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Updated: Jul 17, 2026

Hybrid De Novo Genome Assembly for the Generation of Complete Genomes of Urinary Bacteria using Short- and Long-read Sequencing Technologies
Published on: August 20, 2021
The phylogeny of the genus Nitrobacter based on comparative rep-PCR, 16S rRNA and nitrite oxidoreductase gene
Bram Vanparys1, Eva Spieck, Kim Heylen
1Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry, Physiology and Microbiology, Ghent University, K.L. Ledeganckstraat 35, B-9000 Gent, Belgium. bram.vanparys@ugent.be
Abstract:
Strains of Nitrobacter mediate the second step in the nitrification process by oxidizing nitrite to nitrate. The phylogenetic diversity of the genus is currently not well investigated. In this study, a rep-PCR profile and the nearly complete 16S rRNA gene sequence of 30 strains, comprising a wide physiological as well as ecological diversity and encompassing representatives of the four species, were determined. The sequence diversity of the 16S rRNA gene between different species was low, indicating the need for additional phylogenetic markers. Therefore, primers were developed for amplifying the complete nxrX gene and a 380bp fragment of the nxrB1 gene, which are both genes involved in the nitrite oxidation process. These genes confirmed the division into phylogenetic groups revealed by the 16S rRNA gene but showed a better discriminatory power. They can be a valuable additional tool for phylogenetic analysis within the genus Nitrobacter and can assist in the identification of new Nitrobacter isolates.
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