Description of Pseudobacteriovorax antillogorgiicola gen. nov., sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from the gorgonian octocoral Antillogorgia elisabethae, belonging to a novel bacterial family, Pseudobacteriovoracaceae fam. nov., within the order Bdellovibrionales

A bacterial strain designated RKEM611T was isolated from the gorgonian octocoral Antillogorgia elisabethae, collected off the coast of San Salvador, The Bahamas. The strain was Gram-negative, an obligate aerobe, and pleomorphic. It required NaCl for growth and exhibited optimal growth at 1-2% (w/v) NaCl, 30 – 37oC, and pH 6.0 - 8.0. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C16:1ω5c, C16:0, the major respiratory quinone was menaquinone MK-6, and the DNA G+C content was 46.3 mol%. Based on phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene, in addition to phenotypic characteristics, RKEM611T represents a novel family within the order Bdellovibrionales. The name Pseudobacteriovoracaceae fam. nov., Pseudobacteriovorax antillogorgiicola gen., nov., sp., nov. is proposed. Isolate RKEM611T (=NCCB 100521T, =LMG 28452T) is the type strain.