Journal of Microbiology

Editor’s Choice articles are curated by our senior editors, who represent each section, to highlight research published in 2024 that they consider particularly interesting to our readers and/or important within the respective research area.

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Evolutionary Microbiology and Systematics
Microbial Ecology and Environmental Microbiology
Microbial Physiology and Biochemistry
Microbial Genetics, Genomics
and Molecular Biology (Prokaryote)
Microbial Genetics, Genomics
and Molecular Biology (Eukaryote)
Microbial Pathogenesis
and Host-Microbe Interaction
Synthetic Microbiology and Biotechnology
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Evolutionary Microbiology and Systematics

Article

Flavivirga spongiicola sp. nov. and Flavivirga abyssicola sp. nov., Isolated from Marine Environments: Sung-Hyun Yang , Mi-Jeong Park , Hyun-Myung Oh , Yeong-Jun Park , Kae Kyoung Kwon; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(1):11-19. Published online February 6, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-023-00102-z

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Two novel Gram-stain-negative, strictly-aerobic, rod-shaped (1.2 ± 3.4 μm × 0.3 ± 0.7 μm), and non-motile marine bacterial species, designated MEBiC05379T and MEBiC07777T, were isolated from a marine sponge Pseudaxinella sp. in Gangneung City and deep-sea sediments of the Ulleung basin in the East Sea of Korea, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed high levels of similarities between these strains and members of the genus Flavivirga (97.0–98.4% sequence identities). Both novel strains revealed as mesophilic, neutrophilic in pH and slightly halophilic. Similar to those of other Flavivirga members, the primary cellular fatty acids of both strains were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1 G, iso-C15:03-OH, and iso-C17:0 3-OH, with MEBiC05379T and MEBiC07777T containing relatively higher proportions of C12: 0 and summed feature 3 ( C16:1ω7c and/or C16: 1ω6c). In both taxa, the major isoprenoid quinone was MK-6. The DNA G + C contents of MEBiC05379T and MEBiC07777T genomes were 32.62 and 32.46 mol%, respectively. Compared to other members of Flavivirga, both strains exhibited similar DNA G + C ratio and fatty acids pattern, yet enzyme expression and carbon sources utilization pattern were different. Genomes of the genus Flavivirga showed enzyme preferences to fucoidan and sulfated galactans. Considering the monophyly rule, AAI values delineate the genus Flavivirga from adjacent genera calculated to be 76.0–78.7%. Based on the phenotypic, genomic and biochemical data, strains for MEBiC05379T and MEBiC07777T thus represent two novel species in the genus Flavivirga, for which the names Flavivirga spongiicola sp. nov. ( MEBiC05379T [= KCTC 92527 T = JCM 16662 T]), and Flavivirga abyssicola sp. nov. ( MEBiC07777T [= KCTC 92563 T = JCM 36477 T]) are proposed.

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Robiginitalea rubriflava sp. nov. and Robiginitalea insularis sp. nov., isolated from coastal seawaters of the Yellow Sea
Seungyeop Oh, Yeonjung Lim, Meora Rajeev, Jang-Cheon Cho
Journal of Microbiology.2026; 64(2): e2512009. CrossRef
Phycobium rhodophyticola gen. nov., sp. nov. and Aliiphycobium algicola gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the phycosphere of marine red algae
Jeong Min Kim, Woonhee Baek, Byeong Jun Choi, Hülya Bayburt, Jae Kyeong Lee, Sung Chul Lee, Che Ok Jeon
Journal of Microbiology.2025; 63(6): e2503014. CrossRef
Rubrivirga aquatilis sp. nov. and Rubrivirga halophila sp. nov., isolated from Korean coastal surface seawater
Jisoo Han, Yeonjung Lim, Mirae Kim, Jang-Cheon Cho
Journal of Microbiology.2025; 63(8): e2504017. CrossRef
Rhodobacteraceae are Prevalent and Ecologically Crucial Bacterial Members in Marine Biofloc Aquaculture
Meora Rajeev, Jang-Cheon Cho
Journal of Microbiology.2024; 62(11): 985. CrossRef
Validation List no. 220. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2024;[Epub] CrossRef
Optimization of Culture Medium for the Production of an Exopolysaccharide (p-CY02) with Cryoprotective Activity by Pseudoalteromonas sp. RosPo-2 from the Antarctic Sea
Pilsung Kang, Sung Jin Kim, Ha Ju Park, Il Chan Kim, Se Jong Han, Joung Han Yim
Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology.2024; 34(5): 1135. CrossRef

