Emended description of Janibacter terrae, including ten dibenzofuran-degrading strains and Janibacter brevis as its later heterotypic synonym.

Ten Gram-positive strains that degraded dibenzofuran belonged to one homogeneous cluster with common biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties. The strains included the previously described strains [Terrabacter sp.] DPO 360 and DPO 1361 and were isolated from different locations in central Europe. They all shared menaquinone MK-8(H(4)) and meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell wall and showed the same cellular fatty acid, polar lipid and RiboPrint patterns. Chemotaxonomic properties, as well as DNA G+C content (72.8 mol%), were consistent with those described for the genus Janibacter. Analysis of 16S rDNA sequences suggested a close relationship to Janibacter terrae and Janibacter brevis. DNA-DNA hybridization of two dibenzofuran-degrading strains (DPO 360 and DPO 1361) and the type strains of J. terrae and J. brevis revealed that these strains belong to the same species. An emended description of the species J. terrae is given. J. brevis is a later heterotypic synonym of J. terrae.