Three strains, RBY-1T, PHD-1 and PHD-2, were isolated from fruits in Thailand. The strains were
Gram-negative, aerobic rods with polar flagella, produced acetic acid from ethanol and did not
oxidize acetate or lactate. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and
16S–23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) sequences, the strains formed a cluster
separate from the type strains of recognized species of the genus Gluconobacter. The calculated
16S rRNA gene sequence and 16S–23S rRNA gene ITS sequence similarities were respectively
97.7–99.7% and 77.3–98.1 %. DNA G+C contents ranged from 57.2 to 57.6 mol%. The
strains showed high DNA–DNA relatedness of 100% to one another, but low DNA–DNA
relatedness of 11–34% to the tested type strains of recognized Gluconobacter species. Q-10
was the major quinone. On the basis of the genotypic and phenotypic data obtained, the three
strains clearly represent a novel species, for which the name Gluconobacter nephelii sp. nov. is
proposed. The type strain is RBY-1T (5BCC 36733T5NBRC 106061T5PCU 318T), whose
DNA G+C content is 57.2 mol%.