Article

Saxibacter everestensis gen. nov., sp. nov., A Novel Member of the Family Brevibacteriaceae, Isolated from the North Slope of Mount Everest: Mao Tian, Shiyu Wu, Wei Zhang, Gaosen Zhang, Xue Yu, Yujie Wu, Puchao Jia, Binglin Zhang, Tuo Chen, Guangxiu Liu; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(4):277-284. Published online March 6, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00108-1

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Abstract PDF: 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 °C, 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)).

Article

Sporosarcina jeotgali sp. nov., Sporosarcina oncorhynchi sp. nov., and Sporosarcina trichiuri sp. nov., Isolated from Jeotgal, a Traditional Korean Fermented Seafood: Ah-In Yang, Bora Kim, Sung-Hong Joe, Hae-In Joe, Hanna Choe, Ki Hyun Kim, Min Ok Jun, Na-Ri Shin; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(4):285-296. Published online April 8, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00106-3

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Three novel, Gram-stain-positive, obligate aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive bacterial strains, designated B2O-1(T), T2O-4(T), and 0.2-SM1T-5(T), were isolated from jeotgal, a traditional Korean fermented seafood. Strains B2O-1(T), T2O-4(T), and 0.2-SM1T-5(T) exhibited distinct colony colors, characterized by pink, yellow, and red opaque circular colonies, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that three strains formed a paraphyletic clade within the genus Sporosarcina and shared < 99.0% similarity with Sporosarcina aquimarina KCTC 3840(T) and Sporosarcina saromensis KCTC 13119(T) in their 16S rRNA gene sequences. The three strains exhibiting Orthologous Average Nucleotide Identity values < 79.3% and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values < 23.1% within the genus Sporosarcina affirmed their distinctiveness. Strains B2O-1(T), T2O-4(T), and 0.2-SM1T-5(T) contained MK-7 as a sole respiratory menaquinone and A4α type peptidoglycan based on lysine with alanine, glutamic acid, and aspartic acid. The common polar lipids include diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylethanolamine. Strain T2O-4(T) contained one unidentified phospholipid, whereas strain 0.2-SM1T-5(T) contained two unidentified phospholipids. Cellular fatty acid profiles, with C(15:0) anteiso as the major fatty acid, supported the affiliation of the three strains to the genus Sporosarcina. Based on the polyphasic characteristics, strains B2O-1(T) (= KCTC 43506(T) = JCM 36032(T)), T2O-4(T) (= KCTC 43489(T) = JCM 36031(T)), and 0.2-SM1T-5(T) (= KCTC 43519(T) = JCM 36034(T)) represent three novel species within the genus Sporosarcina, named Sporosarcina jeotgali sp. nov., Sporosarcina oncorhynchi sp. nov., and Sporosarcina trichiuri sp. nov., respectively.

Citations

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Notification of changes in taxonomic opinion previously published outside the IJSEM. List of Changes in Taxonomic Opinion no. 41
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Brevibacterium koreense sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from jogae-jeotgal, a Korean fermented seafood
Sohee Nam, Yujin Kim, Min Ji Lee, Yeon Bee Kim, Jeong Ui Yun, Mi-Ja Jung, Hye Seon Song, Se Hee Lee, Seok-Jun Kim, Tae Woong Whon
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Bacteroides celer sp. nov. and Bacteroides mucinivorans sp. nov., isolated from human feces, and the reclassification of Bacteroides koreensis Shin et al. 2017 and Bacteroides kribbi Shin et al. 2017 as later heterotypic synonyms of Bacteroides ovatus Egg
Ah-In Yang, Bora Kim, Woorim Kang, Hae-In Joe, Na-Ri Shin
Journal of Microbiology.2025; 63(6): e2502006. CrossRef
Validation List no. 220. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2024;[Epub] CrossRef

