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, Gram-stain-negative, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain DG1253^T, was isolated from a laboratory culture of the marine dinoflagellate Lingulodinium polyedrum (CCAP 1121/2). The strain was able to degrade two- and three-ring polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. It 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 DG1253^T was Q-8. The fatty acid profile was dominated by C_18 : 1ω7c. The mean DNA G+C content of strain DG1253^T was 63.6±0.25 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed this organism within the order Xanthomonadales of the class Gammaproteobacteria. Its closest relatives included representatives of the Hydrocarboniphaga–Nevskia–Sinobacter clade (≤89.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity) in the family Sinobacteraceae. On the basis of distinct phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, strain DG1253^T is considered to represent a novel species of a new genus in the class Gammaproteobacteria, for which the name Algiphilus aromaticivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species, Algiphilus aromaticivorans, is DG1253^T ( = ATCC BAA-2243^T = DSM 24793^T). In addition, a new family, Algiphilaceae fam. nov., is proposed to accommodate the genus Algiphilus.