Heligmosomoides johnsoni sp. nov. (Nematoda: Heligmosomatidae) from the Heather Vole, Phenacomys intermedius Merriam

Heligmosomoides johnsoni sp. noy. is described from the cecum of the heather vole, Phenacomys intermedius Merriam, from the Olympic Mountains, Washington. The absence of longitudinal cuticular ridges dorsally separates H. johnsoni from species of Heligmosomoides other than H. hudsoni (Cameron, 1937), which occurs in varying lemmings, Dicrostonyx spp., and from which H. johnsoni is distinguished by its longer spicules, form of the dorsal ray, and other characters. Both Phenacomys and Dicrostonyx have a specialized cecum, with long villi around which the nematodes are found tightly coiled. The zoogeography of heligmosomid nematodes in Phenacomys is briefly discussed. French abstract: On décrit Heligmosomoides johnsoni sp. nov. parasite du caecum du rongeur néarctique, Phenacomys intermedius Merriam, des Montagnes Olympiques de Washington. L'absence de crêtes cuticulaires sur la face dorsaIe sépare H. johnsoni des autres Heligmosomoides à I'exception d'H. hudsoni (Cameron, 1937) qui se trouve chez Dicrostonyx spp., et duquel H. johnsoni se distingue par ses spicules plus longs, par la forme différente de la côte dorsale et par d'autres caractères. Phenacomys et Dicrostonyx ont un caecum spécialisé, muni de villosités allongées, autour desquelles les nématodes s'enroulent étroitement. La zoogéographie des nematodes héligmosomes chez Phenacomys est discutée.

Verrucosispora maris sp nov., a novel deep-sea actinomycete isolated from a marine sediment which produces abyssomicins

Verrucosispora isolate AB-18-032(T), the abyssomicin- and proximicin-producing actinomycete, has chemotaxonomic and morphological properties consistent with its classification in the genus Verrucosispora. The organism formed a distinct phyletic line in the Verrucosispora 16S rRNA gene tree sharing similarities of 99.7%, 98.7% and 98.9% with Verrucosispora gifhornensis DSM 44337(T), Verrucosispora lutea YIM 013(T) and Verrucosispora sediminis MS 426(T), respectively. It was readily distinguished from the two latter species using a range of phenotypic features and from V. gifhornensis DSM 44337(T), its nearest phylogenetic neighbor, by a DNA G+C content of 65.5 mol% obtained by thermal denaturation and fluorometry and DNA:DNA relatedness values of 64.0% and 65.0% using renaturation and fluorometric methods, respectively. It is apparent from the combined genotypic and phenotypic data that strain AB-18-032(T) should be classified in the genus Verrucosispora as a new species. The name Verrucosispora maris sp. nov. is proposed for this taxon with isolate AB-18-032(T) (= DSM 45365(T) = NRRL B-24793(T)) as the type strain.

Streptomyces brevispora sp nov and Streptomyces laculatispora sp nov., actinomycetes isolated from soil

The taxonomic positions of two actinomycetes isolated from a hay meadow soil sample were determined using a polyphasic approach. The isolates had chemical and morphological properties typical of streptomycetes and formed a distinct 16S rRNA gene subclade together with the type strain Streptomyces drozdowiczii NRRL B-24297(T). DNA DNA relatedness studies showed that the three strains belonged to different genomic species. The organisms were also distinguished using a combination of phenotypic properties. On the basis of these data it is proposed that the isolates be assigned to the genus Streptomyces as Streptomyces brevispora sp. nov. and Streptomyces laculatispora sp. nov., with BK160(T) (=KACC 21093(T) =NCIMB 14702(T)) and BK166(T) (=KACC 20907(T) =NCIMB 14703(T)) as the respective type strains.

A new drought resistant gymnosperm taxon Duartenia araripensis gen. nov et sp nov (Cheirolepidiaceae?) from the Early Cretaceous of Northern Gondwana

A new gymnosperm taxon from the Lower Cretaceous (upper Aptian to possibly lower Albian) Crato Formation of Brazil, Duartenia araripensis gen. nov. et sp. nov. is described. The most prominent specimen, a branch with attached lateral branches of higher orders exhibits a distinct anisotomous branching pattern. The very dense wood is composed of tracheids with spaced and partly contiguous uniseriate pits and low rays with one pit per cross-field (mixed protopinaceous type). When foliage is not abraded, Duartenia exhibits coriacious Brachyphyllum-type leaves. Duartenia may be linked to cheirolepid conifers, however, the systematic affinity remains uncertain. The dense wood, characteristic growth pattern and thick, scale like, trichome bearing leaves may be related to ecological conditions that reflect a seasonally dry climate.

