Genome-based reclassification of Azospirillum brasilense Az39 as the type strain of Azospirillum argentinense sp. nov.

Strain Az39T of Azospirillum is a diazotrophic plant growth-promoting bacterium isolated in 1982 from the roots of wheat plants growing in Marcos Juárez, Córdoba, Argentina. It produces indole-3-acetic acid in the presence of l-tryptophan as a precursor, grows at 20-38 °C (optimal 38 °C), and the cells are curved or spiral-shaped, with diameters ranging from 0.5-0.9 to 1.8-2.2 µm. They contain C16 : 0, C18 : 0 and C18 : 1 ω7c/ω6c as the main fatty acids. Phylogenetic analysis of its 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that this strain belongs to the genus Azospirillum, showing a close relationship with Azospirillum baldaniorum Sp245T, Azospirillum brasilense Sp7T and Azospirillum formosense CC-Nfb-7T. Housekeeping gene analysis revealed that Az39T, together with five strains of the genus (Az19, REC3, BR 11975, MTCC4035 and MTCC4036), form a cluster apart from A. baldaniorum Sp245T, A. brasilense Sp7T and A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T. Average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) between Az39T and the aforementioned type strains revealed values below 96 %, the circumscription limit for the species delineation (ANI: 95.3, 94.1 and 94.0 %; dDDH: 62.9, 56.3 and 55.6 %). Furthermore, a phylogeny evaluation of the core proteome, including 809 common shared proteins, showed an independent grouping of Az39T, Az19, REC3, BR 11975, MTCC4035 and MTCC4036. The G+C content in the genomic DNA of these six strains varied from 68.3 to 68.5 %. Based on the combined phylogenetic, genomic and phenotypic characterization presented here, we consider that strain Az39T, along with strains Az19, REC3, BR 11975, MTCC4035 and MTCC4036, are members of a new Azospirillum species, for which the name Azospirillum argentinense sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Az39T (=LBPCV39T=BR 148428T=CCCT 22.01T).

Genome-based reclassification of Azospirillum brasilense Sp245 as the type strain of Azospirillum baldaniorum sp. nov.

Azospirillum sp. strain Sp245T, originally identified as belonging to Azospirillum brasilense, is recognized as a plant-growth-promoting rhizobacterium due to its ability to fix atmospheric nitrogen and to produce plant-beneficial compounds. Azospirillum sp. Sp245T and other related strains were isolated from the root surfaces of different plants in Brazil. Cells are Gram-negative, curved or slightly curved rods, and motile with polar and lateral flagella. Their growth temperature varies between 20 to 38 °C and their carbon source utilization is similar to other Azospirillum species. A preliminary 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that the new species is closely related to A. brasilense Sp7T and A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T. Housekeeping genes revealed that Azospirillum sp. Sp245T, BR 12001 and Vi22 form a separate cluster from strain A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T, and a group of strains closely related to A. brasilense Sp7T. Overall genome relatedness index (OGRI) analyses estimated based on average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) between Azospirillum sp. Sp245T and its close relatives to other Azospirillum species type strains, such as A. brasilense Sp7T and A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T , revealed values lower than the limit of species circumscription. Moreover, core-proteome phylogeny including 1079 common shared proteins showed the independent clusterization of A. brasilense Sp7T, A. formosense CC-Nfb-7T and Azospirillum sp. Sp245T, a finding that was corroborated by the genome clustering of OGRI values and housekeeping phylogenies. The DNA G+C content of the cluster of Sp245T was 68.4-68.6 %. Based on the phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypical and physiological analysis, we propose that strain Sp245T together with the strains Vi22 and BR12001 represent a novel species of the genus Azospirillum, for which the name Azospirillum baldaniorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Sp245T (=BR 11005T=IBPPM 219T) (GCF_007827915.1, GCF_000237365.1, and GCF_003119195.2).

Genomic metrics analyses indicate that Paenibacillus azotofixans is not a later synonym of Paenibacillus durus.

