A Gram-negative, non-motile, non-spore-forming, short rod-shaped bacterium (UST950701-009PT) was isolated from a marine biofilm in Hong Kong waters. Colonies are pink in colour, convex with a smooth surface and entire edge. Brown diffusible pigment is produced. Whitish colonies, with otherwise identical morphology, emerge from every culture upon ageing. The white colonies can be maintained as separate cultures (UST950701-009W) without turning pink. UST950701-009PT and UST950701-009W have identical 16S rRNA gene sequences and similar G+C (65·9–66·2 mol%) and fatty acid (86·22–88·52 % 18 : 1ω7c) contents. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence places UST950701-009PT within the Rhodobacter group of the α-subclass of the Proteobacteria. The nearest neighbours belong to the genus Loktanella, with similarity values ranging from 94·5 to 95·5 %. Data on G+C and fatty acid contents support the affiliation to the genus Loktanella. UST950701-009PT and -009W are heterotrophic, strictly aerobic and require NaCl for growth (2·0–14·0 %). Both grow in pH 5·0–10·0 and at 8–44 °C. Both are positive in oxidase, catalase and β-galactosidase tests, but they differ in the pattern of carbohydrate oxidation and assimilation. Molecular evidence together with phenotypic characteristics shows that UST950701-009PT constitutes a novel species within the genus Loktanella. The name Loktanella hongkongensis sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is UST950701-009PT (=NRRL B-41039T=JCM 12479T) and a morphovar is UST950701-009W (=NRRL B-41040=JCM 12480).

A yellow-pigmented, Gram-negative, slowly gliding, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic bacterium (UST040801-001 T ) was isolated from marine sediment. The DNA G+C content was 39?9 mol%. The predominant fatty acids were a15 : 0, i15 : 0, i15 : 0 3-OH, i17 : 1v9c, i17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3, comprising i15 : 0 2-OH and/or 16 : 1v7c (altogether representing 76?2 % of the total). MK-6 was the only respiratory quinone. Flexirubin-type pigments were not produced. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that Gramella echinicola KMM 6050 T (the only species in the genus) was the closest relative of UST040801-001 T , sharing 98?0 % sequence similarity. The DNA-DNA relatedness between UST040801-001 T and Gramella echinicola KMM 6050 T was 13 %. Strain UST040801-001 T can be distinguished from G. echinicola by means of 11 phenotypic traits. The results of molecular and phenotypic analyses suggested that UST040801-001 T represents a novel species of Gramella. The name Gramella portivictoriae sp. nov. is proposed for this bacterium, with UST040801-001 T (=NRRL 41137 T =JCM 13192 T ) as the type strain.

) is proposed as the type strain of Roseivirga spongicola sp. nov. In an earlier study, it was suggested that the genus Marinicola is a later heterotypic synonym of the genus Roseivirga. However, a formal proposal to reclassify [Marinicola] seohaensis, the only member of the genus Marinicola, has not yet been made. The results of phylogenetic analyses in this study support the reclassification of [Marinicola] seohaensis as Roseivirga seohaensis comb. nov.Many marine sponges harbour large quantities of live bacteria. Bacterial numbers in sponges have been estimated to be as high as 10 8 cells (g tissue) 21 or up to 57 % of tissue volume (Hentschel et al., 2003). These bacteria can be maternal in origin or captured from sea water as the sponges filter feed (Imhoff & Stohr, 2003). The bacteria associated with sponges are believed to play essential roles in their survival and fitness. For example, the bioactive metabolitesThe GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains UST030701-097T and UST030701-084 T are DQ080995 and DQ080996, respectively. Tables detailing the results of API 20E, 20NE and 50CH tests and MicroLog 3 tests for strains UST030701-097 T and UST030701-084 T and scanning electron micrographs of cells of the two strains are available as supplementary material in IJSEM Online. G 2006 IUMS Printed in Great Britain