gen. nov., sp. nov., the first bacteriochlorophyll -containing, psychrophilic and acidophilic bacteriobiont of lichen species.

Gram-negative, aerobic, chemo-organotrophic and bacteriochlorophyll -containing bacterial strains, KEBCLARHB70R, KAMCLST3051 and KAMCLST3152, were isolated from the thalli of and lichens. Cells from the strains were coccoid and reproduced by binary division. They were motile at the early stages of growth and utilized sugars and alcohols. All strains were psychrophilic and acidophilic, capable of growth between pH 3.5 and 7.5 (optimum, pH 5.5), and at 4-30 °C (optimum, 10-15 °C). The major fatty acids were C ω7 and C; the lipids were phosphatidylcholines, phosphatidylethanolamines, phosphatidic acids, phosphatidylglycerol, glycolipids, diphosphatidylglycerol and polar lipids with an unknown structure. The quinone was Q-10. The DNA G+C content was 67.8 mol%. Comparative 16S rRNA gene analysis together with other data, supported that the strains, KEBCLARHB70R, KAMCLST3051 and KAMCLST3152 belonged to the same species. Whole genome analysis of the strain KEBCLARHB70R and average amino acid identity values confirmed its distinctive phylogenetic position within the family . Phenotypic, ecological and genomic characteristics distinguished strains KEBCLARHB70R, KAMCLST3051 and KAMCLST3152 from all genera in the family . Therefore, we propose a novel genus and a novel species, gen. nov., sp. nov., for these novel members. Strain KEBCLARHB70R (=KCTC 72321=VKM B-3305) has been designated as the type strain.