Draft Genome Sequences of Five Strains of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Strain CIP 76.13T, Isolated from Humans, Strains CIRM-BIA 442 and CIRM-BIA 445, Isolated from Dairy Products, and Strains DSM 20242 and DSM 9126 of Unknown Origin.

Lactobacillus acidophilus is a natural inhabitant of mammalian gastrointestinal systems and is used in dairy and pharmaceutical products. Five draft genome sequences, covering 1,995,790 nucleotides (nt) on average, are divided into 19 to 34 scaffolds covering 1,995 to 2,053 genes. The draft genome sequences were compared to the sequence of the L. acidophilus NCFM dairy strain.

Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus pasteurii CRBIP 24.76T.

We report the draft genome sequence of the type strain Lactobacillus pasteurii CRBIP 24.76, which is closely related to L. gigeriorum CRBIP 24.85(T), isolated from a chicken crop. The total length of the 29 contigs is about 1.9 Mb, with a G+C content of 40% and 1,946 coding sequences.

Draft Genome Sequence of Lactobacillus hominis Strain CRBIP 24.179T, Isolated from Human Intestine.

We report the draft genome sequence of the strain Lactobacillus hominis CRBIP 24.179(T), isolated from a human clinical sample. The total length of the 28 contigs is about 1.9 Mb, with a G+C content of 37% and 1,983 coding sequences.

Draft Genome Sequences of Lactobacillus equicursoris CIP 110162T and Lactobacillus sp. Strain CRBIP 24.137, Isolated from Thoroughbred Racehorse Feces and Human Urine, Respectively.

We report the draft genome sequences of strain Lactobacillus equicursoris CIP 110162(T), isolated from racehorse breed feces, and Lactobacillus sp. strain CRBIP 24.137, isolated from human urine; the two strains are closely related. The total lengths of the 116 and 62 scaffolds are about 2.157 and 2.358 Mb, with G+C contents of 46 and 45% and 2,279 and 2,342 coding sequences (CDSs), respectively.

Lactobacillus pasteurii sp. nov. and Lactobacillus hominis sp. nov.

Strains 1517(T) and 61D(T) were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. These Gram-positive lactic acid bacteria were homo-fermentative, facultatively anaerobic short rods. They were phylogenetically related to the genus Lactobacillus according to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, with 99 % similarity between strain 1517(T) and the type strain of Lactobacillus gigeriorum, and 98.6, 98.5 and 98.4 % between strain 61D(T) and Lactobacillus gasseri, Lactobacillus taiwanensis and Lactobacillus johnsonii, respectively. Multilocus sequence analysis and metabolic analysis of both strains showed variation between the two strains and their close relatives, with variation in the position of the pheS and rpoA genes. The DNA-DNA relatedness of 43.5 % between strain 1517(T) and L. gigeriorum, and 38.6, 29.9 and 39.7 % between strain 61D(T) and L. johnsonii, L. taiwanensis and L. gasseri, respectively, confirmed their status as novel species. Based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics, two novel species of Lactobacillus are proposed: Lactobacillus pasteurii sp. nov., with 1517(T) ( = CRBIP 24.76(T) = DSM 23907(T)) as the type strain, and Lactobacillus hominis sp. nov., with 61D(T) (=CRBIP 24.179(T) = DSM 23910(T)) as the type strain.

Draft genome sequence of Lactobacillus gigeriorum CRBIP 24.85T, isolated from a chicken crop.

We report the draft genome of the strain Lactobacillus gigeriorum CRBIP 24.85(T), isolated from a chicken crop. The total length of the 60 scaffolds is about 1.9 Mb, with a GC content of 38% and 2,062 protein-coding sequences (CDS).

Lactobacillus gigeriorum sp. nov., isolated from chicken crop.

