A Gram-negative, short rod-shaped micro-organism (CC-BB4T) was isolated on nutrient agar from soil from Sinshe in Taichung County, Taiwan. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence demonstrated that this isolate was novel, as it showed <92 % similarity to the sequences of species of the genera Labrys, Beijerinckia and Methylocystis. The micro-organism did not utilize methylamine or methanol as a substrate, but was able to use several organic acids. The fatty acid profile was different from those reported for the genera Labrys, Beijerinckia, Methylocystis, Angulomicrobium, Methylorhabdus and Methyloarcula. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data, strain CC-BB4T represents a novel genus, for which the name Pseudolabrys gen. nov. is proposed. The type species is Pseudolabrys taiwanensis sp. nov., and the type strain of P. taiwanensis is CC-BB4T (=CCUG 51779T=CIP 108932T).
