Gramella marina sp nov., isolated from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius

The taxonomic position of a novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, heterotrophic, gliding, yellow-orange-pigmented bacterium, isolated from the sea urchin Strongylocentrotus intermedius and designated strain KMM 6048(T), was established. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing revealed that the isolate was a member of the family Flavobacteriaceae affiliated with recognized species of the genus Gramella, forming a distinct lineage within the genus. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain KMM 6048(T) and the type strains of species of the genus Gramella were 97.4-98.4%. In line with representative members of the genus Gramella, strain KMM 6048(T) was oxidase- and catalase-positive, hydrolysed gelatin and starch, utilized carbohydrates and possessed a DNA G+C content of 40.0 mol%. However, differentiating phenotypic traits and phylogenetic distinctiveness clearly indicated that the strain represented a novel species within the genus Gramella, for which the name Gramella marina sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is KMM 6048(T) (=KCTC 12366(T)=LMG 25418(T)).