Flavobacterium restrictum sp. nov., Flavobacterium rhamnosiphilum sp. nov., and Flavobacterium zepuense sp. nov. isolated from glaciers.

Three strains, designated as LB1R34T, LB3P52T and ZT4R6T, were isolated from glaciers located on the Tibetan Plateau, PR China. The strains were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped, non-motile and yellow. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene and genomic sequences indicated that they were related to the members of the genus Flavobacterium. The 16S rRNA gene sequences similarities between the three strains were 92.31-96.93 %. The average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between these three strains and their closest relatives were 76.80-91.33 % and 21.3-44.2 %, respectively. LB1R34T, LB3P52T and ZT4R6T contained MK-6 as the major menaquinone, summed feature 3 (comprising C16 : 1ω7c and/or C16 : 1ω6c) and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids. Phosphatidylethanolamine was present in their polar lipids profiles. On the basis of the phenotypic characteristics, he results of phylogenetic analysis and genotypic data, three novel species, Flavobacterium restrictum sp. nov. (type strain=LB1 R34T=CGMCC 1.11493T=NBRC 113650T), Flavobacterium rhamnosiphilum sp. nov. (type strain=LB3 P52T=CGMCC 1.11446T=NBRC 113776T) and Flavobacterium zepuense sp. nov. (type strain=ZT4 R6T=CGMCC 1.11919T=NBRC 113653T) are proposed.