Two novel agar-degrading, Gram-stain-negative, motile, heterotrophic, facultatively anaerobic and pale yellow-pigmented bacterial strains, designated Z1 and JL1, were isolated from marine algae (Lamouroux) and, respectively. Growth of the isolates was optimal at 28-30 °C, pH 7.0-7.5 and with 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl. Both strains contained Q-8 as the sole respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids in strain Z1 were Cω7, C and summed feature 3 (Cω7 and/or iso-C 2-OH). The predominant polar lipids in strain Z1 were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and an aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of both strains was 45.1 mol%. Strains Z1 and JL1 were closely related, with 99.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) value between strains Z1 and JL1 was 99.3 %. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains Z1 and JL1 form a distinct phyletic line within the class , with less than 92.3 % similarity to their closest relatives. Based on data from the current polyphasic study, the isolates are proposed to belong to a novel species of a new genus designated gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of the type species is Z1 ( = ATCC BAA-2617 = CICC 10859).

A Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-negative, catalase-positive, facultative anaerobe, designated XJ16T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern on the coast of Weihai, China. Cells of strain XJ16T were long and rod-shaped. The colonies were ochre in colour and were able to reduce nitrate to nitrite. Optimal growth occurred at 33-37 °C (range, 20-45 °C) and in the presence of 8-10 % (w/v) NaCl (range, 2-20 %). The pH range for growth was found to be 6.5-9.5, with optimum growth at pH 7.5-8.0. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that strain XJ16T was related to the phylum Proteobacteria. The most closely related neighbours were species of the genus Thioalkalivibrio, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain XJ16T shared 93.1 % similarity with that of Thioalkalivibrio sulfidiphilus HL-EbGr7T and 93.0 % similarity with that of Thioalkalivibrio denitrificans ALJDT. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 65.9 mol% (HPLC). The sole respiratory quinone was Q-8, and the predominant cellular fatty acids (>10 %) were iso-C15 : 0 2-OH/C16 : 1ω7c, C18 : 0 and C16 : 0 10-CH3. The predominant polar lipids in strain XJ16T were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylcholine. Based on these phylogenetic, physiological and biochemical characteristics, strain XJ16T should be classified representing a novel species of a new genus within the family Ectothiorhodospiraceae, for which the name Halofilum ochraceum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is XJ16T (=KCTC 42259T=MCCC 1H00120T=CICC 23817T).

A novel Gram-stain-negative, whitish-yellow, rod-shaped, non-pigmented, aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive bacterium, designated PX7, was isolated from coastal sediment of Xiaoshi Island, Weihai, China (37° 31' 36″ N, 122° 00' 58″ E). Strain PX7 grew optimally at 30 °C, at pH 7.0-7.5 and in the presence of 3.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain PX7 formed a robust clade with members of the genus Primorskyibacter and was closely related to Primorskyibacter sedentarius, Primorskyibacter aestuariivivens and Primorskyibacter insulae with 96.5, 96.2 and 95.1 % sequence similarities, respectively. The sole respiratory quinone of strain PX7 was ubiquinone-10, and the dominant fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c (80.2 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, one unidentified aminolipid, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of strain PX7 was 60.2 mol%. Based on the combination of phylogenetic analyses, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain PX7 is considered to represent a novel species within the genus Primorskyibacter in the family Rhodobacteraceae, for which the name Primorskyibacter marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the new species is PX7 (=KCTC 42952=MCCC 1H00196).

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, fine rod or short filament shaped, jacinth pigmented bacterium, designated strain WDS2C27T, was isolated from a marine solar saltern in Wendeng, Weihai, PR China (37°31′5″ N, 122°1′47″ E). Growth of WDS2C27T occurred at 20–42 °C (optimum 37 °C) and pH 6.5–8.5 (optimal pH 7.0–8.0). Optimal growth occurred in modified marine broth containing 6 % (w/v) NaCl. The major polar lipids in WDS2C27T were phosphatidylethanolamine, two unidentified aminolipids and one unidentified lipid. The major respiratory quinone of WDS2C27T was MK-6. The dominant fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C15 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 35.0 mol%. The nucleotide sequence of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that the most closely related strain was Psychroflexus planctonicus X15M-8T (92.0 % over 1452 bp). WDS2C27T showed 60.7 % average amino acid identity, 55.6 % percentage of conserved proteins, 75.0 % average nucleotide identity and 13.1 % digital DNA–DNA hybridization identity with the type species of the genus Psychroflexus , Psychroflexus torquis ATCC 700755T. The phenotypic and genotypic properties and phylogenetic inference indicated that WDS2C27T could be assigned to a novel species within a novel genus, for which the name Mesohalobacter halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. Strain WDS2C27T (=MCCC 1H00133T=KCTC 52044T) is the type strain.