A novel actinomycete, strain 1_25(T), was isolated from soil under a black Gobi rock sample from Shuangta, PR China, and characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The results of comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated the 1_25(T) represented a member of the genus Streptomyces. Chemotaxonomic data revealed that 1_25(T) possessed MK-9(H-8) as the major menaquinone. The cell wall contained LL-diaminopimelic acid (LL-DAP) and the whole-cell sugar pattern consisted of ribose, glucose and galactose. Major fatty acid methyl esters were observed to be iso-C-16:0 (23.6%), and anteiso-C-15:0 (10.4%). The genomic DNA G+C content of 1_25(T) was 69 mol%. The results of phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that 1_25(T) had high sequence similarity with Streptomyces qinglanensis 172205(T) (98.1%), Streptomyces lycii TRM 66187(T) (98 %), and Streptomyces griseocarneus JCM4580(T) (98 %). In addition to the differences in phenotypic characters, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between 1_25(T) and closely related species were below the recommended threshold values for assigning strains to the same species. The fermentation product of 1_25(T) in ISP2 had an inhibitory effect on Staphylococcus aureus. On the basis of these genotypic and phenotypic characteristics, strain 1_25(T) (=JCM 34936(T)=GDMCC 4.216(T)) represents a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces gobiensis sp. nov. is proposed.

Bacteria in the genus Arthrobacter have been found in extreme environments, e.g. glaciers, brine and mural paintings. Here, we report the discovery of a novel pink-coloured bacterium, strain QL17(T), capable of producing an extracellular water-soluble blue pigment. The bacterium was isolated from the soil of the East Rongbuk Glacier of Mt. Everest, China. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain QL17(T) was most closely related to the species Arthrobacter bussei KR32 (T). However, compared to A.bussei KR32(T) and the next closest relatives, the new species demonstrates considerable phylogenetic distance at the whole-genome level, with an average nucleotide identity of <85 % and inferred DNA-DNA hybridization of <30 %. Polyphasic taxonomy results support our conclusion that strain QL17(T) represents a novel species of the genus Arthrobacter. Strain QL17(T) had the highest tolerance to hydrogen peroxide at 400 mM. Whole-genome sequencing of strain QL17(T) revealed the presence of numer-ous cold-adaptation, antioxidation and UV resistance-associated genes, which are related to adaptation to the extreme envi-ronment of Mt. Everest. Results of this study characterized a novel psychrotolerant Arthrobacter species, for which the name Arthrobacter antioxidans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is QL17(T) (GDMCC 1.2948(T)=JCM 35246(T)).

Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile bacterium strain ZFBP2030(T) was isolated from a rock on the North slope of Mount Everest. This strain contained a unique ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) as a predominant respiratory quinone. Among the tested fatty acids, the strain contained summed feature 8, C-14:0 2OH, and C-16:0, as major cellular fatty acids. The polar lipid profile contained phosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl ethanolamine, three unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified aminolipids, and six unidentified lipids. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was a meso-diaminopimelic acid, and cell-wall sugars were ribose and galactose. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain ZFBP2030(T) was a member of the genus Sphingomonas, exhibiting high sequence similarity to the 16S rRNA gene sequences of Sphingomonas aliaeris DH-S5(T) (97.9%), Sphingomonas alpina DSM 22537(T) (97.3%) and Sphingomonas hylomeconis CCTCC AB 2013304(T) (97.0%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between ZFBP2030(T) and other typical strains was less than 97.0%. The average amino acid identity values, average nucleotide identity, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain ZFBP2030(T) and its highest sequence similarity strains were 56.9-79.9%, 65.1-82.2%, and 19.3-25.8%, respectively. The whole-genome size of the novel strain ZFBP2030(T) was 4.1 Mbp, annotated with 3838 protein-coding genes and 54 RNA genes. Moreover, DNA G + C content was 64.7 mol%. Stress-related functions predicted in the subsystem classification of the strain ZFBP2030(T) genome included osmotic, oxidative, cold/heat shock, detoxification, and periplasmic stress responses. The overall results of this study clearly showed that strain ZFBP2030(T) is a novel species of the genus Sphingomonas, for which the name Sphingomonas endolithica sp. nov. is proposed. The type of strain is ZFBP2030(T) (= EE 013(T) = GDMCC 1.3123(T) = JCM 35386(T)).

A Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile, endospore-forming and UV-resistant bacterial strain, designated strain TKL69(T), was isolated from sandy soil sampled in the Taklimakan Desert. The strain grew at 20-50 degrees C, pH 6-9 and with 0-12 % (w/v) NaCl. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C-15:0, iso-C-15:0 and C-16:0. The only respiratory quinone was MK-7. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Diphosphatidyl glycerol, two unidentified aminophospholipids and one unidentified phospholipid were identified as the major polar lipids. Genomic DNA analysis revealed a G+C content of 38.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain TKL69(T) has the highest similarity to Salinibacillus xinjiangensis CGMCC 1.12331(T) (96.9%) but belongs to an independent taxon separated from other genera of the family Bacillaceae. Phylogenetic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic analyses suggested that strain TKL69(T) represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Radiobacillus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain being Radiobacillus deserti TKL69(T) (=JCM 33497(T)=CICC 24779(T)).

A bacterial strain, designated Y40(T), was isolated from sandy soil sampled on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau. A polyphasic study confirmed the affiliation of the strain with the genus Mesobacillus. Strain Y40(T) was found to be an aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, motile and rod-shaped bacterium. The strain grew at 10-42 degrees C, pH 6-9 and with 0-2 % (w/v) NaCl. The diagnostic amino acid was meso-diaminopimeilic acid. MK7 was predominant menaquinone, and iso-C-15:0, iso-C-17:1 omega 10c and anteiso-C-15:0 were the major fatty acids. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content was 40.6 mol%. Based on he results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain Y40(T) was phylogenetically closely related to Mesobacillus zeae JJ-247(T) and Mesobacillus foraminis CV53(T), with similarities of 98.0 and 97.7 %, respectively. The average nucleotide identity (ANIb) values between strain Y40(T) and Mesobacillus zeae JJ-247(T) and Mesobacillus foraminis CV53(T) were 69.9 and 70.0%, respectively. Based on the morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic data, it is proposed that strain Y40(T) (=CICC 24459(T)=JCM 32794(T)) should be classified into the genus Mesobacillus as Mesobacillus harenae sp. nov.

We isolated and analyzed a novel, Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile actinobacterium, designated as strain ZFBP1038(T), from rock sampled on the north slope of Mount Everest. The growth requirements of this strain were 10-37 degree celsius, pH 4-10, and 0-6% (w/v) NaCl. The sole respiratory quinone was MK-9, and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C-15:0 and iso-C-17:0. Peptidoglycan containing meso-diaminopimelic acid, ribose, and glucose were the major cell wall sugars, while polar lipids included diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidyl glycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, and an unidentified glycolipid. A phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ZFBP1038(T) has the highest similarity with Spelaeicoccus albus DSM 26341( T) (96.02%). ZFBP1038(T) formed a distinct monophyletic clade within the family Brevibacteriaceae and was distantly related to the genus Spelaeicoccus. The G + C content of strain ZFBP1038(T) was 63.65 mol% and the genome size was 4.05 Mb. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization, average nucleotide identity, and average amino acid identity values between the genomes of strain ZFBP1038(T) and representative reference strains were 19.3-25.2, 68.0-71.0, and 52.8-60.1%, respectively. Phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics as well as comparative genome analyses suggested that strain ZFBP1038(T) represents a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Saxibacter gen. nov., sp. nov. was assigned with the type strain Saxibacter everestensis ZFBP1038(T) (= EE 014( T) = GDMCC 1.3024( T) = JCM 35335( T)).

Strain Y74(T)was an isolate from the sandy soil in the town of Huatugou, Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, China. An analysis of this strain's phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genomic characteristics established the relationship of the isolate with the genusPlanococcus. Strain Y74(T)was able to grow between 4 and 42 degrees C (with an optimum temperature of 28 degrees C) at pH values of 6-8.5 and in 0%-7% (w/v) NaCl. The dominant quinones were MK-8 and MK-7. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, and an unknown phospholipid. The majority of the fatty acid content was anteiso-C-15:0(28.8%) followed by C-16:1 omega 7c alcohol (20.9%) and iso-C-14:0(13.4%). The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity analysis demonstrated a stable branch formed by strain Y74(T)andPlanococcus halotoleransSCU63(T)(99.66%). The digital DNA-DNA hybridization between these two strains was 57.2%. The G + C content in the DNA of Y74(T)was 44.5 mol%. In addition, the morphological, physiological, and chemotaxonomic pattern clearly differentiated the isolates from their known relatives. In conclusion, the strain Y74(T)(=JCM 32826(T) = CICC24461(T)) represents a novel member of the genusPlanococcus,for which the namePlanococcus antioxidanssp. nov. is proposed. Strain Y74(T)was found to have potent antioxidant activity via its hydrogen peroxide tolerance and its 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical-scavenging activity. The DPPH radical-scavenging activity was determined to be 40.2 +/- 0.7%. The genomic analysis indicated that six peroxidases genes, one superoxide dismutase gene, and one dprA (DNA-protecting protein) are present in the genome of Y74(T).