Afifella aestuarii sp. nov., a phototrophic bacterium.

An oval- to rod-shaped, motile, Gram-stain-negative, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative, pink-coloured phototrophic bacterium (designated as strain JA968T) was isolated from an estuary near Pata, Gujarat, India. Cells had an intracytoplasmic membrane architecture as lamellae and divided by budding. Strain JA968T had bacteriochlorophyll-a and spirilloxanthin series carotenoids as photosynthetic pigments. The strain exhibited photolithoautotrophic, photoorganoheterotrophic and chemoorganoheterotrophic growth modes and required thiamine as a growth factor. Strain JA968T had C18 : 1ω7c/C18  : 1ω6c as the predominant fatty acid with ubiquinone-10 (Q-10) and menaquinone-10 (MK-10) forming the quinone composition. The genomic DNA G+C content of the strain was 63.5 mol%. Pairwise comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA968T was highly similar to Afifella marina DSM 2698T (99.9 %) and Afifella pfennigii DSM 17143T (98.4 %). The average nucleotide identity values were 92 % between strain JA968T and A. marina DSM 2698T, and 78 % between strain JA968T and A. pfennigii DSM 17143T. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain JA968T and A. marina and A. pfennigii were 49 and 19 %, respectively. The genomic distinction was also supported by differences in phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. We propose that strain JA968T represents a new species of the genus Afifella with the name Afifella aestuarii sp. nov. The type strain is JA968T (=KCTC 15634T=NBRC 113338T).

Rhodomicrobium lacus sp. nov., an alkalitolerent bacterium isolated from Umiam lake, Shillong, India.

A Gram-stain-negative, motile, alkali-tolerant, swollen-rod shaped, reddish brown coloured, phototrophic bacterium designated as strain JA980T, was isolated from freshwater sampled at Umiam lake, Shillong, India. Strain JA980T grew well up to pH 9.0. Respiratory quinones were ubiquinone 10 and rhodoquinone 10. The major fatty acid was C18: 1ω7c/C18:1ω6c with minor amounts of C18:0, C16:0, C18:0 3-OH and C16:0 3-OH. Strain JA980T contained bacteriochlorophyll-a and carotenoids of the spirilloxanthin series. The polar lipids of strain JA980T comprised phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, unidentified amino lipids (AL1,3,4,5) and an unidentified lipid (L1). Strain JA980T had the highest (99.57 %) 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the type strains of Rhodomicrobium vannielii ATCC17100T and Rhodomicrobium udaipurense JA643T. The genome of strain JA980T was 3.88 Mbp with a DNA G+C content of 62.4 mol%. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses, low in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values (33 %), low (87 %) average nucleotide identity results, chemotaxonomic characteristics and differential physiological properties, strain JA980T could not be classified into either of the two recognized species of the genus Rhodomicrobium, suggesting that it represents a novel species, for which the name Rhodomicrobium lacus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA980T (=KCTC 15697T= MCC 3714T= NBRC 113803T).

Rhodobacter sediminicola sp. nov., isolated from a fresh water pond.

A phototrophic bacterium, designated as strain JA983T, was isolated from a freshwater pond in Gujarat, India. The strain was yellowish brown, catalase- and oxidase-positive, rod-to-oval shaped, Gram-stain-negative and motile. Growth was observed at 20-35 °C. NaCl was not required for optimum growth and up to 5 % was tolerated. Growth was observed at pH 6.0-8.0, with an optimum at pH 7.0. An unidentified glycolipid, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, two unidentified aminolipids (AL1, AL2) and two unidentified lipids (L1 and L2) are the polar lipids of JA983T. Q10 is the only quinone. C18 : 1 ω7c/C18 : 1 ω6c is the major fatty acid. JA983T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of Rhodobacter sphaeroides (98.99%), Rhodobacter megalophilus (98.99 %), Rhodobacter johrii (98.99 %) and other members of the genus Rhodobacter with less than 98.7 % similarity. In a 16S rRNA gene sequence-based phylogenetic tree, JA983T formed a different sub-clade with its nearest phylogenetic members of genus Rhodobacter. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and genomic [average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) differences indicated that JA983T is significantly different from other species of the genus Rhodobacter and thus represents a novel species of the genus for which the name Rhodobacter sediminicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JA983T (=KCTC 15782T=NBRC 113843T).

Chryseobacterium candidae sp. nov., isolated from a yeast (Candida tropicalis).