Paenibacillus durusand Paenibacillus azotofixans, both Gram-stain-positive and endospore-forming bacilli, have been considered to be a single species. However, a preliminary computation of their average nucleotide identity (ANI) values suggested that these species are not synonyms. Given this, the taxonomic attributions of these species were evaluated through genomic and phylogenomic approaches. Although the identity of 16S rRNA gene sequences of P. durus DSM 1735T and P. azotofixans ATCC 35681T are above the circumscription species threshold, genomic metrics analyses indicate otherwise. ANI, gANI and OrthoANI values computed from their genome sequences were around 92 %, below the species limits. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization and MUMi estimations also corroborated these observations. In fact, in all metrics, Paenibacillus zanthoxyli JH29T seemed to be more similar to Paenibacillus azotofixans. ATCC 35681T than P. durus DSM 1735T. Phylogenetic analyses based on concatenated core-proteome and concatenated gyrB, recA, recN and rpoB genes confirmed that P. zanthoxyli is the closest Paenibacillus species to P. azotofixans. A review of the phenotypic profiles from these three species revealed that their biochemical repertoires are very similar, although P. azotofixans ATCC 35681T can be differentiated from P. durus DSM1735T in 13 among more than 90 phenotypic traits. Considering phylogenetic and genomic analyses, Paenibacillus azotofixans should be considered as an independent species, and not as a later synonym of Paenibacillus durus.

Reclassification of Ochrobactrum lupini as a later heterotypic synonym of Ochrobactrum anthropi based on whole-genome sequence analysis.

The genus Ochrobactrum belongs to the family Brucellaceae and its members are known to be adapted to a wide range of ecological niches. Ochrobactrum anthropi ATCC 49188T and Ochrobactrum lupini LUP21T are strains isolated from human clinical and plant root nodule samples, respectively, which share high similarity for phylogenetic markers (i.e 100 % for 16S rRNA, 99.9 % for dnaK and 99.35 % for rpoB). In this work, multiple genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) approaches, digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and phylogenetic analysis were performed in order to investigate the taxonomic relationship between O. anthropi ATCC 49188T, O. lupini LUP21T, and other five type strains from the genus Ochrobactrum. Whole-genome comparisons demonstrated that O. lupini LUP21T and the Ochrobactrum genus type species, O. anthropi ATCC 49188T, share 97.55 % of ANIb, 98.25 % of ANIm, 97.99 % of gANI, 97.94 % of OrthoANI and 83.9 % of dDDH, which exceed the species delineation thresholds. These strains are also closely related in phylogenies reconstructed from a concatenation of 1193 sequences from single-copy ortholog genes. A review of their profiles revealed that O. anthropi ATCC 49188T and O. lupini LUP21T do not present pronounced differences at phenotypic and chemotaxonomic levels. Considering phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, O. lupini should be considered a later heterotypic synonym of O. anthropi.

Genome-based reclassification of Paenibacillus dauci as a later heterotypic synonym of Paenibacillus shenyangensis.

Paenibacillus shenyangensis and Paenibacillus dauci are Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped and endospore-forming bacteria originally isolated from soil and carrot samples, respectively, in China. Preliminary comparative genomic analysis showed that these bacteria could constitute a single species. Therefore, in this study, their taxonomic statuses were clarified through distinct genomic metrics and phylogenetic analyses. Paenibacillus shenyangensis A9T and P. dauci H9T presented values of average nucleotide identity (ANI) and its derivative metrics (gANI and OrthoANI) ranging from 97.88 to 98.08 %, and digital DNA-DNA hybridization equal to 89.08 %. Furthermore, the identities of 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoB, recA and recN genes were all equal or higher than 98.7 %. Phylogenies of these marker genes and the concatenated core proteome were congruent in the sense that P. shenyangensis A9T and P. dauci H9T are the closest type-strains of the genus Paenibacillus. A review of their profiles revealed that these strains do not present pronounced differences at the phenotypic and chemotaxonomic levels. Considering phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, P. dauci should be reclassified as a later heterotypic synonym of P. shenyangensis.

Paenibacillus helianthi sp. nov., a nitrogen fixing species isolated from the rhizosphere of Helianthus annuus L.

Three facultatively anaerobic endospore-forming bacteria were isolated from the rhizosphere of sunflowers grown in fields of Rio Grande do Sul State, Brazil. The designated type strain P26ET was previously identified as a sunflower growth promoting bacterium and is able to fix nitrogen and to excrete ammonia. According to analyses of 16S rRNA gene sequences, P26ET presented similarity values above 98.8% in relation to Paenibacillus azotifigens NF2-4-5T, Paenibacillus graminis RSA19T, Paenibacillus jilunlii Be17T, Paenibacillus salinicaeni LAM0A28T, and Paenibacillus sonchi X19-5T. Phylogenetic reconstructions based on 16S rRNA gene and core proteome data showed that the strains P26ET, P3E and P32E form a distinct clade, which did not include any type strain of the currently described Paenibacillus species. Also, genomic comparisons using average nucleotide identity (ANI), Orthologous ANI and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization revealed similarity ranges below the recommended thresholds when the three isolates from sunflower were compared to their close relatives. The DNA G + C content of strain P26ET was determined to be 49.4 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids are anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0, representing about 58 and 14% of the total fatty acids in P26ET, respectively. Based on different taxonomic genomic metrics, phylogeny, and phenotypic data, we propose that strain P26ET (= DSM 102269 = BR10509) represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, for which the name Paenibacillus helianthi sp. nov. is proposed.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria as inoculants in agricultural soils.