Article

Congregibacter variabilis sp. nov. and Congregibacter brevis sp. nov. within the OM60/NOR5 Clade, Isolated from Seawater, and Emended Description of the Genus Congregibacter: Hyeonsu Tak, Miri S Park, Hyerim Cho, Yeonjung Lim, Jang-Cheon Cho; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(9):739-748. Published online July 18, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00158-5

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Two Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile by means of flagella, short rod-shaped bacterial strains, designated IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T), were isolated from coastal seawater samples collected from the South Sea of Korea. Strains IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T) shared 98.6% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and were closely related to Congregibacter litoralis KT71(T) (98.8% and 98.7%, respectively). Complete whole-genome sequences of IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T) were 3.93 and 3.86 Mb in size with DNA G + C contents of 54.8% and 54.2%, respectively. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between the two strains were 74.5% and 23.4%, respectively, revealing that they are independent species. The two strains showed ANI values of ≤ 75.8% and dDDH values of ≤ 23.0% to the type and only species of the genus Congregibacter (C. litoralis), indicating that each strain represents a novel species. Both strains contained summed feature 3 (comprising C(16:1) ω6c and/or C(16:1) ω7c) and summed feature 8 (comprising C(18:1) ω6c and/or C(18:1) ω7c) as major fatty acid constituents. The predominant isoprenoid quinone detected in both strains was ubiquinone-8 (Q-8). The major polar lipids of the two strains were phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipids, and aminolipids. Based on the phylogenetic, genomic, and phenotypic characterization, strains IMCC43200(T) and IMCC45268(T) were considered to represent two novel species within the genus Congregibacter, for which the names Congregibacter variabilis sp. nov. and Congregibacter brevis sp. nov. are proposed with IMCC43200(T) (= KCTC 8133(T) = NBRC 116295(T) = CCTCC AB 2023139(T)) and IMCC45268(T) (= KCTC 92921(T) = NBRC 116135(T)) as the type strains, respectively.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Robiginitalea rubriflava sp. nov. and Robiginitalea insularis sp. nov., isolated from coastal seawaters of the Yellow Sea
Seungyeop Oh, Yeonjung Lim, Meora Rajeev, Jang-Cheon Cho
Journal of Microbiology.2026; 64(2): e2512009. CrossRef
Validation List no. 223. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Phycobium rhodophyticola gen. nov., sp. nov. and Aliiphycobium algicola gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from the phycosphere of marine red algae
Jeong Min Kim, Woonhee Baek, Byeong Jun Choi, Hülya Bayburt, Jae Kyeong Lee, Sung Chul Lee, Che Ok Jeon
Journal of Microbiology.2025; 63(6): e2503014. CrossRef
Notification of changes in taxonomic opinion previously published outside the IJSEM. List of Changes in Taxonomic Opinion no. 42
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2025;[Epub] CrossRef
Rubrivirga aquatilis sp. nov. and Rubrivirga halophila sp. nov., isolated from Korean coastal surface seawater
Jisoo Han, Yeonjung Lim, Mirae Kim, Jang-Cheon Cho
Journal of Microbiology.2025; 63(8): e2504017. CrossRef
Leuconostoc aquikimchii sp. nov., a Lactic Acid Bacterium Isolated from Cabbage Watery Kimchi
Subin Kim, Se Hee Lee, Ki Hyun Kim, Misun Yun
Journal of Microbiology.2024; 62(12): 1089. CrossRef

Article

Description of Streptococcus dentalis sp. nov., Streptococcus gingivalis sp. nov., and Streptococcus lingualis sp. nov., Isolated from Human Oral Cavities: Beom-Jin Goo, Young-Sik Choi, Do-Hun Gim, Su-Won Jeong, Jee-Won Choi, Hojun Sung, Jae-Yun Lee, Jin-Woo Bae; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(11):973-983. Published online November 12, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00178-1

