Corynebacterium doosanense sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Environmental Microbiology

Background:

• Activated sludge is a complex microbial ecosystem crucial for wastewater treatment.
• Accurate bacterial taxonomy is essential for understanding microbial roles and functions.
• The genus Corynebacterium comprises diverse Gram-positive bacteria with various ecological and clinical implications.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the taxonomic position of a novel coryneform bacterium, strain CAU 212(T), isolated from activated sludge.
• To characterize the phenotypic and genotypic features of strain CAU 212(T).
• To formally propose a new species within the genus Corynebacterium.

Main Methods:

• Polyphasic taxonomic approach integrating morphological, biochemical, and chemotaxonomic analyses.
• Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis for phylogenetic placement.
• Phenotypic characterization including cellular morphology and biochemical tests.

Main Results:

• Strain CAU 212(T) exhibited characteristics consistent with the genus Corynebacterium.
• Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a distinct subline within the Corynebacterium genus.
• Significant sequence divergence (>4.3%) and phenotypic differences distinguished strain CAU 212(T) from known species.

Conclusions:

• Strain CAU 212(T) represents a previously unrecognized species of the genus Corynebacterium.
• The proposed name for this novel species is Corynebacterium doosanense sp. nov.
• The type strain is CAU 212(T) (=KCTC 19568(T)=CCUG 57284(T)).