Abstract

A novel Gram-negative, motile, and ovoid-shaped strain, LHWP3T, which belonged to the family Planctomycetaceae in the phylum Planctomycetes, was isolated from a dead ark clam Scapharca broughtonii collected during a mass mortality event on the south coast of Korea. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolate was most closely related to the type strain of Rhodopirellula baltica, with a shared 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 94.8%. The isolate grew optimally at 30°C in 4–6% (w/v) NaCl, and at pH 7. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The dominant polar lipids were phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and unidentified polar lipids. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16:0, C18:1 ω9c, and C18:0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain LHWP3T was 53.0 mol%. Based on polyphasic taxonomic analyses, strain LHWP3T should be classified as a novel species in the genus Rhodopirellula in the family Planctomycetaceae, for which the name Rhodopirellula rosea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LHWP3T (=KACC 15560T =JCM 17759T).

• Keywords: bacterial taxonomy; Planctomycetaceae family; Rhodopirellula rosea sp. nov.