In the early 1980s, a facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, short rod, designated 202(T), was isolated from a chicken crop and identified as a homofermentative lactic acid bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that the strain was affiliated with the genus Lactobacillus, clustering within the Lactobacillus acidophilus-delbrueckii group. In this analysis, strain 202(T) appeared to be most closely related to the type strains of Lactobacillus intestinalis and Lactobacillus amylolyticus, with gene sequence similarities of 96.1 and 96.2 %, respectively. Strain 202(T) was found to differ from these two species, however, when investigated by multilocus sequence analysis, and it also differed in terms of some of its metabolic properties. On the basis of these observations, strain 202(T) is considered to represent a novel species in the genus Lactobacillus, for which the name Lactobacillus gigeriorum sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain is 202(T) ( = CRBIP 24.85(T) = DSM 23908(T)).

Archaeal diversity in the haloalkaline Lake Elmenteita in Kenya.

A non-culture approach was used to study the archaeal diversity in Lake Elmenteita, Kenya. Five different sampling points were selected randomly within the lake. Wet sediments and water samples were collected from each sampling point. In addition, dry mud cake was collected from three points where the lake had dried. DNA was extracted from these samples and the 16S rRNA genes were amplified using primers described to be Domain-specific for Archaea. Eleven clone libraries were constructed using PCR-amplified 16S rRNA genes. A total of 1,399 clones were picked and analysed via ARDRA. 170 ARDRA patterns were unique and the respective clones were selected for sequencing. 149 clones gave analysable sequences. BLAST analysis showed that 49 belong to the Domain Archaea while the others were either chimera or affiliated to eukaryotic taxa. Comparative sequence analysis of archaeal clones affiliated them to a wide range of genera. The order Halobacteriales was represented by members of the genera Natronococcus, Halovivax, Halobiforma, Halorubrum, and Halalkalicoccus. The highest percentage (46%) of the clones, however, belonged to uncultured members of the Domain Archaea in the order Halobacteriales. The results show that the archaeal diversity in the lake could be higher than previously reported.

Flavobacterium rivuli sp. nov., Flavobacterium subsaxonicum sp. nov., Flavobacterium swingsii sp. nov. and Flavobacterium reichenbachii sp. nov., isolated from a hard water rivulet.

Strains WB 3.3-2(T), WB 3.2-61(T), WB 4.1-42(T) and WB 2.3-68(T) were isolated from the Westerhöfer Bach hard water rivulet, North Germany. The strains were Gram-staining-negative and catalase-, aminopeptidase- and oxidase-positive. The novel strains lacked flagella and only strain WB3.2-61(T) showed gliding motility. Isolates WB 3.2-61(T), WB 4.1-42(T) and WB 2.3-68(T) produced flexirubin pigments. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the novel strains showed <98.2 % similarity to the type strains of all recognized species of the genus Flavobacterium. Strains WB 3.3-2(T) and WB 4.1-42(T) shared 96.3 % sequence similarity and were only distantly related to the type strains of all of the members of the genus Flavobacterium. Strain WB 3.2-61(T) branched adjacent to Flavobacterium limicola DSM 15094(T) (98.0 %), while strain WB 2.3-68(T) was a neighbour of Flavobacterium psychrophilum DSM 3660(T) (97.1 %). On R2A medium, iso-C(15 : 0) was the common major fatty acid; fatty acids C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) 3-OH, iso-C(17 : 1)omega9c, iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH and summed feature 3 (comprising C(16 : 1)omega7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH) occurred in all strains though sometimes in low amounts. Metabolic properties revealed clear differences between the four isolates as well as between the isolates and their nearest phylogenetic neighbours. The lack of close relatedness was confirmed by Riboprinter and MALDI-TOF analyses of cell extracts. On the basis of a high number of phenotypic differentiating properties and phylogenetic uniqueness, four novel Flavobacterium species are proposed with the following names: Flavobacterium rivuli (type strain WB 3.3-2(T)=DSM 21788(T)=CIP 109865(T)), Flavobacterium subsaxonicum (type strain WB 4.1-42(T)=DSM 21790(T)=CIP 109867(T)), Flavobacterium swingsii (type strain WB 2.3-68(T)=DSM 21789(T)=CIP 109868(T)) and Flavobacterium reichenbachii (type strain WB 3.2-61(T)=DSM 21791(T)=CIP 109866(T)).

