Terrabacter aeriphilus sp. nov., isolated from an air sample

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Actinomycetes

Background:

• Actinomycetes are a diverse group of bacteria with significant ecological and industrial importance.
• The genus Terrabacter comprises Gram-positive bacteria known for their presence in various environments.
• Accurate taxonomic classification is crucial for understanding microbial diversity and function.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel actinomycete from an air sample.
• To determine the taxonomic position of the novel isolate within the genus Terrabacter.
• To propose a new species designation based on comprehensive polyphasic analysis.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of strain 5414T-18(T) from an air sample collected in Taean, Korea.
• Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• Determination of chemotaxonomic properties including cell wall peptidoglycan, whole-cell sugars, mycolic acids, menaquinone, fatty acids, and polar lipids.
• DNA G+C content determination and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments.

Main Results:

• Strain 5414T-18(T) showed 97.8-98.3% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to recognized Terrabacter species.
• Chemotaxonomic analyses revealed characteristic features of the genus Terrabacter, including peptidoglycan type and major fatty acids.
• DNA-DNA relatedness values between strain 5414T-18(T) and related Terrabacter type strains were below 70%, supporting its status as a distinct species.
• The DNA G+C content was 73 mol%.

Conclusions:

• Strain 5414T-18(T) represents a novel species within the genus Terrabacter.
• The proposed name for this new species is Terrabacter aeriphilus sp. nov.
• The type strain is designated 5414T-18(T) (=KACC 20693(T)=DSM 18563(T)).