Nocardia tengchongensis sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample

The taxonomic status was determined of two actinomycetes, designated CFH S0057T and CFH S0065, that were isolated from soil samples collected from an extinct volcano in Tengchong county, Yunnan province, south-west China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strains CFH S0057T and CFH S0065 belong to the genus Nocardia and formed a single clade within this genus. The two isolates were able to grow at 4–45 °C, pH 5.0–7.0 and with a NaCl tolerance up to 5.0% (w/v). The whole-cell hydrolysates were rich in meso-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, arabinose and fructose. Mycolic acids were present. Strains CFH S0057T and CFH S0065 exhibited a menaquinone system with MK-8 (H4, ω cyclo), and the major polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside and one unidentified phospholipid. Major fatty acids were C16:0, Summed features 3, C18:1ω9c and C18:0 10-methyl (TBSA). The genomic DNA G + C contents of strains CFH S0057T and CFH S0065 were 65.7 and 66.1 mol%, respectively. The combined genotypic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic results indicated the isolates are considered to represent a novel species of the genus Nocardia, for which the name Nocardia tengchongensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CFH S0057T (= KCTC 29485T = JCM 30083T).