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Updated: Jul 3, 2026
11:07
In Situ Isolation and Culturing of Recalcitrant Soil Bacteria using an Isolation Chip (iChip)
Published on: August 6, 2025
Sphingobacterium kitahiroshimense sp. nov., isolated from soil.
Hidetoshi Matsuyama1, Hiromichi Katoh, Takahumi Ohkushi
1Department of Bioscience and Technology, School of Biological Science and Engineering, Tokai University, Minamisawa, Minami-ku, Sapporo 005-8601, Japan. matsuyama@tspirit.tokai-u.jp
Summary
A new bacterium, Sphingobacterium kitahiroshimense, was discovered in Japanese soil. This novel species degrades exopolysaccharides and expands the known diversity within the Sphingobacterium genus.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Taxonomy
- Environmental Science
Background:
- Soil microorganisms play crucial roles in nutrient cycling.
- Exopolysaccharides are complex carbohydrates produced by bacteria with various ecological functions.
- The genus Sphingobacterium comprises Gram-negative, aerobic bacteria with diverse metabolic capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel bacterium from soil capable of degrading exopolysaccharides.
- To determine the taxonomic position of the novel isolate using polyphasic characterization.
- To formally name and describe the new bacterial species and its type strain.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of bacteria from soil samples.
- Gram staining, aerobic and chemoheterotrophic characterization.
- Determination of DNA G+C content.
- Fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) analysis.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH).
Main Results:
- A novel Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, chemoheterotrophic bacterium, strain 10C(T), was isolated.
- The major fatty acids were identified as C(16:1)ω7c, iso-C(15:0) 2-OH, iso-C(15:0), and iso-C(17:0)3-OH.
- 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, chemotaxonomic, and morphological data placed the strain within the genus Sphingobacterium.
- DNA-DNA hybridization confirmed its distinctness, supporting its classification as a new species.
- The DNA G+C content was determined to be 36.9 mol%.
Conclusions:
- Strain 10C(T) represents a novel species within the genus Sphingobacterium.
- The new species is named Sphingobacterium kitahiroshimense sp. nov.
- The type strain is 10C(T) (=JCM 14970(T)=NCIMB 14398(T)).
- This discovery contributes to the understanding of bacterial diversity and the functional roles of soil microbes.
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