Vulgatibacter incomptus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Labilithrix luteola gen. nov., sp. nov., two myxobacteria isolated from soil in Yakushima Island, and the description of Vulgatibacteraceae fam. nov., Labilitrichaceae fam. nov. and Anaeromyxobacteraceae fam. nov.

Researchers have identified two novel myxobacterial genera and species, Vulgatibacter incomptus and Labilithrix luteola, isolated from forest soil on Yakushima Island, Japan. These organisms, distinct from known myxobacteria due to their lack of bacteriolytic action or fruiting body formation, were classified into new families: Vulgatibacteraceae and Labilitrichaceae. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed their unique evolutionary positions within the suborders Cystobacterineae and Sorangiineae, with closest relatives showing only ~90% similarity. The study also proposed a new family, Anaeromyxobacteraceae, to accommodate the genus Anaeromyxobacter. Key phenotypic traits included high DNA G+C content (66.3–68.3 mol%), mesophilic and aerobic metabolism, and distinct fatty acid profiles. Swarming motility was observed exclusively in Labilithrix luteola. This discovery expands our understanding of myxobacterial diversity and taxonomy.

Yamamoto, E., Muramatsu, H., & Nagai, K. (2014). Vulgatibacter incomptus gen. nov., sp. nov. and Labilithrix luteola gen. nov., sp. nov., two myxobacteria isolated from soil in Yakushima Island, and the description of Vulgatibacteraceae fam. nov., Labilitrichaceae fam. nov. and Anaeromyxobacteraceae fam. nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 64(Pt_10), 3360–3368. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.063198-0