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We isolated three novel strains, S1^T, S2^T, and S5^T, from human oral cavities and identified them as distinct novel species. All these strains are facultatively anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, and non-flagellated bacteria. Their optimal growth conditions for these strains were observed in Columbia broth (CB) at 37 °C, pH 7.0, and in the absence of NaCl. Phylogenetic analyses, employing the 16S rRNA gene and whole-genome sequencing, confirmed that all three strains belong to the genus Streptococcus. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of strains S1^T, S2^T, and S5^T showed the highest similarities to Streptococcus parasanguinis, 98.57%, 99.05%, and 99.05%, respectively, and the orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values between the three strains and S. parasanguinis were 93.82%, 93.67%, and 94.04%, respectively. The pairwise OrthoANI values between the novel strains were 94.37% (S1^T-S2^T), 95.03% (S2^T-S5^T), and 94.71% (S1^T-S5^T). All strains had C_20:1 ω9c and summed feature 8 (C_18:1 ω7c and/or C_18:1 ω6c) as major cellular fatty acids. Additionally, diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine (OH-PE) were identified as major polar lipids. Menaquinone was undetected in all strains. The results from the phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic analyses collectively indicated that strains S1^T, S2^T, and S5^T represent three distinct novel species within the genus Streptococcus, and we propose the names Streptococcus dentalis sp. nov. for strain S1^T (= KCTC 21234^T = JCM 36526^T), Streptococcus gingivalis sp. nov. for strain S2^T (= KCTC 21235^T = JCM 36527^T), and Streptococcus lingualis sp. nov. for strain S5^T (= KCTC 21236^T = JCM 36528^T).

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Streptococcus mobilis sp. nov., isolated from a Helicobacter pylori-positive pre-neoplastic human stomach
Takayuki Okada, Sharda Prasad Awasthi, Atsushi Hinenoya, Noritoshi Hatanaka, Shota Nakamura, Daisuke Motooka, Shinji Yamasaki
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2026;[Epub] CrossRef
Validation List no. 223. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2025;[Epub] CrossRef

Article

Leuconostoc aquikimchii sp. nov., a Lactic Acid Bacterium Isolated from Cabbage Watery Kimchi: Subin Kim, Se Hee Lee, Ki Hyun Kim, Misun Yun; J. Microbiol. 2024;62(12):1089-1097. Published online December 2, 2024; DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12275-024-00188-z

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Two Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-hemolytic, coccoid-shaped bacterial strains, designated MS01(T) and MS02, were isolated from cabbage watery kimchi in the Republic of Korea. Cellular growth occurred at 5-25 ℃ (optimum, 20 ℃), pH 5-8 (optimum, pH 7) and in the presence of 0-5% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 1%). Results of 16S rRNA gene-based phylogenetic analyses showed that strains MS01(T) and MS02 shared identical sequences, clustered within the Leuconostoc clade in phylogenetic trees, and were most closely related to Leuconostoc inhae IH003(T) and Leuconostoc gasicomitatum LMG 18811(T) with sequence similarities of 98.74%. The complete whole-genome sequences of strains MS01(T) and MS02 measured 2.04-2.06 Mbp and harbored a 50.6 kb plasmid, with DNA G + C contents of 37.7% for both. Based on average nucleotide identities (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values, both strains were confirmed to belong to the same species but showed ≤ 85.9% ANI and ≤ 29.9% dDDH values to other Leuconostoc species, indicating that they represent a novel species. Metabolic pathway reconstruction revealed that both strains perform heterolactic acid fermentation, producing lactate, acetate, and ethanol. Chemotaxonomic analyses, including cellular fatty acids, polar lipids, and peptidoglycan amino acid, confirmed the inclusion of both strains within the genus Leuconostoc. Based on the phylogenetic, genomic, and phenotypic characterization, strains MS01(T) and MS02 were considered to represent a novel species within the genus Leuconostoc, for which the name Leuconostoc aquikimchii sp. nov. is proposed with MS01(T) (= KACC 23748(T) = JCM 37028(T)) as the type strain.

Citations

Citations to this article as recorded by

Validation List no. 224. Valid publication of new names and new combinations effectively published outside the IJSEM
Aharon Oren, Markus Göker
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology .2025;[Epub] CrossRef

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Editor's Choice 2024