Alteromonas addita sp nov.

On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic characteristics and analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, a novel species belonging to the genus Alteromonas is described. A non-pigmented, motile, Gram-negative bacterium designated R10SW13T was isolated from sea water samples collected in Chazhma Bay (Sea of Japan, Pacific Ocean). The novel organism mainly grew between 4 °C and 37 °C, was neutrophilic and slightly halophilic, tolerating up to 10 % NaCl. Strain R10SW13T was haemolytic and was able to degrade starch and Tween 80 and to degrade gelatin and agar weakly, but did not degrade casein. Phosphatidylethanolamine (44.3 ± 0.9 %) and phosphatidylglycerol (55.7 ± 0.9 %) were the predominant phospholipids. The major fatty acids formed were typical for the genus Alteromonas, including 16:0, 16:1ω-7 and 18:1ω-7. The G+C content of the DNA was 43.4 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments showed 38-53 % binding with the DNAs of type strains of phylogenetically related species of the genus Alteromonas, namely: Alteromonas macleodii, Alteromonas marina, Alteromonas stellipolaris, Alteromonas litorea, 'Alteromonas macleodii subsp. fijiensis' and 'Alteromonas infernus'. Based on these results, a novel species, Alteromonas addita sp. nov., is proposed, with strain R10SW13T (=KMM 3600T=KCTC 12195T=LMG 22532T) as the type strain. © 2005 IUMS.