Description: The genus Rhodopseudomonas , containing purple nonsulfur photosynthetic Proteobacteria, has a number of strains that belong to different species, although many of them are collectively called Rhodopseudomonas palustris . The type species R. palustris and closely related species are the focus of this paper. The comparison of available genome sequences indicate that the following Rhodopseudomonas species are well recognized: R. palustris (strains ATH 2.1.6T=DSM 123T=NBRC 100419T and BisB5), Rhodopseudomonas rutila (strains R1T, DSM 126, CGA009, ATH 2.1.37, Eli 1980, ATCC 17001 and TIE1), Rhodopseudomonas pentothenatexigens JA575T and Rhodopseudomonas faecalis JCM 11668T. Other strains for which genome sequences are available are distinct from these four species. Evidence is presented that R. palustris strain ATH 2.1.6T–KCM as obtained directly from the van Niel collection by one of us (T.E.M.) is identical to the DSMZ deposit DSM 123T of ATH 2.1.6T, but not to the deposit at ATCC 17001. The amino acid sequences of the cytochromes C2 and C556 from R. palustris strain ATH 2.1.6T–KCM are in complete agreement with the translated genome sequences of R. palustris DSM 123T. In addition, the 16S rRNA gene sequence of R. palustris NBRC 100419T completely matches that of strain DSM 123T. In conclusion, the type strain of R. palustris ATH 2.1.6T is correctly represented by DSM 123T and NBRC 100419T. However, the deposit at ATCC 17001 has properties that do not conform with properties of authentic R. palustris , but rather indicate that this is a strain of R. rutila . The previously suggested assignment of the type strain of R. palustris DSM 123T to the new species R. pseudopalustris was incorrect because strain DSM 123T is the authentic type strain of R. palustris .

Description: The draft genome sequences of five species of named phototrophic heliobacteria in the order Clostridiales were determined. Whole genome phylogenetic and average nucleotide identity comparison for the heliobacteria suggests that Heliobacterium chlorum and Heliobacillus mobilis are closely related to one another and belong to the same genus. The three species Heliobacterium modesticaldum, Heliobacterium undosum and Heliobacterium gestii all belong in the same genus, but are more divergent from Hbt. chlorum and belong in a separate genus, which we suggest to be called Heliomicrobium. Heliorestis convoluta is properly recognized to be in the same genus as Heliorestis acidaminivorans. Heliophilum fasciatum is clearly unlike any other and rightfully belongs in a separate genus.

Description: Strain Llam7T was isolated from microbial mat samples from the hypersaline lake Salar de Llamará, located in Taracapá region in the hyper-arid core of the Atacama Desert (Chile). Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic traits were studied. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences assigned the strain to the family Micromonosporaceae with affiliation to the genera Micromonospora and Salinispora . Major fatty acids were C17 : 1ω8c, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. The cell walls contained meso-diaminopimelic acid and ll-2,6 diaminopimelic acid (ll-DAP), while major whole-cell sugars were glucose, mannose, xylose and ribose. The major menaquinones were MK-9(H4) and MK-9(H6). As polar lipids phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and several unidentified lipids, i.e. two glycolipids, one aminolipid, three phospholipids, one aminoglycolipid and one phosphoglycolipid, were detected. Genome sequencing revealed a genome size of 6.894 Mb and a DNA G+C content of 71.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses with complete genome sequences positioned strain Llam7T within the family Micromonosporaceae forming a distinct cluster with Micromonospora (former Xiangella ) phaseoli DSM 45730T. This cluster is related to Micromonospora pelagivivens KJ-029T, Micromonospora craterilacus NA12T, and Micromonospora craniellae LHW63014T as well as to all members of the former genera Verrucosispora and Jishengella , which were re-classified as members of the genus Micromonospora , forming a clade distinct from the genus Salinispora . Pairwise whole genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) values, digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values, the presence of the diamino acid ll-DAP, and the composition of whole sugars and polar lipids indicate that Llam7T represents a novel species, for which the name Micromonospora tarapacensis sp. nov. is proposed, with Llam7T (=DSM 109510T,=LMG 31023T) as the type strain.