Credneramides A and B: Neuromodulatory Phenethylamine and Isopentylamine Derivatives of a Vinyl Chloride-Containing Fatty Acid from cf. Trichodesmium sp nov.

Credneramides A (1) and B (2), two vinyl chloride-containing metabolites, were isolated from a Papua New Guinea collection of cf. Trichodesmium sp. nov. and expand a recently described class of vinyl chloride-containing natural products. The precursor fatty acid, credneric acid (3), was isolated from both the aqueous and organic fractions of the parent fraction as well as from another geographically and phylogenetically distinct cyanobacterial collection (Panama). Credneramides A and B inhibited spontaneous calcium oscillations in murine cerebrocortical neurons at low micro-molar concentrations (1, IC50 4.0 mu M; 2, IC50 3.8 mu M).

Streptomyces cocklensis sp nov., a dioxamycin-producing actinomycete

The taxonomic position of a streptomycete isolated from soil collected from Cockle Park Experimental Farm, Northumberland, UK, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemical and morphological features consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis supported classification of the strain in the genus Streptomyces and showed that it formed a distinct phyletic line loosely associated with members of the Streptomyces yeochonensis Glade. It was related most closely to Streptomyces paucisporeus 1413(T) (98.6%16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), but could be distinguished from the latter based on the low level of DNA DNA relatedness (40%). It was readily distinguished from the type strains of all species assigned to the S. yeochonensis clade based on a combination of phenotypic properties. Strain BK168(T) (=KACC 20908(T)=NCIMB 14704(T)) should therefore be classified as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces cocklensis sp. nov. is proposed. The organism produces the antibiotic dioxamycin.

Evolutionary Insights from Bat Trypanosomes: Morphological, Developmental and Phylogenetic Evidence of a New Species, Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) erneyi sp nov., in African Bats Closely Related to Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi and Allied Species

Parasites of the genus Trypanosoma are common in bats and those of the subgenus Schizotrypanum are restricted to bats throughout the world, with the exception of Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi that also infects other mammals and is restricted to the American Continent. We have characterized trypanosome isolates from Molossidae bats captured in Mozambique, Africa. Morphology and behaviour in culture, supported by phylogenetic inferences using SSU (small subunit) rRNA, gGAPDH (glycosomal glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase) and Cyt b (cytochrome b) genes, allowed to classify the isolates as a new Schizotrypanum species named Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) erneyi sp. nov. This is the first report of a Schizotrypanum species from African bats cultured, characterized morphologically and biologically, and positioned in phylogenetic trees. The unprecedented finding of a new species of the subgenus Schizotrypanum from Africa that is closest related to the America-restricted Trypanosoma (Schizotrypanum) cruzi marinkellei and T. cruzi provides new insights into the origin and evolutionary history of T. cruzi and closely related bat trypanosomes. Altogether, data from our study support the hypothesis of an ancestor trypanosome parasite of bats evolving to infect other mammals, even humans, and adapted to transmission by triatomine bugs in the evolutionary history of T. cruzi in the New World. (c) 2012 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Amycolatopsis thermophila sp nov and Amycolatopsis viridis sp nov., thermophilic actinomycetes isolated from arid soil

The taxonomic positions of two thermophilic actinomycetes isolated from an arid Australian soil sample were established based on an investigation using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The organisms had chemical and morphological properties typical of members of the genus Amycolatopsis and formed distinct phyletic lines in the Amycolatopsis methanolica 16S rRNA subclade. The two organisms were distinguished from one another and from the type strains of related species of the genus Amycolatopsis using a range of phenotypic properties. Based on the combined genotypic and phenotypic data, it is proposed that the two isolates be classified in the genus Amycolatopsis as Amycolatopsis thermophila sp. nov. (type strain GY088(T)=NCIMB 14699(T)=NRRL B-24836(T)) and Amycolatopsis viridis sp. nov. (type strain GY115(T)=NCIMB 14700(T)= NRRL B-24837(T)).

