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Updated: Jun 22, 2026
07:20
Bioprospecting of Extremophilic Microorganisms to Address Environmental Pollution
Published on: December 30, 2021
Deinococcus gobiensis sp. nov., an extremely radiation-resistant bacterium
Menglong Yuan1, Wei Zhang, Shiming Dai
1Biotechnology Research Institute, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, PR China.
Summary
A novel bacterium, Deinococcus gobiensis, was discovered in the Gobi desert. This red-pigmented, radiation-resistant species expands the Deinococcus genus.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Extremophile Research
- Bacterial Taxonomy
Background:
- The genus Deinococcus is known for its radiation resistance.
- Exploration of extreme environments like deserts can yield novel microbial diversity.
- Understanding bacterial phylogeny and chemotaxonomy is crucial for classification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel bacterium from the Gobi desert.
- To determine the phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic relationship of the isolate to known species.
- To assess the radiation resistance of the novel strain.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of bacteria from Gobi desert sand samples.
- 16S rRNA gene sequencing for phylogenetic analysis.
- Chemotaxonomic analyses including fatty acid profiling, polar lipid analysis, peptidoglycan typing, and respiratory quinone determination.
- DNA-DNA hybridization for relatedness studies.
- Radiation resistance assays (gamma and UV).
Main Results:
- A novel Gram-positive, non-motile, spherical, red-pigmented bacterium, strain I-0(T), was isolated.
- Phylogenetic analysis placed strain I-0(T) within the genus Deinococcus, with <94% 16S rRNA gene similarity to known species.
- Chemotaxonomic data (fatty acids, lipids, peptidoglycan, quinone) supported its placement in Deinococcus.
- DNA-DNA relatedness to Deinococcus radiodurans was 37%.
- The strain exhibited extreme resistance to gamma radiation (>15 kGy) and UV light (>600 J m(-2)).
Conclusions:
- Strain I-0(T) represents a novel species of the genus Deinococcus.
- The proposed name for this new species is Deinococcus gobiensis sp. nov.
- Deinococcus gobiensis is an extremophile with significant radiation resistance, contributing to the understanding of microbial adaptation in harsh environments.
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