Mariprofundus micogutta sp. nov., a novel iron-oxidizing zetaproteobacterium isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal field at the Bayonnaise knoll of the Izu-Ogasawara arc, and a description of Mariprofundales ord. nov. and Zetaproteobacteria classis nov.

A novel iron-oxidizing chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, strain ET2T, was isolated from a deep-sea sediment in a hydrothermal field of the Bayonnaise knoll of the Izu-Ogasawara arc. Cells were bean-shaped, curved short rods. Growth was observed at a temperature range of 15-30 °C (optimum 25 °C, doubling time 24 h) and a pH range of 5.8-7.0 (optimum pH 6.4) in the presence of NaCl at a range of 1.0-4.0 % (optimum 2.75 %). The isolate was a microaerophilic, strict chemolithoautotroph capable of growing using ferrous iron and molecular oxygen (O2) as the sole electron donor and acceptor, respectively; carbon dioxide as the sole carbon source; and either ammonium or nitrate as the sole nitrogen source. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the new isolate was related to the only previously isolated Mariprofundus species, M. ferrooxydans. Although relatively high 16S rRNA gene similarity (95 %) was found between the new isolate and M. ferrooxydans, the isolate was distinct in terms of cellular fatty acid composition, genomic DNA G+C content and cell morphology. Furthermore, genomic comparison between ET2T and M. ferrooxydans PV-1 indicated that the genomic dissimilarity of these strains met the standard for species-level differentiation. On the basis of its physiological and molecular characteristics, strain ET2T (= KCTC 15556T = JCM 30585 T) represents a novel species of Mariprofundus, for which the name Mariprofundus micogutta is proposed. We also propose the subordinate taxa Mariprofundales ord. nov. and Zetaproteobacteria classis nov. in the phylum Proteobacteria.

Planktotalealamellibrachiae sp. nov., isolated from a marine organism in Kagoshima Bay, Japan.

A novel marine bacterial strain, designated JAM 119T, was isolated from a tubeworm trophosome in Kagoshima Bay, Japan. Cells were Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-spore-forming aerobic chemoorganotrophs and motile by means of a single polar flagellum. The isolate grew optimally at 25-27 °C and in the presence of 3 % NaCl. The major respiratory quinone was Q-10. The predominant fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c. Phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified aminolipid were the major polar lipids. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolated strain was closely affiliated with members of the genus Planktotalea in the class Alphaproteobacteria, and the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of the new isolates with the closest related species, Planktotalea frisia SH6-1T, was 97.3 %. The DNA G+C content of the novel strain was 57.0 mol%. Based on differences in taxonomic characteristics, the isolated strain represents a novel species of the genus Planktotalea, for which the name Planktotalealamellibrachiae sp. nov. (type strain JAM 119T; JCM 31859T=DSMZ 104669T) is proposed.

Microbacterium saccharophilum sp. nov., isolated from a sucrose-refining factory.

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain K-1(T), was isolated from soil at a sucrose refinery in Japan. The strain grew at 9-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C) and at pH 6-11 (optimum, pH 7.0). Phylogenetic analysis based on the full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain K-1(T) revealed that it was a member of the genus Microbacterium. High 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were found between strains K-1(T) and both Microbacterium pumilum NBRC 101279(T) (99.7 %) and Microbacterium deminutum NRRL B-24453(T) (99.5 %). However, the DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain K-1(T) and M. pumilum NBRC 101279(T) and M. deminutum NRRL B-24453(T) were only 12 % and 10 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain K-1(T) was 73 mol%. The major fatty acids of strain K-1(T) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0, and the major menaquinones were MK-12 and MK-13. The diamino acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan was lysine. On the basis of these results, strain K-1(T) is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Microbacterium, for which the name Microbacterium saccharophilum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is K-1(T) (= NBRC 108778(T) = NCIMB 14782(T)).

Active bacterial flora surrounding foraminifera (xenophyophorea) living on the deep-sea floor.

