Abstract

A novel species belonging to the genus Grimontia is described in this study. A Gram-negative, chemoheterotrophic, obligately aerobic, catalase- and oxidase-positive, motile by a single polar flagellum, and rod-shaped bacterium, designated IMCC5001T, was isolated from surface seawater of the Yellow Sea. Strain IMCC5001T grew optimally at 30°C in the presence of 3.5% NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate was related most closely to Grimontia hollisae with a sequence similarity of 95.8%, and formed a robust phyletic lineage with Grimontia hollisae. Differential physiological characteristics between the new strain and Grimontia hollisae KCCM 41680T and chemotaxonomic characterization including determination of DNA G+C content, fatty acid methyl esters, quinone composition, and polar lipid profiles justified the assignment of strain IMCC5001T to the genus Grimontia as a novel species. In conclusion, strain IMCC5001T represents a new species, for which the name Grimontia marina sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain IMCC5001T (=KCTC 22666T =NBRC 105794T).

• Keywords: Grimontia marina sp. nov.; taxonomy; 16S rRNA gene; new species; marine bacteria