The taxonomic position of seven soil actinomycetes provisionally assigned to the genusAmycolatopsiswas established in a polyphasic study. The isolates, which had identical 16S rRNA gene sequences, had closest similarity to the type strain ofAmycolatopsis orientalis. A representative isolate, strain GY080^T, had chemotaxonomic properties that were typical of the genusAmycolatopsisand could be distinguished from the type strain ofA. orientalisusing DNA–DNA relatedness data. All of the isolates shared a phenotypic profile that distinguished them from representatives of phylogenetically closely related species. Amplified rDNA restriction analysis showed that the isolates formed a homogeneous group that was distinctly separate from single-membered groups consisting of representativeAmycolatopsistype strains, including that ofA. orientalis. Based on the combined genotypic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the seven isolates be classified as representatives of a novel species for which the nameAmycolatopsis regifauciumsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GY080^T(=DSM 45072^T=NCIMB 14277^T).

A bacterial isolate, designated strain S37T, was isolated from the rhizosphere of oil palm (Elaeis guineensis). Strain S37T was found to be Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile and rod shaped. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain S37T was most closely related to Devosia albogilva IPL15T (97.3 %), Devosia chinhatensis IPL18T (96.8 %) and Devosia subaequoris HST3-14T (96.5 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.0 mol%, and dominant cellular fatty acids were summed feature 8 (C18 : 1ω7c and/or C18 : 1ω6c), 11-methyl C18 : 1ω7c and C16 : 0. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was ubiquinone-10 (Q-10), and the major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid and phospholipids. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, it is clear that strain S37T represents a novel species of the genus Devosia within the family Hyphomicrobiaceae , for which we propose the name Devosia elaeis sp. nov., with strain S37T (=TBRC 5145T=LMG 29420T) as the type strain.

The taxonomic position of a group of mesophilic actinomycetes isolated from arid Australian soils was determined using a polyphasic approach. The organisms shared chemical and morphological markers typical of members of the genusAmycolatopsis. They had identical 16S rRNA gene sequences and formed a distinct phyletic line in theAmycolatopsis mediterraneiclade, being most closely related toA. mediterranei. In addition, they shared a range of phenotypic properties that distinguished them from representatives of all of the species classified in this clade. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data indicate that the strains merit species status within the genusAmycolatopsis. The name proposed for the novel species isAmycolatopsis australiensissp. nov.; the type strain is GY048^T(=DSM 44671^T=NCIMB 14142^T).

The taxonomic positions of members within the familyPseudonocardiaceaewere assessed based on phylogenomic trees reconstructed using core-proteome and genomeblastdistance phylogeny approaches. The closely clustered genome sequences from the type strains of validly published names within the familyPseudonocardiaceaewere analysed using overall genome-related indices based on average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values. The familyPseudonocardiaceaeconsists of the type genusPseudonocardia, as well as the generaActinoalloteichus,Actinocrispum,Actinokineospora,Actinomycetospora,Actinophytocola,Actinopolyspora,Actinorectispora,Actinosynnema,Allokutzneria,Allosaccharopolysporagen. nov.,Amycolatopsis,Bounagaea,Crossiella,Gandjariella,Goodfellowiella,Haloactinomyces,Haloechinothrix,Halopolyspora,Halosaccharopolysporagen. nov.,Herbihabitans,Kibdelosporangium,Kutzneria,Labedaea,Lentzea,Longimycelium,Prauserella,Saccharomonospora,Saccharopolyspora,Saccharothrix,Salinifilum,Sciscionella,Streptoalloteichus,Tamaricihabitans,Thermocrispum,ThermotunicaandUmezawaea. The G+C contents of thePseudonocardiaceaegenomes ranged from 66.2 to 74.6 mol% and genome sizes ranged from 3.69 to 12.28 Mbp. Based on the results of phylogenomic analysis, the namesAllosaccharopolyspora corallicomb. nov.,Halosaccharopolyspora lacisalsicomb. nov. andActinoalloteichus caeruleuscomb. nov. are proposed. This study revealed thatActinokineospora mzabensisis a heterotypic synonym ofActinokineospora spheciospongiae,Lentzea desertiis a heterotypic synonym ofLentzea atacamensis,Prauserella endophyticais a heterotypic synonym ofPrauserella coralliicola, andPrauserella flavaandPrauserella sediminisare heterotypic synonyms ofPrauserella salsuginis. This study addresses the nomenclature conundrums ofActinoalloteichus cyanogriseusandStreptomyces caeruleusas well asMicropolyspora internatusandSaccharomonospora viridis.

Recirculating aquaculture systems (RAS) are becoming important for aquaculture due to land and water supply limitations and due to their low environmental impact. Bacteria are important in RAS as their role in nutrient recycling has been the main mechanism for waste removal in these systems. Besides bacteria, the presence of microalgae can benefit the water quality through the absorption of inorganic nitrogen (ammonium and nitrate) and phosphorus from the water. However, reports on the inclusion of microalgae in RAS are very scarce. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of microalgae on water quality (total ammonia nitrogen, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate) and bacterial composition in a freshwater small‐scale RAS. A periphytic microalga, Stigeoclonium nanum, was used in this study. A rapid fingerprint analysis, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE), was used to determine the bacterial community composition in the water. The results showed that ammonia concentrations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between RAS with microalgae (RAS+A) and RAS without microalgae (RAS‐A). However, nitrite, nitrate and phosphate were significantly lower in the RAS+A than the RAS‐A (p < 0.05). Pielou's evenness and Shannon diversity index of bacterial community between the treatments were not different (p > 0.05); however, the bacterial composition between the treatments was significantly different (p < 0.05).