Bacteria form unique ecosystems by coexisting with large organisms. Here we present the first evidence of active flora surrounding xenophyophorea revealed through clone analyses of environmental ribosomal RNA gene sequences. The flora included eight phyla in the xenophyophorean cells with agglutinated test. The major operational taxonomic units were unique from that in the near-surface sediment. This flora appears to be formed by coexistence with xenophyophores.

Insights into the evolution of Archaea and eukaryotic protein modifier systems revealed by the genome of a novel archaeal group.

The domain Archaea has historically been divided into two phyla, the Crenarchaeota and Euryarchaeota. Although regarded as members of the Crenarchaeota based on small subunit rRNA phylogeny, environmental genomics and efforts for cultivation have recently revealed two novel phyla/divisions in the Archaea; the 'Thaumarchaeota' and 'Korarchaeota'. Here, we show the genome sequence of Candidatus 'Caldiarchaeum subterraneum' that represents an uncultivated crenarchaeotic group. A composite genome was reconstructed from a metagenomic library previously prepared from a microbial mat at a geothermal water stream of a sub-surface gold mine. The genome was found to be clearly distinct from those of the known phyla/divisions, Crenarchaeota (hyperthermophiles), Euryarchaeota, Thaumarchaeota and Korarchaeota. The unique traits suggest that this crenarchaeotic group can be considered as a novel archaeal phylum/division. Moreover, C. subterraneum harbors an ubiquitin-like protein modifier system consisting of Ub, E1, E2 and small Zn RING finger family protein with structural motifs specific to eukaryotic system proteins, a system clearly distinct from the prokaryote-type system recently identified in Haloferax and Mycobacterium. The presence of such a eukaryote-type system is unprecedented in prokaryotes, and indicates that a prototype of the eukaryotic protein modifier system is present in the Archaea.

Unique substrate specificity of a thermostable glycosyl hydrolase from an uncultured Anaerolinea, derived from bacterial mat on a subsurface geothermal water stream.

To investigate novel extremozymes encoded by sequenced metagenes from a microbial community in an extreme environment, we have characterized a recombinant glycosyl hydrolase (rGH) from an uncultured bacterium within the order Chloroflexi. rGH formed insoluble bodies in an Escherichia coli protein expression system. The protein was partially dissolved by a surfactant and was enzymatically characterized. The MW of the monomeric peptide was ~62 kDa, and it formed a homodimers in buffer. It was optimally active at 65 °C and from pH 4 to 8. rGH showed hydrolytic activity for α-1,1, α-1,2 and α-1,6 linkages, including isomaltose, but not α-1,4 and ß-linkages.

Reduced genome of the thioautotrophic intracellular symbiont in a deep-sea clam, Calyptogena okutanii.

Although dense animal communities at hydrothermal vents and cold seeps rely on symbioses with chemoautotrophic bacteria [1, 2], knowledge of the mechanisms underlying these chemosynthetic symbioses is still fragmentary because of the difficulty in culturing the symbionts and the hosts in the laboratory. Deep-sea Calyptogena clams harbor thioautotrophic bacterial symbionts in their gill epithelial cells [1, 2]. They have vestigial digestive tracts and nutritionally depend on their symbionts [3], which are vertically transmitted via eggs [4]. To clarify the symbionts' metabolic roles in the symbiosis and adaptations to intracellular conditions, we present the complete genome sequence of the symbiont of Calyptogena okutanii. The genome is a circular chromosome of 1,022,154 bp with 31.6% guanine + cytosine (G + C) content, and is the smallest reported genome in autotrophic bacteria. It encodes 939 protein-coding genes, including those for thioautotrophy and for the syntheses of almost all amino acids and various cofactors. However, transporters for these substances to the host cell are apparently absent. Genes that are unnecessary for an intracellular lifestyle, as well as some essential genes (e.g., ftsZ for cytokinesis), appear to have been lost from the symbiont genome. Reductive evolution of the genome might be ongoing in the vertically transmitted Calyptogena symbionts.

Draft Genome Sequence of Mariprofundus micogutta Strain ET2.

Mariprofundus micogutta strain ET2 was isolated in 2014 from a deep-sea hydrothermal field on the Bayonnaise Knoll of the Izu-Ogasawara arc. Here, we report its draft genome, which comprises 2,497,805 bp and contains 2,417 predicted coding sequences.

