Methylobacterium dankookense sp. nov., isolated from drinking water

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Environmental Microbiology

Background:

• The genus Methylobacterium comprises pink-pigmented, facultative methylotrophic bacteria found in diverse environments.
• Understanding bacterial diversity in drinking water systems is crucial for public health and water quality management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacterium from drinking water.
• To determine the taxonomic placement of the novel isolate within the Methylobacterium genus.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and cultivation of bacteria from drinking water.
• Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• DNA-DNA hybridization for genetic relatedness assessment.
• Determination of phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics (G+C content, quinones, fatty acids).

Main Results:

• A pink-pigmented, Gram-negative, aerobic rod, designated SW08-7(T), was isolated.
• Phylogenetic analysis placed strain SW08-7(T) within the genus Methylobacterium.
• DNA-DNA hybridization showed low relatedness (28.5%) to Methylobacterium hispanicum.
• Genomic DNA G+C content was 68.9 mol%, with Q-10 as the major quinone and C(18:1) omega7c as the major fatty acid.

Conclusions:

• Strain SW08-7(T) represents a novel species within the genus Methylobacterium.
• The proposed name for this new species is Methylobacterium dankookense sp. nov.
• This finding contributes to the knowledge of bacterial populations in drinking water ecosystems.