Plant-microbe interactions in the rhizosphere are the determinants of plant health, productivity and soil fertility. Plant growth-promoting bacteria (PGPB) are bacteria that can enhance plant growth and protect plants from disease and abiotic stresses through a wide variety of mechanisms; those that establish close associations with plants, such as the endophytes, could be more successful in plant growth promotion. Several important bacterial characteristics, such as biological nitrogen fixation, phosphate solubilization, ACC deaminase activity, and production of siderophores and phytohormones, can be assessed as plant growth promotion (PGP) traits. Bacterial inoculants can contribute to increase agronomic efficiency by reducing production costs and environmental pollution, once the use of chemical fertilizers can be reduced or eliminated if the inoculants are efficient. For bacterial inoculants to obtain success in improving plant growth and productivity, several processes involved can influence the efficiency of inoculation, as for example the exudation by plant roots, the bacterial colonization in the roots, and soil health. This review presents an overview of the importance of soil-plant-microbe interactions to the development of efficient inoculants, once PGPB are extensively studied microorganisms, representing a very diverse group of easily accessible beneficial bacteria.

Plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR): Their potential as antagonists and biocontrol agents.

Bacteria that colonize plant roots and promote plant growth are referred to as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR). PGPR are highly diverse and in this review we focus on rhizobacteria as biocontrol agents. Their effects can occur via local antagonism to soil-borne pathogens or by induction of systemic resistance against pathogens throughout the entire plant. Several substances produced by antagonistic rhizobacteria have been related to pathogen control and indirect promotion of growth in many plants, such as siderophores and antibiotics. Induced systemic resistance (ISR) in plants resembles pathogen-induced systemic acquired resistance (SAR) under conditions where the inducing bacteria and the challenging pathogen remain spatially separated. Both types of induced resistance render uninfected plant parts more resistant to pathogens in several plant species. Rhizobacteria induce resistance through the salicylic acid-dependent SAR pathway, or require jasmonic acid and ethylene perception from the plant for ISR. Rhizobacteria belonging to the genera Pseudomonas and Bacillus are well known for their antagonistic effects and their ability to trigger ISR. Resistance-inducing and antagonistic rhizobacteria might be useful in formulating new inoculants with combinations of different mechanisms of action, leading to a more efficient use for biocontrol strategies to improve cropping systems.

Genome sequence of the diazotrophic Gram-positive rhizobacterium Paenibacillus riograndensis SBR5(T).

Paenibacillus riograndensis SBR5(T), a nitrogen-fixing Gram-positive rhizobacterium isolated from a wheat field in the south of Brazil, has a great potential for agricultural applications due to its plant growth promotion effects. Here we present the draft genome sequence of P. riograndensis SBR5(T). Its 7.37-Mb genome encodes determinants of the diazotrophic lifestyle and plant growth promotion, such as nitrogen fixation, antibiotic resistance, nitrate utilization, and iron uptake.

Growth-promoting effects of Bradyrhizobium soybean symbionts in black oats, white oats, and ryegrass.

Although inoculating soybean with rhizobia for biological nitrogen fixation is a common practice in agriculture, rhizobia are also known to associate with grasses. In this study, we evaluate the potential utility of the rhizobial strains SEMIA 587 and 5019 (Bradyrhizobium elkanii), 5079 (Bradyrhizobium japonicum), and 5080 (Bradyrhizobium diazoefficiens), recommended for Brazilian soybean inoculation, in colonizing black oat plants and promoting growth in black and white oats, and ryegrass. Inoculation of white oats with SEMIA 587 increase the seed germination (SG) by 32.09%, whereas the SG of black oats inoculated with SEMIA 587 and 5019 increased by 40.38% and 37.85%, respectively. Similarly, inoculation of ryegrass with all strains increased SG values between 24.63 and 27.59%. In addition, white oats with SEMIA 587 and 5080 had root areas significantly superior to those in other treatments, whereas inoculation with SEMIA 5079 and 5080 resulted in the highest volume of roots. Likewise, SEMIA 5079 and 5080 significantly increased the length, volume, and area of black oats roots, whereas SEMIA 587 increased the volume, area, and dry mass of roots and shoot. Inoculation in ryegrass with SEMIA 587 significantly increased the root volume. Moreover, most strains transformed with gfp and gus were observed to colonize the roots of black oats. Collectively, the findings of this study indicate that rhizobial strains recommended for inoculation of soybean can also be used to promote the growth of the three assessed grass species, and are able to colonize the roots of black oats.