Complete Genome Sequence of Sphingobium sp. Strain YG1, a Lignin Model Dimer-Metabolizing Bacterium Isolated from Sediment in Kagoshima Bay, Japan.

Sphingobium sp. strain YG1 is a lignin model dimer-metabolizing bacterium newly isolated from sediment in Kagoshima, Japan, at a depth of 102 m. Here, we report the complete genome nucleotide sequence of strain YG1.

Unveiling the RNA virosphere associated with marine microorganisms.

The study of extracellular DNA viral particles in the ocean is currently one of the most advanced fields of research in viral metagenomic analysis. However, even though the intracellular viruses of marine microorganisms might be the major source of extracellular virus particles in the ocean, the diversity of these intracellular viruses is not well understood. Here, our newly developed method, referred to herein as fragmented and primer ligated dsRNA sequencing (flds) version 2, identified considerable genetic diversity of marine RNA viruses in cell fractions obtained from surface seawater. The RNA virus community appears to cover genome sequences related to more than half of the established positive-sense ssRNA and dsRNA virus families, in addition to a number of unidentified viral lineages, and such diversity had not been previously observed in floating viral particles. In this study, more dsRNA viral contigs were detected in host cells than in extracellular viral particles. This illustrates the magnitude of the previously unknown marine RNA virus population in cell fractions, which has only been partially assessed by cellular metatranscriptomics and not by contemporary viral metagenomic studies. These results reveal the importance of studying cell fractions to illuminate the full spectrum of viral diversity on Earth.

Complete Genome Sequence of Altererythrobacter sp. Strain B11, an Aromatic Monomer-Degrading Bacterium, Isolated from Deep-Sea Sediment under the Seabed off Kashima, Japan.

Altererythrobacter sp. strain B11 is an aromatic monomer-degrading bacterium newly isolated from sediment under the seabed off Kashima, Japan, at a depth of 2,100 m. Here, we report the complete nucleotide sequence of the genome of strain B11.

Quantitative Viral Community DNA Analysis Reveals the Dominance of Single-Stranded DNA Viruses in Offshore Upper Bathyal Sediment from Tohoku, Japan.

Previous studies on marine environmental virology have primarily focused on double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) viruses; however, it has recently been suggested that single-stranded DNA (ssDNA) viruses are more abundant in marine ecosystems. In this study, we performed a quantitative viral community DNA analysis to estimate the relative abundance and composition of both ssDNA and dsDNA viruses in offshore upper bathyal sediment from Tohoku, Japan (water depth = 500 m). The estimated dsDNA viral abundance ranged from 3 × 106 to 5 × 106 genome copies per cm3 sediment, showing values similar to the range of fluorescence-based direct virus counts. In contrast, the estimated ssDNA viral abundance ranged from 1 × 108 to 3 × 109 genome copies per cm3 sediment, thus providing an estimation that the ssDNA viral populations represent 96.3-99.8% of the benthic total DNA viral assemblages. In the ssDNA viral metagenome, most of the identified viral sequences were associated with ssDNA viral families such as Circoviridae and Microviridae. The principle components analysis of the ssDNA viral sequence components from the sedimentary ssDNA viral metagenomic libraries found that the different depth viral communities at the study site all exhibited similar profiles compared with deep-sea sediment ones at other reference sites. Our results suggested that deep-sea benthic ssDNA viruses have been significantly underestimated by conventional direct virus counts and that their contributions to deep-sea benthic microbial mortality and geochemical cycles should be further addressed by such a new quantitative approach.

Library Construction from Subnanogram DNA for Pelagic Sea Water and Deep-Sea Sediments.