Streptomyces herbaceus sp nov., Streptomyces incanus sp nov and Streptomyces pratens sp nov., isolated from the soil of a hay meadow

The taxonomic positions of three streptomycetes isolated from a soil sample from a hay meadow were determined using a polyphasic approach. The isolates had chemical and morphological properties typical of the genus Streptomyces and, in phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, formed a distinct subclade that was most closely related to the Streptomyces prasinus subclade. DNA-DNA relatedness studies showed that the novel strains belonged to three different genomic species. The novel strains could be distinguished from one another and from the type strains of the species classified in the S. prasinus subclade using a combination of genotypic and phenotypic properties. On the basis of these data, it is proposed that the novel strains be assigned to the genus Streptomyces as Streptomyces herbaceus sp. nov., Streptomyces incanus sp. nov. and Streptomyces pratens sp. nov., with BK119(T) (=KACC 21001(T) =CGMCC 4.5797(T)), BK128(T) (=KACC 21002(T) =CGMCC 4.5799(T)) and BK138(T) (=KACC 20904(T) =CGMCC 4.5800(T)) as the respective type strains.

Amycolatopsis granulosa sp nov., Amycolatopsis ruanii sp nov and Amycolatopsis thermalba sp nov., thermophilic actinomycetes isolated from arid soils

The taxonomic positions of three thermophilic actinomycetes isolated from arid soil samples were established by using a polyphasic approach. The organisms had chemical and morphological features that were consistent with their classification in the genus Amycolatopsis. 16S rRNA gene sequence data supported the classification of the isolates in the genus Amycolatopsis and showed that they formed distinct branches in the Amycolatopsis methanolica subclade. DNA-DNA relatedness studies between the isolates and their phylogenetic neighbours showed that they belonged to distinct genomic species. The three isolates were readily distinguished from one another and from the type strains of species classified in the A. methanolica subclade based on a combination of phenotypic properties and by genomic fingerprinting. Consequently, it is proposed that the three isolates be classified in the genus Amycolatopsis as representatives of Amycolatopsis granulosa sp. nov. (type strain GY307(T)=NCIMB 14709(T)=NRRL B-24844(T)), Amycolatopsis ruanii sp. nov. (type strain NMG112(T)=NCIMB 14711(T)=NRRL B-24848(T)) and Amycolatopsis thermalba sp. nov. (type strain SF45(T)=NCIMB 14705(T)=NRRL B-24845(T)).

Descriptions of Thereza murutinga sp. nov. and Pristocnemis caipira sp. nov., and new records of Caelopyginae (Opiliones: Laniatores: Gonyleptidae)

Two new species of Caelopyginae are described: Pristocnemis caipira sp. nov. from Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and Thereza murutinga sp. nov., from Parati, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Pristocnemis caipira sp. nov. is diagnosed by shallow grooves on the dorsal scutum, a lower number of tarsal segments, presence of a spine on the anal operculum, large, pointed tubercles on the lateral margins of the dorsal scutum, and an absence of white patches on the dorsal scutum. Thereza murutinga sp. nov. is diagnosed by the combination of the following characters: incomplete median longitudinal groove on area III and absent on area II, prosoma much smaller than opisthosoma, and a large white patch covering the prosoma and whole areas of the opisthosomal scutum. A cladistic analysis including the two new species was performed to investigate their relationship within the subfamily. We obtained 927 trees of 185 steps (CI=0.4, RI=0.74), which corroborated the generic assignments of the new species, but infrageneric relationships remained unsolved. In addition, male genitalia of Ampheres luteus (Giltay) and genera Pristocnemis and Thereza are redescribed, new distribution records for Caelopyginae species are presented, and biogeographical implications are discussed.

Classification of organisms previously reported as the SP and Stewart-Letscher groups, with descriptions of Necropsobacter gen. nov. and of Necropsobacter rosorum sp. nov. for organisms of the SP group

