A Gram-negative, non-motile, oval to rod-shaped, psychrotolerant, phototrophic, purple non-sulfur bacterium (designated strain JA139T) was isolated from a snow sample from Changla Pass in the Indian Himalayas. Strain JA139T had vesicular-type intracytoplasmic membrane structures and contained bacteriochlorophyll a and most probably spheroidene-like carotenoids. Biotin, niacin and thiamine were required for growth of strain JA139T. Phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the strain clustered with species of the genus Rhodobacter but was distinctly separate from all recognized members of the family Rhodobacteraceae. Based on the genotypic and phenotypic differences observed between strain JA139T and recognized Rhodobacter species, strain JA139T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus, for which the name Rhodobacter changlensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA139T (=DSM 18774T=CCUG 53722T=JCM 14338T).

A novel non-sporulating, non-motile, catalase- and oxidase-positive, strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strain, designated DCA-1(T), was isolated from activated sludge collected from a butachlor wastewater treatment facility. The strain was able to degrade about 85 % of 100 mg butachlor l(-1) within 5 days of incubation. Growth occurred in the presence of 0-6 % (w/v) NaCl [optimum, 1 % (w/v) NaCl] and at pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 15-35 �XC (optimum, 25-30 �XC). Vesicular internal membrane structures and photoheterotrophic growth were not observed. The major respiratory quinone was ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) and the major cellular fatty acids were C(18 : 1)�s7c and 11-methyl C(18 : 1)�s7c. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain DCA-1(T) was 62.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison revealed that strain DCA-1(T) was a member of the family Rhodobacteraceae and was related most closely to the type strain of Catellibacterium aquatile (96.5 % sequence similarity). The combination of phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic characteristics and chemotaxonomic data supports the suggestion that strain DCA-1(T) represents a novel species of the genus Catellibacterium, for which the name Catellibacterium caeni sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DCA-1(T) (= CGMCC 1.7745(T) = DSM 21823(T)). In addition, based on the characterization data obtained in this study, it is proposed that Rhodobacter changlensis should be reclassified as Catellibacterium changlense comb. nov. (type strain JA139(T) = DSM 18774(T) = CCUG 53722(T) = JCM 14338(T)). An emended description of the genus Catellibacterium is also presented.