Shotgun metagenomics is a low biased technology for assessing environmental microbial diversity and function. However, the requirement for a sufficient amount of DNA and the contamination of inhibitors in environmental DNA leads to difficulties in constructing a shotgun metagenomic library. We herein examined metagenomic library construction from subnanogram amounts of input environmental DNA from subarctic surface water and deep-sea sediments using two library construction kits: the KAPA Hyper Prep Kit and Nextera XT DNA Library Preparation Kit, with several modifications. The influence of chemical contaminants associated with these environmental DNA samples on library construction was also investigated. Overall, shotgun metagenomic libraries were constructed from 1 pg to 1 ng of input DNA using both kits without harsh library microbial contamination. However, the libraries constructed from 1 pg of input DNA exhibited larger biases in GC contents, k-mers, or small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene compositions than those constructed from 10 pg to 1 ng DNA. The lower limit of input DNA for low biased library construction in this study was 10 pg. Moreover, we revealed that technology-dependent biases (physical fragmentation and linker ligation vs. tagmentation) were larger than those due to the amount of input DNA.

Complete genome sequence and expression profile of the commercial lytic enzyme producer Lysobacter enzymogenes M497-1.

Lysobacter enzymogenes M497-1 is a producer of commercialized achromopeptidase and is expected to harbour genes encoding various other antimicrobial enzymes. Here, we present the complete sequence of the genome of M497-1 and the expression profiles of the genes for various antimicrobial enzymes. Of the 117 peptidase-encoding genes found in the 6.1-Mb genome of M497-1, 15 genes (aside from the gene encoding the achromopeptidase) were expressed at a level higher than that of the average ribosomal protein genes in the 24-h culture. Thus, the strain was found more valuable than hitherto considered. In addition, M497-1 harbours 98 genes involved in the biosynthesis of various natural products, 16 of which are M497-1-specific across 4 Lysobacter species. A gene cluster starting at LEN_2603 through LEN_2673 among the 98 genes closely resembled the lysobactin biosynthesis gene cluster of Lysobacter sp. ATCC 53042. It is likely that M497-1 may produce lysobactin or related antibacterial compounds. Furthermore, comparative genomic analysis of M497-1 and four other Lysobacter species revealed that their core genome structure comprises 3,737 orthologous groups. Our findings are expected to advance further biotechnological application of Lysobacter spp. as a promising source of natural bioactive compounds.

Thermoadaptation trait revealed by the genome sequence of thermophilic Geobacillus kaustophilus.

We present herein the first complete genome sequence of a thermophilic Bacillus-related species, Geobacillus kaustophilus HTA426, which is composed of a 3.54 Mb chromosome and a 47.9 kb plasmid, along with a comparative analysis with five other mesophilic bacillar genomes. Upon orthologous grouping of the six bacillar sequenced genomes, it was found that 1257 common orthologous groups composed of 1308 genes (37%) are shared by all the bacilli, whereas 839 genes (24%) in the G.kaustophilus genome were found to be unique to that species. We were able to find the first prokaryotic sperm protamine P1 homolog, polyamine synthase, polyamine ABC transporter and RNA methylase in the 839 unique genes; these may contribute to thermophily by stabilizing the nucleic acids. Contrasting results were obtained from the principal component analysis (PCA) of the amino acid composition and synonymous codon usage for highlighting the thermophilic signature of the G.kaustophilus genome. Only in the PCA of the amino acid composition were the Bacillus-related species located near, but were distinguishable from, the borderline distinguishing thermophiles from mesophiles on the second principal axis. Further analysis revealed some asymmetric amino acid substitutions between the thermophiles and the mesophiles, which are possibly associated with the thermoadaptation of the organism.

Culture-independent method for identification of microbial enzyme-encoding genes by activity-based single-cell sequencing using a water-in-oil microdroplet platform.

Environmental microbes are a great source of industrially valuable enzymes with potent and unique catalytic activities. Unfortunately, the majority of microbes remain unculturable and thus are not accessible by culture-based methods. Recently, culture-independent metagenomic approaches have been successfully applied, opening access to untapped genetic resources. Here we present a methodological approach for the identification of genes that encode metabolically active enzymes in environmental microbes in a culture-independent manner. Our method is based on activity-based single-cell sequencing, which focuses on microbial cells showing specific enzymatic activities. First, at the single-cell level, environmental microbes were encapsulated in water-in-oil microdroplets with a fluorogenic substrate for the target enzyme to screen for microdroplets that contain microbially active cells. Second, the microbial cells were recovered and subjected to whole genome amplification. Finally, the amplified genomes were sequenced to identify the genes encoding target enzymes. Employing this method, we successfully identified 14 novel ß-glucosidase genes from uncultured bacterial cells in marine samples. Our method contributes to the screening and identification of genes encoding industrially valuable enzymes.

