Winogradskyella pacifica sp. nov., a marine bacterium of the family Flavobacteriaceae.

A novel strain, designated KMM 6019T, was isolated from coastal seawater and subjected to taxonomic examination using a polyphasic approach. A comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain KMM 6019T formed a distinct phyletic line within the genus Winogradskyella, a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae, phylum Bacteroidetes. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between the novel isolate and the type strains of the recognized species of the genus Winogradskyella was 94.0-97.8%. Winogradskyella thalassocola KMM 3907T was the closest relative, with 97.8% sequence similarity. The predominant fatty acids of strain KMM 6019T were iso-C15:0, iso-C15:1, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0 3-OH, iso-C16:0 3-OH, C15:0, iso-C17:0 3-OH and summed feature 3 comprising iso-C15:0 2-OH and/or C16:1omega7c, which are characteristic for members of the genus Winogradskyella. The DNA G+C content was 35.3 mol%. Strain KMM 6019T moved by gliding and grew with 1-5% NaCl and at 4-30 degrees C. The novel strain degraded gelatin, casein and starch and produced acid from cellobiose, d-glucose and maltose. Strain KMM 6019T could clearly be differentiated from the other Winogradskyella species by the ability to utilize inositol and sorbitol and to produce hydrogen sulphide. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic findings, strain KMM 6019T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Winogradskyella, for which the name Winogradskyella pacifica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KMM 6019T (=KCTC 22997T=LMG 22568T).