The bacterial strain designated I1-1(T) was isolated from a hot spring located in the Pingtung area, southern Taiwan. Cells of this organism were Gram reaction negative rods, motile by a single polar flagellum. Optimum conditions for growth were 55 degrees C and pH 7. Strain I1-1(T) grew well in lower nutrient media such as 5-10% Luria-Bertani broth, and its extracellular products expressed alkaline protease activity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicates that strain I1-1(T) is a member of beta-Proteobacteria. On the basis of a phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA sequences, DNA-DNA similarity data, whole-cell protein analysis, physiological and biochemical characteristics, as well as fatty acid compositions, the organism belonged to the genus Tepidimonas and represented a novel species within this genus. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain I1-1(T) were 16:0 (about 41%), 18:1 omega7c (about 13%), and summed feature 3 [16:1 omega7c or 15:0 iso 2OH or both (about 26%)]. Its DNA base ratio was 68.1 mol%. We propose to classify strain I1-1(T) (=BCRC 17406(T)=LMG 22826(T)) as Tepidimonas taiwanensis sp. nov.

The Asian tiger mosquito, Aedes albopictus, is of crucial concern to the public and veterinary health because of its vector role in transmission of several mosquito-borne diseases. Over the past decades, entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs) have been used to control important agricultural insect pests and are considered to be effective against mosquitoes as well. The objectives of this study were to investigate the mosquitocidal effects of Steinernema abbasi to Ae. albopictus and the encapsulation processes of invading nematodes in the mosquito host. In this study, we found that S. abbasi was pathogenic to 3rd and 4th instar larvae of Ae. albopictus by entering the hemocoel of the 3rd and 4th instar larvae mainly through mouth and gastric caecum or by penetrating pupae through the intersegmental membrane or trumpet. The mosquito larvae infected with a single nematode caused a high mortality. Although EPNs in the hemocoel of mosquitoes were melanized and encapsulated, most Ae. albopictus larvae failed to survive after infection with S. abbasi. Overall, we demonstrated that S. abbasi is pathogenic to Ae. albopictus larvae, suggesting that this S. abbasi isolate has potential as a biocontrol agent for managing this vector mosquito.