Flavobacterial community structure in a hardwater rivulet and adjacent forest soil, Harz Mountain, Germany.

The great increase in the abundance and phylogenetic diversity of Flavobacterium spp. within a few hundred meters downstream of the discharge site of the Westerhöfer Bach, a hardwater rivulet, raised the question whether adjacent soil may serve as a reservoir of bacteria not detected in discharge water. To address this question, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) analyses of the V3 region of Flavobacterium 16S rRNA genes were performed on DNA from nine soil samples and five rivulet sites. The resulting patterns were tested for the significance of differences between the sampling habitats using the nonparametric analysis of similarities and multidimensional scaling procedures. Even though both habitats were sampled in two consecutive years DGGE patterns of soil and downstream water samples showed significant overlap (R = 0.614). Sequencing of 57 DGGE bands resulted in 30 different sequences, which, on the basis of BLAST analyses, were between 96% and 100% similar to published clone, DGGE, and strain sequences from a wide range of different habitats. Forty-five percent of the highly similar sequences included those of isolates from the Westerhöfer Bach, while the other sequences were more closely related to clones and cultures from other habitats, especially agricultural soil. Based on these results we suggest that the increase in flavobacterial strain diversity and abundance in the rivulet may originate from soil microflora.

Bacterial and archaeal populations at two shallow hydrothermal vents off Panarea Island (Eolian Islands, Italy).

The aim of this study was to investigate the microbial community thriving at two shallow hydrothermal vents off Panarea Island (Italy). Physico-chemical characteristics of thermal waters were examined in order to establish the effect of the vents on biodiversity of both Bacteria and Archaea. Water and adjacent sediment samples were collected at different times from two vents, characterised by different depth and temperature, and analysed to evaluate total microbial abundances, sulphur-oxidising and thermophilic aerobic bacteria. Total microbial abundances were on average of the order of 10(5) cells ml(-1), expressed as picoplanktonic size fraction. Picophytoplanktonic cells accounted for 0.77-3.83% of the total picoplanktonic cells. The contribution of bacterial and archaeal taxa to prokaryotic community diversity was investigated by PCR-DGGE fingerprinting method. The number of bands derived from bacterial DNA was highest in the DGGE profiles of water sample from the warmest and deepest site (site 2). In contrast, archaeal richness was highest in the water of the coldest and shallowest site (site 1). Sulphur-oxidising bacteria were detected by both culture-dependent and -independent methods. The primary production at the shallow hydrothermal system of Panarea is supported by a complex microbial community composed by phototrophs and chemolithotrophs.

Culturable aerobic bacteria from the upstream region of a karst water rivulet.

The composition of 681 aerobic and heterotrophic strains that were isolated on two different media was assessed at four sampling points along a approximately 300 m stretch of a karst water rivulet. Based on partial sequence analysis of 16S rRNA genes, members of 35 genera were identified; however, only a few species dominated as their representatives were repeatedly isolated at different sampling sites. Determination of the phylum affiliation showed that the isolates included members of Bacteriodetes (especially the genus Flavobacterium) and Proteobacteria (mainly Pseudomonas and Stenotrophomonas). MALDI-TOF analysis and/or similarities of partial sequences of flavobacterial strains resulted in the generation of almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequences for 100 isolates, about 60 of which may represent novel phylospecies. The number as well as the intra-phylum distribution of the isolates changed with distance from the discharge site. While phylogenetically restricted at the spring, diversity increased at downstream sampling sites.

Biostraticola tofi gen. nov., spec. nov., a novel member of the family Enterobacteriaceae.

