Analysis of PCR products of 16s rDNA of 680 isolates from Mediterranean Sea mesocosm experiments with taxon-specif ic 165 rDNA oligonucleotides revealed that 262 isolates belonged to the 01 subclass of the class Proteobacteria. Partial 165 rDNA sequence analysis of selected isolates and oligonucleotide probing with a Sulfitobacter-specif ic 165 rDNA probe affiliated 33 strains to the genus Sulfitobacter. Analysis of the Haelll digest pattern of 165 rDNA revealed the presence of two groups; while 30 strains showed a pattern identical with that obtained for Sulfitobacter pontiacus DSM 10014T, a second group of three strains had a unique pattern that was different from that of the type strain. Five isolates of group 1 and one isolates of group 2, strain CH-B427T, were selected for detailed taxonomic analysis. All six isolates closely resembled the type strain Sulfitobacter pontiacus DSM 10014T in physiological reactions. However, strain CH-B427T differed quantitatively in the composition of fatty acids from Sulfitobacter pontiacus DSM 10014T and showed only 98.2% 16s rDNA sequence similarity with strain DSM 10014T. DNA-DNA reassociation value obtained for strains DSM 10014T and CH-B427T revealed 46 O/ O similarity. Based on the results of DNA-DNA reassociation and discrete differences in the nucleotide composition of 16s rDNA, a new species of the genus Sulfitobacter is proposed, designated Sulfitobacter mediterraneus sp. nov., the type strain being strain CH-B427T (= DSM 122443.

A Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, peritrichously flagellated, roundendospore-forming bacterium was isolated from a forest soil near Braunschweig, Lower Saxony, Germany, and designated strain HR3-23T (T = type strain). Morphologically, strain HR3-23T shows the characteristics of a member of the genus Bacillus. The spore position is terminal in a swollen sporangium. Comparative analysis of the 165 rDNA sequence shows strain HR3-23l to be most closely related to Caryophanon fenue (95.8% 165 rRNA similarity) and to Bacillus sphaericus (954% 165 rRNA similarity). Phylogenetically, the isolate clusters among species of Bacillus RNA group 2. The DNA G+C content of isolate HR3-23T is 39.3 mol%, the peptidoglycan type is A4a (L-LYS-D-Glu), the major respiratory lipoquinone is menaquinone MK-7 and the predominant fatty acid is of the i so-C,,:, type. Based on the morphological, chemotaxonomic, physiological and phylogenetic properties, a new species, Bacillus silvestris, is proposed; strain HR3-23l is the type strain (= DSM 122233.

Bacterial strain BF36T, isolated from the biofilm of a tufa deposit in a hard water rivulet, was characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of these organisms were Gram-negative, motile, nonpigmented, rod-shaped, non-endospore-forming, and facultatively anaerobic. Cells, organized in loose consortia, were coated by a massive slime layer. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BF36T was a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, class Gammaproteobacteria, displaying a moderate degree of relationship (96.5% sequence similarity) to Sodalis glossinidius and "Sodalis pallipedes," intracellular symbionts of the tsetse fly Glossinis morsitans morsitans. Dendrograms of relationship generated by different algorithms consistently grouped isolate BF36T with Sodalis glossinidius, Pragia fontium, Budvicia aquatica, Serratia rubideae, and Brenneria spp (94.7-95.8% similarity) which also share many common metabolic properties. Differences between strain BF36T and Sodalis glossinidius DSM 13495T are seen in motility and in the pattern of substrates utilized. Membership to the family was also confirmed by a fatty acid profile consisting of major amounts of C16:0)and C16:1omega7, by the presence of isoprenoids of the ubiquinone Q8 and menaquinone MK8 types and a DNA G + C content of 54.2 mol%. The decision to classify strain BF36T into a new genus Biostraticola gen. nov. is based on its distant phylogenetic position as compared to any other representative of the family and the significant phenotypic differences to its nearest phylogenetic neighbor, Sodalis glossinidius. BF36T represents the type species, for which the name Biostraticola tofi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BF36T (DSM 19580T; CIP109699T).

Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison, an isolate that was detected in sterile-filtered vegetable broth was classified as a novel member of the Erysipelothrix line of descent of the Firmicutes. Strain MF-EP02 T resembles members of the two species of Erysipelothrix with validly published names, Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae and Erysipelothrix tonsillarum, in morphology, fatty acid composition, lack of menaquinones in aerobically and anaerobically grown cultures, DNA G+C content and peptidoglycan amino acid composition. Distinct differences in physiological characteristics, however, support the allocation of this isolate to a novel species of the genus Erysipelothrix, for which the name Erysipelothrix inopinata sp. nov. (type strain, MF-EP02 T =DSM 15511 T =CIP 107935 T ) is proposed. Members of the Erysipelothrix line of descent are included in the family Erysipelotrichaceae fam. nov.

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