Draft Genome Sequence of Aneurinibacillus tyrosinisolvens LL-002T, Which Possesses Some Pseudouridine Synthases.

We report the 5.7-Mb draft genome sequence of Aneurinibacillus tyrosinisolvens strain LL-002(T), isolated from organic- and methane-rich sea sediments. The draft genome sequence of strain LL-002(T) consists of 5,693,818 bp in 136 contigs, with a G+C content of 44.5%, 5,946 potential coding sequences (CDS), 2 rRNAs, and 39 tRNAs.

Combination of six enzymes of a marine Novosphingobium converts the stereoisomers of ß-O-4 lignin model dimers into the respective monomers.

Lignin, an aromatic polymer of phenylpropane units joined predominantly by ß-O-4 linkages, is the second most abundant biomass component on Earth. Despite the continuous discharge of terrestrially produced lignin into marine environments, few studies have examined lignin degradation by marine microorganisms. Here, we screened marine isolates for ß-O-4 cleavage activity and determined the genes responsible for this enzymatic activity in one positive isolate. Novosphingobium sp. strain MBES04 converted all four stereoisomers of guaiacylglycerol-ß-guaiacyl ether (GGGE), a structural mimic of lignin, to guaiacylhydroxypropanone as an end metabolite in three steps involving six enzymes, including a newly identified Nu-class glutathione-S-transferase (GST). In silico searches of the strain MBES04 genome revealed that four GGGE-metabolizing GST genes were arranged in a cluster. Transcriptome analysis demonstrated that the lignin model compounds GGGE and (2-methoxyphenoxy)hydroxypropiovanillone (MPHPV) enhanced the expression of genes in involved in energy metabolism, including aromatic-monomer assimilation, and evoked defense responses typically expressed upon exposure to toxic compounds. The findings from this study provide insight into previously unidentified bacterial enzymatic systems and the physiological acclimation of microbes associated with the biological transformation of lignin-containing materials in marine environments.

Electrical Retrieval of Living Microorganisms from Cryopreserved Marine Sponges Using a Potential-Controlled Electrode.

The purpose of this study was to develop a novel electrical retrieval method (ER method) for living sponge-associated microorganisms from marine sponges frozen at -80 °C. A -0.3-V vs. Ag/AgCl constant potential applied for 2 h at 9 °C induced the attachment of the sponge-associated microorganisms to an indium tin oxide/glass (ITO) or a gallium-doped zinc oxide/glass (GZO) working electrode. The electrically attached microorganisms from homogenized Spirastrella insignis tissues had intact cell membranes and showed intracellular dehydrogenase activity. Dead microorganisms were not attracted to the electrode when the homogenized tissues were autoclaved for 15 min at 121 °C before use. The electrically attached microorganisms included cultivable microorganisms retrieved after detachment from the electrode by application of a 9-MHz sine-wave potential. Using the ER method, we obtained 32 phyla and 72 classes of bacteria and 3 archaea of Crenarchaeota thermoprotei, Marine Group I, and Thaumarchaeota incertae sedis from marine sponges S. insignis and Callyspongia confoederata. Employment of the ER method for extraction and purification of the living microorganisms holds potential of single-cell cultivation for genome, transcriptome, proteome, and metabolome analyses of bioactive compounds producing sponge-associated microorganisms.

Draft Genome Sequence of Novosphingobium sp. Strain MBES04, Isolated from Sunken Wood from Suruga Bay, Japan.

This report describes the draft genome sequence of Novosphingobium sp. strain MBES04, isolated from sunken wood from Suruga Bay, Japan, which is capable of degrading a wide range of lignin-related aromatic monomers. The draft genome sequence contains 5,361,448 bp, with a G+C content of 65.4%.