Bacterial strain BF36T, isolated from the biofilm of a tufa deposit in a hard water rivulet, was characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Cells of these organisms were Gram-negative, motile, nonpigmented, rod-shaped, non-endospore-forming, and facultatively anaerobic. Cells, organized in loose consortia, were coated by a massive slime layer. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain BF36T was a member of the family Enterobacteriaceae, class Gammaproteobacteria, displaying a moderate degree of relationship (96.5% sequence similarity) to Sodalis glossinidius and "Sodalis pallipedes," intracellular symbionts of the tsetse fly Glossinis morsitans morsitans. Dendrograms of relationship generated by different algorithms consistently grouped isolate BF36T with Sodalis glossinidius, Pragia fontium, Budvicia aquatica, Serratia rubideae, and Brenneria spp (94.7-95.8% similarity) which also share many common metabolic properties. Differences between strain BF36T and Sodalis glossinidius DSM 13495T are seen in motility and in the pattern of substrates utilized. Membership to the family was also confirmed by a fatty acid profile consisting of major amounts of C16:0)and C16:1omega7, by the presence of isoprenoids of the ubiquinone Q8 and menaquinone MK8 types and a DNA G + C content of 54.2 mol%. The decision to classify strain BF36T into a new genus Biostraticola gen. nov. is based on its distant phylogenetic position as compared to any other representative of the family and the significant phenotypic differences to its nearest phylogenetic neighbor, Sodalis glossinidius. BF36T represents the type species, for which the name Biostraticola tofi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BF36T (DSM 19580T; CIP109699T).

Methylibium subsaxonicum spec. nov., a betaproteobacterium Isolated from a hardwater rivulet.

A single strain, designated BF49(T), was isolated from a biofilm of a tufa deposit from the Westerhöfer rivulet, Lower Saxony, Germany. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain BF49(T) was 69 mol% and the predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. Major fatty acids were C(16:1)omega7c/15 iso 2OH and C(16:0). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolate was placed within the genus Methylibium, class Betaproteobacteria, distantly related to the type strain Methylibium petroleiphilum LMG 22953(T) (97.4% similarity), Methylibium fulvum Gsoil 322(T )(96%), and Methylibium aquaticum IMCC1728(T )(95.7%). On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic distinctness we propose a novel species, Methylibium subsaxonicum sp. nov., with strain BF49(T) (DSM 19570(T), CIP 109700(T)) as the type strain.

The power of species sorting: local factors drive bacterial community composition over a wide range of spatial scales.

There is a vivid debate on the relative importance of local and regional factors in shaping microbial communities, and on whether microbial organisms show a biogeographic signature in their distribution. Taking a metacommunity approach, spatial factors can become important either through dispersal limitation (compare large spatial scales) or mass effects (in case of strongly connected systems). We here analyze two datasets on bacterial communities [characterized by community fingerprinting through denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE)] in meso- to eutrophic shallow lakes to investigate the importance of spatial factors at three contrasting scales. Variation partitioning on datasets of both the bacterial communities of 11 shallow lakes that are part of a strongly interconnected and densely packed pond system <1 km apart, three groups of shallow lakes approximately 100 km apart, as well as these three groups of shallow lakes combined that span a large part of a North-South gradient in Europe (>2,500 km) shows a strong impact of local environmental factors on bacterial community composition, with a marginal impact of spatial distance. Our results indicate that dispersal is not strongly limiting even at large spatial scales, and that mass effects do not have a strong impact on bacterial communities even in physically connected systems. We suggest that the fast population growth rates of bacteria facilitate efficient species sorting along environmental gradients in bacterial communities over a very broad range of dispersal rates.

Pedobacter duraquae sp. nov., Pedobacter westerhofensis sp. nov., Pedobacter metabolipauper sp. nov., Pedobacter hartonius sp. nov. and Pedobacter steynii sp. nov., isolated from a hard-water rivulet.