Genomic Metrics Applied to Rhizobiales (Hyphomicrobiales): Species Reclassification, Identification of Unauthentic Genomes and False Type Strains.

Taxonomic decisions within the order Rhizobiales have relied heavily on the interpretations of highly conserved 16S rRNA sequences and DNA-DNA hybridizations (DDH). Currently, bacterial species are defined as including strains that present 95-96% of average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 70% of digital DDH (dDDH). Thus, ANI values from 520 genome sequences of type strains from species of Rhizobiales order were computed. From the resulting 270,400 comparisons, a ≥95% cut-off was used to extract high identity genome clusters through enumerating maximal cliques. Coupling this graph-based approach with dDDH from clusters of interest, it was found that: (i) there are synonymy between Aminobacter lissarensis and Aminobacter carboxidus, Aurantimonas manganoxydans and Aurantimonas coralicida, "Bartonella mastomydis," and Bartonella elizabethae, Chelativorans oligotrophicus, and Chelativorans multitrophicus, Rhizobium azibense, and Rhizobium gallicum, Rhizobium fabae, and Rhizobium pisi, and Rhodoplanes piscinae and Rhodoplanes serenus; (ii) Chelatobacter heintzii is not a synonym of Aminobacter aminovorans; (iii) "Bartonella vinsonii" subsp. arupensis and "B. vinsonii" subsp. berkhoffii represent members of different species; (iv) the genome accessions GCF_003024615.1 ("Mesorhizobium loti LMG 6,125T"), GCF_003024595.1 ("Mesorhizobium plurifarium LMG 11,892T"), GCF_003096615.1 ("Methylobacterium organophilum DSM 760T"), and GCF_000373025.1 ("R. gallicum R-602 spT") are not from the genuine type strains used for the respective species descriptions; and v) "Xanthobacter autotrophicus" Py2 and "Aminobacter aminovorans" KCTC 2,477T represent cases of misuse of the term "type strain". Aminobacter heintzii comb. nov. and the reclassification of Aminobacter ciceronei as A. heintzii is also proposed. To facilitate the downstream analysis of large ANI matrices, we introduce here ProKlust ("Prokaryotic Clusters"), an R package that uses a graph-based approach to obtain, filter, and visualize clusters on identity/similarity matrices, with settable cut-off points and the possibility of multiple matrices entries.

Plant Growth-Promoting Bacteria (PGPB): Isolation and Screening of PGP Activities.

Plant roots are associated with numerous and diverse types of beneficial and pathogenic microorganisms. Plant growth-promoting (rhizo)bacteria (PGPB or PGPR) are isolated from plants crops worldwide, and many of them are used as agricultural inoculants. Agricultural biofertilization and biocontrol of pathogens are eco-friendly alternatives to chemical usage and have less energy, environmental, and economic costs. PGPB isolation and evaluation are essentials steps for determining bacteria that are able to improve plant development and productivity. In this unit, we present protocols to isolate bacteria from soil and plant roots ("putative" diazotrophic and endospore-forming bacteria), as well to evaluate some of their beneficial characteristics for the promotion of plant growth (e.g., nitrogen fixation, production of indolic compounds and siderophores, phosphate solubilization, and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylate deaminase activity). © 2017 by John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

A new cold-adapted serine peptidase from Antarctic Lysobacter sp. A03: Insights about enzyme activity at low temperatures.

Currently, there is a great interest for customized biocatalysts that can supply the ongoing demand of industrial processes, but also deal with the growing concern about the environment. In this scenario, cold-adapted enzymes have features that make them very attractive for industrial and biotechnological purposes. Here, we describe A03Pep1, a new cold-adapted serine peptidase isolated from Lysobacter sp. A03 by screening a genomic library. The enzyme is synthesized as a large inactive prepropeptidase that, after intramolecular processing, gives rise to the active form, of 35kDa. The heterologous expression of A03Pep1 was carried out in E. coli cells harboring the vector pGEX-4T-2-a0301. Its activity was optimal at pH 9.0 and 40°C, in the presence of 25mM Ca2+, which may contribute to the thermal stability of the enzyme. The 3D structure modelling predicted a less deep and more open binding pocket in A03Pep1 than that observed in the crystal structure of its mesophilic homologous AprV2, presumably as a way to enhance the probability of substrate binding at low temperatures. These results provide possible approaches in developing new biotechnologically relevant peptidases active at low to moderate temperatures.

