An actinomycete strain, IR73-Li102 T , was isolated from a lichen sample obtained from Iriomote Island, Japan, and subsequently characterized using a polyphasic approach. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain IR73-Li102 T had the highest sequence similarities with Actinomycetospora chiangmaiensis YIM 0006 T (98.3%), A. corticola 014-5 T (98.1%) and A. rishiriensis RI109-Li102 T (98.0%). However, DNA-DNA hybridization assays, as well as physiological and biochemical analyzes, showed that strain IR73-Li102 T could be clearly differentiated from its closest phylogenetic relatives. The strain contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, and arabinose and galactose were present in whole-cell hydrolysates. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H 4 ), and the diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acid was iso-C 16:0 (58%). The chemotaxonomic properties of strain IR73-Li102 T were consistent with those shared by members of the genus Actinomycetospora. On the basis of the phenotypic features and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain IR73-Li102 T (¼ NBRC 106365 T ¼ KCTC 19783 T ) represents a novel species of the genus Actinomycetospora, for which the name Actinomycetospora iriomotensis sp. nov. is proposed.

An actinomycete, strain RI109-Li102 T , was isolated from a lichen sample obtained from Rishiri Island in Japan. Cells of strain RI109-Li102T were Gram-positive, aerobic and non-motile and formed bud-like spore chains. The isolate grew with 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 5-9 and at 10-30 6C (optimum 30 6C). The whole-cell hydrolysate contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose. The predominant menaquinone was MK-8(H 4 ) and the diagnostic phospholipids were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylinositol and diphosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C 16 : 0 and iso-C 16 : 1 H. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain RI109-Li102 T was most closely related to Actinomycetospora corticicola 014-5 T (99.0 % rRNA gene sequence similarity)and Actinomycetospora chiangmaiensis YIM 0006 T (98.4 %). However, DNA-DNA hybridization assays, as well as physiological and biochemical analyses, showed that strain RI109-Li102 T could be differentiated from its closest phylogenetic relatives. It is proposed that strain RI109-Li102

A polyphasic approach was used to determine the taxonomic position of actinomycete strain R1-NS-10(T), which was isolated from a sample of strawberry root rhizosphere obtained from Hokuto, Yamanashi, Japan. Strain R1-NS-10(T) was Gram-staining-positive and aerobic, and formed brownish-white aerial mycelia and grayish-brown substrate mycelia on ISP-2 medium. The strain grew in the presence of 0-5% (w/v) NaCl and optimally grew without NaCl. The strain grew at pH 5-8, and the optimum for growth was pH 7. The optimal growth temperature was 30 °C, but the strain grew at 5-37 °C. Whole-cell hydrolysates of strain R1-NS-10(T) contained A2pm, galactose, mannose and rhamnose. The predominant menaquinones were MK-9(H6) and MK-9(H8). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain R1-NS-10(T) was most closely related to Streptomyces prunicolor NBRC 13075(T) (99.4%). The draft genome sequences of both strains were determined for characterization of genome sequence-related parameters such as average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the diversity of secondary metabolite biosynthetic gene clusters. DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) and ANI values for both strains were below the species delineation cutoff, and differences in physiological and biochemical characteristics differentiated strain R1-NS-10(T) from its closest phylogenetic relative. On the basis of these data, we propose that strain R1-NS-10(T) (=NBRC 108812(T)=KCTC 29186(T)) should be classified as the type strain of a novel Streptomyces species named Streptomyces hokutonensis sp. nov.