Methylobacterium salsuginis sp. nov., isolated from seawater

Three pink-pigmented, facultatively methylotrophic strains, designated MP1, MP2 and MR(T), were isolated from seawater from southern China and characterized. Analysis of their complete 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that they constituted three separate phylogenetic groups, showing the highest levels of similarity with respect to some members of the genus Methylobacterium. PCR amplification also showed the gene coding for the alpha-subunit of methanol dehydrogenase (mxaF) to be present in all strains, indicating a methylotrophic metabolism. All three strains utilized d-fructose, ethanol and nutrient agar as carbon sources, but did not utilize sucrose, citrate, acetate or formaldehyde. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic analyses, strain MR(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Methylobacterium salsuginis sp. nov. is proposed, with MR(T) (=CGMCC 1.6474(T) =NCCB 100140(T)) as the type strain. Strains MP1 and MP2 respectively represent novel strains of the species Methylobacterium oryzae and Methylobacterium lusitanum.