Reclassification of Paenibacillus riograndensis as a Genomovar of Paenibacillus sonchi: Genome-Based Metrics Improve Bacterial Taxonomic Classification.

Species from the genus Paenibacillus are widely studied due to their biotechnological relevance. Dozens of novel species descriptions of this genus were published in the last couple of years, but few utilized genomic data as classification criteria. Here, we demonstrate the importance of using genome-based metrics and phylogenetic analyses to identify and classify Paenibacillus strains. For this purpose, Paenibacillus riograndensis SBR5T, Paenibacillus sonchi X19-5T, and their close relatives were compared through phenotypic, genotypic, and genomic approaches. With respect to P. sonchi X19-5T, P. riograndensis SBR5T, Paenibacillus sp. CAR114, and Paenibacillus sp. CAS34 presented ANI (average nucleotide identity) values ranging from 95.61 to 96.32%, gANI (whole-genome average nucleotide identity) values ranging from 96.78 to 97.31%, and dDDH (digital DNA-DNA hybridization) values ranging from 68.2 to 73.2%. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA, gyrB, recA, recN, and rpoB genes and concatenated proteins supported the monophyletic origin of these Paenibacillus strains. Therefore, we propose to assign Paenibacillus sp. CAR114 and Paenibacillus sp. CAS34 to P. sonchi species, and reclassify P. riograndensis SBR5T as a later heterotypic synonym of P. sonchi (type strain X19-5T), with the creation of three novel genomovars, P. sonchi genomovar Sonchi (type strain X19-5T), P. sonchi genomovar Riograndensis (type strain SBR5T), P. sonchi genomovar Oryzarum (type strain CAS34T = DSM 102041T; = BR10511T).

Whole-Genome Shotgun Sequence of the Keratinolytic Bacterium Lysobacter sp. A03, Isolated from the Antarctic Environment.

Lysobacter sp. strain A03 is a protease-producing bacterium isolated from decomposing-penguin feathers collected in the Antarctic environment. This strain has the ability to degrade keratin at low temperatures. The A03 genome sequence provides the possibility of finding new genes with biotechnological potential to better understand its cold-adaptation mechanism and survival in cold environments.

Genome of Pseudomonas sp. FeS53a, a Putative Plant Growth-Promoting Bacterium Associated with Rice Grown in Iron-Stressed Soils.

Pseudomonas sp. FeS53a was isolated from the roots of rice plants cultivated in one area with a well-established history of iron toxicity. The FeS53a genome sequence provides the genetic basis for understanding its lifestyle and survival in association with rice in conditions of iron toxicity.

Genome of Rhizobium sp. UR51a, Isolated from Rice Cropped in Southern Brazilian Fields.

Rhizobium sp. UR51a is a Gram-negative bacterium isolated from roots of rice plants, and it presents plant growth-promoting abilities. The nutrient uptake in rice plants inoculated with UR51a was satisfactory. The genome of strain UR51a is composed of 5,233,443-bp and harbors 5,079 coding sequences.

Genome Sequence of Bacillus mycoides B38V, a Growth-Promoting Bacterium of Sunflower.

Bacillus mycoides B38V is a bacterium isolated from the sunflower rhizosphere that is able to promote plant growth and N uptake. The genome of the isolate has approximately 5.80 Mb and presents sequence codifiers for plant growth-promoting characteristics, such as nitrate reduction and ammonification and iron-siderophore uptake.

A model to explain plant growth promotion traits: a multivariate analysis of 2,211 bacterial isolates.

Plant growth-promoting bacteria can greatly assist sustainable farming by improving plant health and biomass while reducing fertilizer use. The plant-microorganism-environment interaction is an open and complex system, and despite the active research in the area, patterns in root ecology are elusive. Here, we simultaneously analyzed the plant growth-promoting bacteria datasets from seven independent studies that shared a methodology for bioprospection and phenotype screening. The soil richness of the isolate's origin was classified by a Principal Component Analysis. A Categorical Principal Component Analysis was used to classify the soil richness according to isolate's indolic compound production, siderophores production and phosphate solubilization abilities, and bacterial genera composition. Multiple patterns and relationships were found and verified with nonparametric hypothesis testing. Including niche colonization in the analysis, we proposed a model to explain the expression of bacterial plant growth-promoting traits according to the soil nutritional status. Our model shows that plants favor interaction with growth hormone producers under rich nutrient conditions but favor nutrient solubilizers under poor conditions. We also performed several comparisons among the different genera, highlighting interesting ecological interactions and limitations. Our model could be used to direct plant growth-promoting bacteria bioprospection and metagenomic sampling.