A Gram-stain-negative, rod shaped, non-motile, aerobic bacterium (strain JC507T) was isolated from a yeast (Candida tropicalis JY101). Strain JC507T was oxidase- and catalase-positive. Complete 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison data indicated that strain JC507T was a member of the genus Chryseobacterium and was closely related to Chryseobacterium indologenes NBRC 14944T (98.7 %), followed by Chryseobacterium arthrosphaerae CC-VM-7T (98.6 %), Chryseobacterium gleum ATCC 35910T (98.5 %) and less than 98.5 % to other species of the genus Chryseobacterium.The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JC507T was 36.0 mol%. Strain JC507T had phosphatidylethanolamine, four unidentified amino lipids and four unidentified lipids. MK-6 was the only respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C11 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 03OH. The average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain JC507T and C. indologenes NBRC 14944T, C. arthrosphaerae CC-VM-7T and C. gleum ATCC 35910T were 80.2, 83.0 and 87.0 % and 24, 26.7 and 32.7 %, respectively. The results of phenotypic, phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses support the inclusion of strain JC507T as a representative of a new species of the genus Chryseobacterium, for which the name Chryseobacteriumcandidae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC507T (=KCTC 52928T=MCC 4072T=NBRC 113872T).

Gimesia chilikensis sp. nov., a haloalkali-tolerant planctomycete isolated from Chilika lagoon and emended description of the genus Gimesia.

A Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-motile, salt- and alkali-tolerant, pear to oval shaped, rosette-forming, white coloured, bacterium, designated as strain JC646T, was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Chilika lagoon, India. Strain JC646T reproduced through budding, grew well at up to pH 9.0 and tolerated up to 7 % NaCl. Strain JC 646T utilized α-d-glucose, fumarate, lactose, sucrose, fructose, d-galactose, mannose, maltose and d-xylose as carbon sources. Peptone, l-isoleucine, l-serine, l-lysine, l-glutamic acid, l-aspartic acid, dl-threonine and l-glycine were used by the strain as nitrogen sources for growth. The respiratory quinone was MK6. Major fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω7c/C16 : 1 ω6c and C16 : 0. The polar lipids of strain JC646T comprised phosphatidyl-dimethylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified amino lipid and two unidentified lipids. Strain JC646T had highest (97.3 %) 16S rRNA gene sequence identity to the only species of the genus Gimesia, Gimesia maris DSM 8797T. The genome of strain JC646T was 7.64 Mbp with a DNA G+C content of 53.2 mol%. For the resolution of the phylogenetic congruence of the novel strain, the phylogeny was also reconstructed with the sequences of 92 housekeeping genes. Based on phylogenetic analyses, digital DNA-DNA hybridization (19.0 %), genome average nucleotide identity (74.5 %) and average amino acid identity/percentageof conserved proteins (77 %) results, chemotaxonomic characteristics, and differential physiological properties, strain JC646T is recognized as representing a new species of the genus Gimesia, for which we propose the name Gimesia chilikensis sp. nov. The type strain is JC646T (=KCTC 72175T=NBRC 113881T).

Roseimaritima sediminicola sp. nov., a new member of Planctomycetaceae isolated from Chilika lagoon.

Strain JC651T was isolated from a sediment sample collected from Chilika lagoon, which is one of the world's most important brackish water lakes with estuarine characteristics. Colonies of this strain are light pink and cells are Gram-stain negative, spherical to pear shaped and form rosettes. Strain JC651T grows well up to pH 9.0 and tolerates up to 5 % NaCl (w/v). The respiratory quinone is MK6. The detected major fatty acids are C18 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. Its polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified phospholipid, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylcholine. Strain JC651T shows highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (97.8%) to the type species of the genus Roseimaritima, Roseimaritima ulvae UC8T. The genome size of strain JC651T is 6.2 Mb with a G+C content of 62.4 mol%. For the resolution of the phylogenetic congruence of the novel strain, the phylogeny was also reconstructed with the sequences of 92 core genes. Based on the phylogenetic analyses, low digital DNA-DNA hybridization values (19.5%), low (74.9%) genome average nucleotide identity results, chemotaxonomic characteristics and differential physiological properties, strain JC651T is recognized as a new species of the genus Roseimaritima for which we propose the name Roseimaritima sediminicola sp. nov. The type strain is JC651T (=KCTC 72178T=NBRC 113926T).