Five isolates that were related phylogenetically to members of the genus Pedobacter were isolated from freshwater of the hard-water creek Westerhöfer Bach, North Germany. The five strains (WB 2.1-25(T), WB 2.3-71(T), WB 3.3-3(T), WB 3.3-22(T) and WB 2.3-45(T)) were Gram-negative and chemoheterotrophic, with rod-shaped cells. Most of their metabolic properties matched those given in the description of the genus Pedobacter. Consistent with the genus description, their fatty acids included mainly iso-C(15 : 0) and summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)omega7c, iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH or both); C(16 : 1)omega5c, C(16 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) 3-OH, C(16 : 0) 3-OH and iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH were present in smaller amounts. The major isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7. With one exception, binary similarity values of the almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequences determined among the isolates as well as between the isolates and type strains of Pedobacter species were lower than 98.5 %. The only exception was the close relationship between Pedobacter caeni DSM 16990(T) and strain WB 2.3-45(T) (99.2 % similarity). DNA-DNA reassociation values determined for this pair of strains was 29.8 %, indicating that strain WB 2.3-45(T) represents a unique genospecies. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains WB 2.1-25(T) and WB 2.3-71(T) form a group that is moderately related to P. caeni and strain WB 2.3-45(T) (98.5 % similarity). Strains WB 3.3-3(T) and WB 3.3-22(T) (98.5 % similarity) branched separately from these four organisms. The five phylogenetically isolated strains differed from each other as well as from the type strain of the type species (Pedobacter heparinus DSM 2366(T)) and some related representatives of the genus in several metabolic reactions and cultural parameters. On the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, five novel species are proposed: Pedobacter duraquae sp. nov., with WB 2.1-25(T) (=DSM 19034(T)=CIP 109481(T)) as the type strain; Pedobacter westerhofensis sp. nov., with WB 3.3-22(T) (=DSM 19036(T)=CIP 109479(T)) as the type strain; Pedobacter metabolipauper sp. nov., with WB 2.3-71(T) (=DSM 19035(T)=CIP 109480(T)) as the type strain; Pedobacter hartonius sp. nov., with WB 3.3-3(T) (=DSM 19033(T)=CIP 109468(T)) as the type strain; and Pedobacter steynii sp. nov., with WB 2.3-45(T) (=DSM 19110(T)=CIP 109507(T)) as the type strain.

Deefgea rivuli gen. nov., sp. nov., a member of the class Betaproteobacteria.

Two strains, designated WB 3.4-79(T) and WB 3.3-25, were isolated from a hard-water sample collected from the Westerhöfer Bach, Lower Saxony, Germany. The strains shared 100 % DNA-DNA relatedness, indicating membership of the same genospecies. This close relationship was supported by identical 16S rRNA gene sequences and high similarities in fatty acid composition and biochemical characteristics. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain WB 3.4-79(T) was 48.5 mol% and the predominant ubiquinone was Q-8. Major polar lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Major fatty acids (>10 %) were C(16 : 0) and C(16 : 1)omega7c. Polyhydroxybutyrate and polyphosphate granules as well as unidentified enterosomes and a polar organelle are visible by electron microscopy. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolates were placed within the class Betaproteobacteria, remotely related to Chitinibacter tainanensis DSM 15459(T), Silvimonas terrae KCTC 12358(T), Formivibrio citricus DSM 6150(T) and Iodobacter fluviatilis DSM 3764(T). On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic distinctness, we propose a novel genus, Deefgea gen. nov., with Deefgea rivuli sp. nov. as the type species. The type strain of Deefgea rivuli is strain WB 3.4-79(T) (=DSM 18356(T)=CIP 109326(T)).

Flavobacterium aquidurense sp. nov. and Flavobacterium hercynium sp. nov., from a hard-water creek.

