Gordonia nitida sp. nov., a bacterium that degrades 3-ethylpyridine and 3-methylpyridine.

A bacterial strain, LE31T, which is capable of degrading 3-ethylpyridine and 3-methylpyridine, was isolated from an industrial wastewater and was taxonomically studied by using a polyphasic approach. Strain LE31T was identified as a member of the genus Gordonia on the basis of chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic inference-based 16S rDNA sequence. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose and galactose (wall chemotype IV). The predominant menaquinone was MK-9(H2). The mycolic acids contained 47-55 carbon atoms. The major fatty acids were C16:0, C18:1 omega9c, 10-methyl-C18:0 (TBSA). The G+C content of DNA was 67 mol%. The 16S rDNA sequence of strain LE31T was most similar to that of the type strain of Gordonia rubropertincta. The differences in some phenotypic characteristics and the genetic distinctiveness distinguish strain LE31T from the Gordonia species described previously. Therefore it is proposed that strain LE31T should be placed in the genus Gordonia as a new species. The name Gordonia nitida is proposed for strain LE31T. The type strain of the new species is strain LE31T (= KCTC 0605BPT = KCCM 80004T).