Paracoccus aeridis sp. nov., an indole-producing bacterium isolated from the rhizosphere of an orchid, Aerides maculosa.

A Gram-stain-negative, non-motile, coccoid-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive, non-denitrifying, neutrophilic bacterium designated as strain JC501T was isolated from an epiphytic rhizosphere of an orchid, Aerides maculosa, growing in the Western Ghats of India. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that strain JC501T belonged to the genus Paracoccus and had the highest levels of sequence identity with Paracoccus marinus KKL-A5T (98.9 %), Paracoccus contaminans WPAn02T (97.3 %) and other members of the genus Paracoccus (<97.3 %). Strain JC501T produced indole-3 acetic acid and other indole derivatives from tryptophan. The dominant respiratory quinone was Q-10 and the major fatty acid was C18 : 1ω7c/C18 : 1ω6c, with significant quantities of C18 : 1ω9c, C17 : 0 and C16 : 0. The polar lipids of strain JC501T comprised phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid, two unidentified aminolipids, two unidentified lipids and four unidentified phospholipids. The genome of strain JC501T was 3.3 Mbp with G+C content of 69.4 mol%. For the resolution of the phylogenetic congruence of the novel strain, the phylogeny was also reconstructed with the sequences of eight housekeeping genes. Based on the results of phylogenetic analyses, low (<85.9 %) average nucleotide identity, digital DNA-DNA hybridization (<29.8 %), chemotaxonomic analysis and physiological properties, strain JC501T could not be classified into any of the recognized species of the genus Paracoccus. Strain JC501T represents a novel species, for which the name Paracoccus aeridis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC501T (=LMG 30532T=NBRC 113644T).

Comparative metabolomic studies of Alkanivorax xenomutans showing differential power output in a three chambered microbial fuel cell.

Metabolomic study of electrogenic bacteria is a necessity to understand the extent of complex organic matter degradation and to invent new co-culture techniques to achieve complete degradation. In this study, we have subjected Alkanivorax xenomutans (KCTC 23751T; NBRC 108843T), a bacterium capable for biodegradation of complex hydrocarbons, to oxic and anoxic conditions in a three chambered microbial fuel cell. In an attempt to understand the molecular mechanisms during the electrogenic processes of A. xenomutans, intra cellular (endo metabolome or the fingerprint) and exo metabolome (extracellular metabolome or the foot print) were analyzed under oxic and anoxic conditions, using FTIR and GC-MS. Interpretation of the data revealed higher number of metabolites in the anoxic fraction as compared to oxic fraction. In addition, expression of putative metabolites that influence electron transfer like flavins, fumarate and quinones were found to be predominant in the organisms when grown in anoxic conditions. Hence, the presence of anoxic conditions governed the electrogenic bacteria to produce enhanced power output by modulating differential metabolomic profiling, compared to the culture grown in oxic conditions.

Transcriptome analysis of hopanoid deficient mutant of Rhodopseuodomonas palustris TIE-1.

All three domains of life have an ordered plasma membrane which is pivotal in the selective fitness of primitive life. Like cholesterol in eukaryotes, hopanoids are important in bacteria to modulate membrane order. Hopanoids are pentacyclic triterpenoid lipids biosynthesised in many eubacteria, few ferns and lichens. Hopanoid modulates outer membrane order and hopanoid deficiency results in the weakened structural integrity of the membrane which may in turn affect the other structures within or spanning the cell envelope and contributing to various membrane functions. Hence, to decipher the role of hopanoid, genome-wide transcriptome of wild-type and Δshc mutant of Rhodopseudomonas palustris TIE-1 was studied which indicated 299 genes were upregulated and 306 genes were downregulated in hopanoid deficient mutant, representing ∼11.5% of the genome. Thirty-eight genes involved in chemotaxis, response to stimuli and signal transduction were differentially regulated and impaired motility in hopanoid deficient mutant showed that hopanoid plays a crucial role in chemotaxis. The docking study demonstrated that diguanylate cyclase which catalyses the synthesis of secondary messenger exhibited the capability to interact with hopanoids and might be confederating in chemotaxis and signal transduction. Seventy-four genes involved in membrane transport were differentially expressed and cell assays also explicit that the multidrug transport is compromised in Δshc mutant. Membrane transport is reliant on hopanoids which may explain the basis for previous observations linking hopanoids to antibiotic resistance. Disturbing the membrane order by targeting lipid synthesis can be a possible novel approach in developing new antimicrobials and hopanoid biosynthesis could be a potential target.