Algiphilus aromaticivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., an aromatic hydrocarbon-degrading bacterium isolated from a culture of the marine dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum, and proposal of Algiphilaceae fam. nov.

A strictly aerobic, halotolerant, rod-shaped bacterium that stains Gram-negative is designated strain DG1253T. It can degrade two- and three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and was isolated from a laboratory culture of the marine dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (CCAP 1121/2). The strain exhibited a narrow nutritional spectrum, preferring to utilize aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbon compounds and small organic acids. Cells produced surface blebs and contained a single polar flagellum. The predominant isoprenoid quinone of strain DG1253T was Q-8. The fatty acid profile was dominated by C18:1 ?7c. DNA G+C content for the isolate was 63.6 ± 0.25 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed this organism within the order Xanthomonadales of the Gammaproteobacteria. Closest relatives included representatives of the Hydrocarboniphaga-Nevskia-Sinobacter clade (=89.9% sequence identity) in the family Sinobacteraceae. On the basis of distinct phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain DG1253T is considered to represent a novel genus and species in the class Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Algiphilus aromaticivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DG1253T (=ATCC BAA-2243T = DSM 24793T). In addition, a new family, Algiphilaceae fam. nov., is proposed for the genus Algiphilus gen. nov.