Ten new Flavobacterium-like strains were isolated from freshwater of the hard-water creek Westerhöfer Bach, northern Germany. These strains formed two phylogenetic groups: strains WB 1.1-56T, WB 1.1-04, WB 1.1-14, WB 1.1-57 and WB 1.1-63; and strains WB 4.2-33T, WB 4.1-86, WB 4.2-34, WB 4.2-32 and WB 4.2-78. Cells were Gram-negative, yellow-pigmented, chemoheterotrophic rods. Their major fatty acid profiles were similar, consisting of iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(15 : 0) 3-OH, iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C(16 : 1)omega7c and/or iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH). DNA G+C contents for strains WB 1.1-56T and WB 4.2-33T were 33.5 and 37.5 mol%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on almost complete 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain WB 1.1-56T was phylogenetically most closely related to Flavobacterium frigidimaris KUC-1T, and that strain WB 4.2-33T was related most closely to F. frigidimaris KUC-1T and Flavobacterium saccharophilum DSM 1811T. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains WB 1.1-56T and WB 4.2-33T and the type strains of recognized members of the genus Flavobacterium were below 98 %. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments confirmed the separate genomic status of strains WB 1.1-56T and WB 4.2-33T. Strains WB 1.1-56T and WB 4.2-33T and their respective relatives differed from phylogenetically related Flavobacterium species based on several phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of their phenotypic and phylogenetic distinctiveness, the two groups of strains are considered to represent two novel species, for which the names Flavobacterium aquidurense sp. nov. (type strain WB 1.1-56T=DSM 18293T=CIP 109242T) and Flavobacterium hercynium sp. nov. (type strain WB 4.2-33T=DSM 18292T=CIP 109241T) are proposed.

Flavobacterium daejeonense sp. nov. and Flavobacterium suncheonense sp. nov., isolated from greenhouse soils in Korea.

Two yellow-pigmented, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterial strains, GH1-10(T) and GH29-5(T), were isolated from greenhouse soils in Korea. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that these strains were related to members of the genus Flavobacterium. Strain GH1-10(T) was most closely related to Flavobacterium psychrolimnae and Flavobacterium denitrificans, with sequence similarities of 95.9 and 95.2 %, respectively. Strain GH29-5(T) was most closely related to "Flavobacterium saliodium", F. denitrificans and Flavobacterium frigoris, with sequence similarities of 94.3, 92.5 and 92.5 %, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of GH1-10(T) were iso-C(15 : 0), summed feature 3 (iso-C(15 : 0) 2-OH and/or C(16 : 1)omega7c) and iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH, and those of GH29-5(T) were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) 3-OH, iso-C(15 : 1) G and iso-C(15 : 0) 3-OH. Both strains contained menaquinone with six isoprene units (MK-6) as the sole quinone. The DNA G+C contents of GH1-10(T) and GH29-5(T) were 35 and 39 mol%, respectively. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic data presented, it is concluded that the two bacteria represent two separate novel species of the genus Flavobacterium. The names proposed to accommodate these organisms are Flavobacterium daejeonense sp. nov., with type strain GH1-10(T) (=KACC 11422(T)=DSM 17708(T)), and Flavobacterium suncheonense sp. nov., with type strain GH29-5(T) (=KACC 11423(T)=DSM 17707(T)).

Characterization of bacterial communities in four freshwater lakes differing in nutrient load and food web structure.

The phylogenetic composition of bacterioplankton communities in the water column of four shallow eutrophic lakes was analyzed by partially sequencing cloned 16S rRNA genes and by PCR-DGGE analysis. The four lakes differed in nutrient load and food web structure: two were in a clearwater state and had dense stands of submerged macrophytes, while two others were in a turbid state characterized by the occurrence of phytoplankton blooms. One turbid and one clearwater lake had very high nutrient levels (total phosphorus > 100 microg/l), while the other lakes were less nutrient rich (total phosphorus < 100 microg/l). Cluster analysis, multidimensional scaling and ANOSIM (analysis of similarity) were used to investigate differences among the bacterial community composition in the four lakes. Our results show that each lake has its own distinct bacterioplankton community. The samples of lake Blankaart differed substantially from those of the other lakes; this pattern was consistent throughout the year of study. The bacterioplankton community composition in lake Blankaart seems to be less diverse and less stable than in the other three lakes. Clone library results reveal that Actinobacteria strongly dominated the bacterial community in lake Blankaart. The relative abundance of Betaproteobacteria was low, whereas this group was dominant in the other three lakes. Turbid lakes had a higher representation of Cyanobacteria, while clearwater lakes were characterized by more representatives of the Bacteroidetes. Correlating our DGGE data with environmental parameters, using the BIOENV procedure, suggests that differences are partly related to the equilibrium state of the lake.