Yellow Sea, China. It can reduce nitrate to nitrite and grow well in marine broth 2216 (MB, Hope Biol-Technology Co., Ltd) with an optimal temperature for growth of 30-33 °C (range 12-45 °C) and in the presence of 2-3% (w/v) NaCl (range 0.5-7%, w/v). The pH range for growth was pH 6.2-9.0, with an optimum at 6.5-7.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences demonstrated that the novel isolate was 93.3% similar to the type strain of Neptunomonas antarctica, 93.2% to Neptunomonas japonicum and 93.1% to Marinobacterium rhizophilum, the closest cultivated relatives. The polar lipid profile of the novel strain consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and some other unknown lipids. Major cellular fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C(16:1) ω7c/iso-C15:0 2-OH), C(18:1) ω7c and C(16:0) and the main respiratory quinone was Q-8. The DNA G+C content of strain HS6(T) was 61.2 mol%. Based on the phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain HS6(T) represents a novel genus and species and the name Motiliproteus sediminis gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is HS6(T) (=ATCC BAA-2613(T)=CICC 10858(T)).

Microbial diversity under extreme euxinia: Mahoney Lake, Canada

Mahoney Lake, British Columbia, Canada, is a stratified, 15-m deep saline lake with a euxinic (anoxic, sulfidic) hypolimnion. A dense plate of phototrophic purple sulfur bacteria is found at the chemocline, but to date the rest of the Mahoney Lake microbial ecosystem has been underexamined. In particular, the microbial community that resides in the aphotic hypolimnion and/or in the lake sediments is unknown, and it is unclear whether the sulfate reducers that supply sulfide for phototrophy live only within, or also below, the plate. Here we profiled distributions of 16S rRNA genes using gene clone libraries and PhyloChip microarrays. Both approaches suggest that microbial diversity is greatest in the hypolimnion (8 m) and sediments. Diversity is lowest in the photosynthetic plate (7 m). Shallower depths (5 m, 7 m) are rich in Actinobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, and Gammaproteobacteria, while deeper depths (8 m, sediments) are rich in Crenarchaeota, Natronoanaerobium, and Verrucomicrobia. The heterogeneous distribution of Deltaproteobacteria and Epsilonproteobacteria between 7 and 8 m is consistent with metabolisms involving sulfur intermediates in the chemocline, but complete sulfate reduction in the hypolimnion. Overall, the results are consistent with the presence of distinct microbial niches and suggest zonation of sulfur cycle processes in this stratified system.

Marinobacterium coralli sp. nov., isolated from mucus of coral (Mussismilia hispida)

A Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, designated R-40509T, was isolated from mucus of the reef builder coral (Mussismilia hispida) located in the São Sebastião Channel, São Paulo, Brazil. The strain was oxidase-positive and catalase-negative, and required Na+ for growth. Its phylogenetic position was in the genus Marinobacterium and the closest related species were Marinobacterium sediminicola, Marinobacterium maritimum and Marinobacterium stanieri; the isolate exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 97.5–98.0 % with the type strains of these species. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with other type strains of the genus Marinobacterium were below 96 %. DNA–DNA hybridizations between strain R-40509T and the type strains of the phylogenetically closest species of the genus Marinobacterium revealed less than 70 % DNA–DNA relatedness, supporting the novel species status of the strain. Phenotypic characterization revealed that the strain was able to grow at 15–42 °C and in medium containing up to 9 % NaCl. The isolate could be differentiated from phenotypically related species by several features, including its ability to utilize d-alanine, l-alanine, bromosuccinic acid, β-hydroxybutyric acid and α-ketovaleric acid, but not acetate or l-arabinose. It produced acetoin (Voges–Proskauer), but did not have esterase lipase (C8) or catalase activities. It possessed C18 : 1 ω7c (35 %), summed feature 3 (iso-C15 : 0 2-OH and/or C16 : 1 ω7c; 25 %) and C16 : 0 (22 %) as major cellular fatty acids. The DNA G+C content was 58.5 mol%. The name Marinobacterium coralli sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate this novel isolate; the type strain is R-40509T (=LMG 25435T =CAIM 1449T).

Marinobacterium lutimaris sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat

A Gram-staining-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain AN9T, was isolated from a tidal flat of the Taean coast in South Korea. Cells were catalase- and oxidase-positive short rods that were motile by means of a single polar flagellum. Growth of strain AN9T was observed at 15–40 °C (optimum, 25–30 °C) and at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum, pH 6.5–7.5). Strain AN9T contained ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and C10 : 0 3-OH (31.7 %), C18 : 1 ω7c (24.8 %), C16 : 0 (14.7 %) and summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH, 10.72 %) as the major fatty acids. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain AN9T was 58 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AN9T was related to members of the genus Marinobacterium and was related most closely to Marinobacterium litorale IMCC1877T (96.8 % similarity). On the basis of chemotaxonomic and molecular data, strain AN9T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium, for which the name Marinobacterium lutimaris sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AN9T (=KACC 13703T =DSM 22012T).

Marinobacterium litorale sp. nov. in the order Oceanospirillales

A bacterial strain named IMCC1877T was obtained from surface seawater collected near the coast of Deokjeok island (Yellow Sea), using a standard dilution-plating method. The strain was Gram-negative, chemoheterotrophic and facultatively anaerobic, requiring NaCl, and cells were motile rods with a single polar flagellum. Colonies on marine agar were very small (average diameter 0.1 mm). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the most closely related species to strain IMCC1877T was Marinobacterium stanieri (93.7 % sequence similarity to the type strain). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this marine isolate belonged to the order Oceanospirillales and formed an independent phyletic line within the clade forming the genus Marinobacterium. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 60.7 mol% and the predominant constituents of the cellular fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω7c (36.6 %), C16 : 1 ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH (26.7 %) and C16 : 0 (24.3 %). Based on the taxonomic data, only a distant relationship could be established between strain IMCC1877T and other Marinobacterium species; the strain therefore represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacterium, for which the name Marinobacterium litorale sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IMCC1877T (=KCTC 12756T=LMG 23872T).