To allow classification of bacteria previously reported as the SP group and the Stewart-Letscher group, 35 isolates from rodents (21), rabbits (eight), a dog and humans (five) were phenotypically and genotypically characterized. Comparison of partial rpoB sequences showed that 34 of the isolates were closely related, demonstrating at least 97.4 % similarity. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison of 20 selected isolates confirmed the monophyly of the SP group and revealed 98.5 %-100 % similarity between isolates. A blast search using the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the highest similarity outside the SP group was 95.5 % to an unclassified rat isolate. The single strain, P625, representing the Stewart-Letscher group showed the highest 16S rRNA gene similarity (94.9-95.5 %) to members of the SP group. recN gene sequence analysis of 11 representative strains resulted in similarities of 97-100 % among the SP group strains, which showed 80 % sequence similarity to the Stewart-Letscher group strain. Sequence similarity values based on the recN gene, indicative for whole genome similarity, showed the SP group being clearly separated from established genera, whereas the Stewart-Letscher group strain was associated with the SP group. A new genus, Necropsobacter gen. nov., with only one species, Necropsobacter rosorum sp. nov., is proposed to include all members of the SP group. The new genus can be separated from existing genera of the family Pasteurellaceae by at least three phenotypic characters. The most characteristic properties of the new genus are that haemolysis is not observed on bovine blood agar, positive reactions are observed in the porphyrin test, acid is produced from (+)-L-arabinose, (+)-D-xylose, dulcitol, (+)-D-galactose, (+)-D-mannose, maltose and melibiose, and negative reactions are observed for symbiotic growth, urease, ornithine decarboxylase and indole. Previous publications have documented that both ubiquinones and demethylmenaquinone were produced by the proposed type strain of the new genus, Michel A/76(T), and that the major polyamine of representative strains (type strain not included) of the genus is 1,3-diaminopropane, spermidine is present in moderate amounts and putrescine and spermine are detectable only in minor amounts. The major fatty acids of strain Michel A/76(T) are C(14 : 0), C(16 : 0), C(16:1)omega7c and summed feature C(14 : 0) 3-OH/iso-C(16 : 1) I. This fatty acid profile is typical for members of the family Pasteurellaceae. The G+C content of DNA of strain Michel A/76(T) was estimated to be 52.5 mol% in a previous investigation. The type strain is P709(T) ( = Michel A/76(T) = CCUG 28028(T) = CIP 110147(T) = CCM 7802(T)).

Proposal of Bisgaardia hudsonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. and an additional genomospecies, isolated from seals, as new members of the family Pasteurellaceae

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on eight Gram-negative-staining, rod-shaped bacteria isolated from seals. Biochemical and physiological studies showed identical profiles for all of the isolates and indicated that they were related to the family Pasteurellaceae. 16S rRNA gene sequencing demonstrated that the organism represented a distinct cluster with two sublines within the family Pasteurellaceae with <96% sequence similarity to any recognized species. Multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) including rpoB, infB and recN genes further confirmed these findings with the eight isolates forming a genus-like cluster with two branches. Genome relatedness as deduced from recN gene sequences suggested that the isolates represented a new genus with two species. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic criteria, it is proposed that these bacteria from seals are classified as Bisgaardia hudsonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (the type species) and Bisgaardia genomospecies 1. The G+C content of the DNA was 39.5 mol%. The type strain of Bisgaardia hudsonensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is M327/99/2(T) (=CCUG 43067(T)=NCTC 13475(T)=98-D-690B(T)) and the reference strain of Bisgaardia genomospecies 1 is M1765/96/5 (=CCUG 59551=NCTC 13474).

Basfia succiniciproducens gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the family Pasteurellaceae isolated from bovine rumen

Gram-negative, coccoid, non-motile bacteria that are catalase-, urease- and indole-negative, facultatively anaerobic and oxidase-positive were isolated from the bovine rumen using an improved selective medium for members of the Pasteurellaceae. All strains produced significant amounts of succinic acid under anaerobic conditions with glucose as substrate. Phenotypic characterization and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) using 16S rRNA, rpoB, infB and recN genes were performed on seven independent isolates. All four genes showed high sequence similarity to their counterparts in the genome sequence of the patent strain MBEL55E, but less than 95 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to any other species of the Pasteurellaceae. Genetically these strains form a very homogeneous group in individual as well as combined phylogenetic trees, clearly separated from other genera of the family from which they can also be separated based on phenotypic markers. Genome relatedness as deduced from the recN gene showed high interspecies similarities, but again low similarity to any of the established genera of the family. No toxicity towards bovine, human or fish cells was observed and no RTX toxin genes were detected in members of the new taxon. Based on phylogenetic clustering in the MLSA analysis, the low genetic similarity to other genera and the phenotypic distinction, we suggest to classify these bovine rumen isolates as Basfia succiniciproducens gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is JF4016(T) (=DSM 22022(T) =CCUG 57335(T)).