Paenibacillus chartarius sp. nov., isolated from a paper mill

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacterial Taxonomy
• Environmental Microbiology

Background:

• The genus Paenibacillus comprises diverse, endospore-forming bacteria with significant ecological and industrial roles.
• Accurate bacterial taxonomy is crucial for understanding microbial diversity and function in various environments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize and classify a novel bacterial isolate, strain CCUG 55240(T), from a paper mill environment.
• To determine the phylogenetic and phenotypic distinctiveness of the novel strain within the Paenibacillus genus.

Main Methods:

• Polyphasic taxonomic approach including 16S rRNA gene sequencing for phylogenetic analysis.
• Analysis of cellular fatty acid composition, cell-wall peptidoglycan diamino acid, menaquinone, polar lipids, and polyamines.
• Phenotypic characterization through physiological and biochemical tests.

Main Results:

• Phylogenetic analysis showed strain CCUG 55240(T) belonged to the Paenibacillus genus, with <93.7% 16S rRNA gene similarity to related species.
• Distinctive fatty acid profiles, particularly high levels of iso-C15:0 and iso-C16:0, differentiated the strain.
• Meso-diaminopimelic acid, MK-7, and specific polar lipids and polyamines were identified, consistent with Paenibacillus.

Conclusions:

• Strain CCUG 55240(T) represents a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus.
• The proposed name for this new species is Paenibacillus chartarius sp. nov., with CCUG 55240(T) as the type strain.
• This finding expands the known diversity of Paenibacillus and contributes to the understanding of microbial communities in industrial settings.