Jeotgalibaca caeni sp. nov., isolated from biochemical tank sludge.

A Gram-stain-positive, coccoid-shaped, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated YN-L-12T, was isolated from the activate sludge of a pesticide plant. Colonies on tryptone soya agar were small, white, opaque and circular. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain YN-L-12T belonged to the genus of Jeotgalibaca, and showed the highest similarity to Jeotgalibaca arthritidis 1805-02T (97.0 %), followed by Jeotgalibaca ciconiae H21T32T (96.5 %), Jeotgalibaca porci 1804-02T (95.6 %) and Jeotgalibaca dankookensis EX-07T (95.4 %). The strain grew at 15-37 °C (optimum, 30 °C), with 0-6.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 0.5 %) and at pH 7-9 (optimum, pH 7.5). The major fatty acids were C18 : 1 ω9c, C16 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 41.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity values between strain YN-L-12T and J. arthritidis 1805-02T and J. ciconiae H21T32T were 72.8 and 72.3 %, respectively. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between YN-L-12T and J. arthritidis 1805-02T and J. ciconiae H21T32T were 24.1 and 20.3 %, respectively. According to the results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, strain YN-L-12T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca, for which the name Jeotgalibaca caeni sp. nov. is proposed, with strain YN-L-12T (=KCTC 43533T=CCTCC AB 2022400T) as the type strain.

Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov., isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork.

A novel, Gram-stain-positive, non-spore-forming, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain H21T32T, was isolated from the faeces of an Oriental stork, Ciconia boyciana. Cells formed cocci grouped in pairs, tetrads or conglomerates, and colonies on solid medium were pale yellow. Strain H21T32T belonged to the genus Jeotgalibaca, family Carnobacteriaceae, order Lactobacillales and class Bacilli. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain showed 97.06-97.34, 96.17-96.31 and 95.93-96.07 % similarity to the type strains of Jeotgalibaca arthritidis, J. porci and J. dankookensis, respectively. The strain grew at 10-37 °C (optimum temperature: 30 °C), with 0-7 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum salinity: 0.5 %) and at pH 7-9 (optimum pH: 8). The main cellular fatty acids were C16 : 1 ω9c, C18 : 1 ω9c and C16 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. Respiratory quinones were not detected. Sugar components of the peptidoglycan were rhamnose, ribose and glucose. Amino acid components of the cell wall were l-alanine, d-glucose, l-lysine, glycine and aspartic acid. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 37.1 mol%. Average nucleotide identity between strain H21T32T and J. arthritidis CECT 9157T was 77.02 %, confirming that strain H21T32T represents a novel species of the genus Jeotgalibaca, for which the name Jeotgalibaca ciconiae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is H21T32T (=KCTC 33991T=JCM 33222T).

A smelly business: Microbiology of Adélie penguin guano (Point Thomas rookery, Antarctica).

Adélie penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) are the most numerous flightless bird group breeding in coastal areas of Maritime and Continental Antarctica. Their activity leaves a mark on the land in the form of large guano deposits. This guano is an important nutrient source for terrestrial habitats of ice-free Antarctic areas, most notably by being the source of ammonia vapors which feed the surrounding grass, lichen and algae communities. Although investigated by researchers, the fate of the guano-associated microbial community and its role in decomposition processes remain vague. Therefore, by employing several direct community assessment methods combined with a broad culture-based approach we provide data on bacterial numbers, their activity and taxonomic affiliation in recently deposited and decayed Adélie penguin guano sampled at the Point Thomas rookery in Maritime Antarctica (King George Island). Our research indicates that recently deposited guano harbored mostly bacteria of penguin gut origin, presumably inactive in cold rookery settings. This material was rich in mesophilic enzymes active also at low temperatures, likely mediating early stage decomposition. Fresh guano colonization by environmental bacteria was minor, accomplished mostly by ammonia scavenging Jeotgalibaca sp. cells. Decayed guano contained 10-fold higher bacterial numbers with cold-active enzymes dominating the samples. Guano was colonized by uric-acid degrading and lipolytic Psychrobacter spp. and proteolytic Chryseobacterium sp. among others. Several spore-forming bacteria of penguin gut origin persisted in highly decomposed material, most notably uric-acid fermenting members of the Gottschalkiaceae family.