Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 20, 2026

05:33
Isolation of Soil Microorganisms Using iChip Technology
Published on: January 10, 2025
Microlunatus terrae sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil
1Department of Bio & Environmental Technology, College of Natural Science, Seoul Women's University, Seoul, 139-774, Republic of Korea.
Journal of Microbiology (Seoul, Korea)
|July 4, 2012
Summary
A novel bacterium, Microlunatus terrae sp. nov., was identified from South Korean soil. This Gram-positive Actinobacteria species expands the known diversity within the Microlunatus genus.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacterial Taxonomy
- Phylogenetics
Background:
- Actinobacteria are a diverse phylum of Gram-positive bacteria.
- The genus Microlunatus comprises several species with known soil habitats.
- Accurate bacterial classification is crucial for understanding microbial ecosystems.
Purpose of the Study:
- To taxonomically classify a novel bacterial isolate, strain BS6(T).
- To determine the phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic characteristics of strain BS6(T).
- To propose a new species within the Microlunatus genus.
Main Methods:
- Isolation and cultivation of strain BS6(T) from soil.
- Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Chemotaxonomic analysis including fatty acid profiling and cell wall composition.
Main Results:
- Strain BS6(T) is a Gram-positive, non-motile bacterium belonging to the family Propionibacteriaceae.
- Phylogenetic analysis showed highest similarity to Microlunatus soli (98.6%).
- Chemotaxonomic data, including fatty acids and cell wall components, supported its classification.
Conclusions:
- Strain BS6(T) represents a novel species, proposed as Microlunatus terrae sp. nov.
- This finding contributes to the understanding of bacterial diversity in soil environments.
- The study establishes a new type strain for the genus Microlunatus.
Related Concept Videos
Anoxygenic Phototrophic Bacteria
Anoxygenic phototrophic bacteria are a diverse group of microorganisms that perform photosynthesis without producing oxygen. They primarily include purple sulfur bacteria, purple nonsulfur bacteria, green sulfur bacteria, and green nonsulfur bacteria. These bacteria are classified into the Gammaproteobacteria, Alphaproteobacteria, Betaproteobacteria, Chlorobi, and Chloroflexi lineages, each with distinct physiological and ecological adaptations.Purple sulfur bacteria belong to the...
Microbiota of the Large Intestine
The large intestine hosts the most densely populated microbial ecosystem in the human body. This complex community primarily consists of anaerobic bacteria, with Bacillota (formerly Firmicutes) and Bacteroidota (formerly Bacteroidetes) as the predominant groups. The distribution of these microbes varies along different sections of the large intestine, influenced by local environmental factors such as oxygen availability and nutrient composition.The cecum, located at the beginning of the large...
Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
Microbiota of the Respiratory Tract
The human respiratory tract, comprising the upper and lower segments, serves as a critical interface with the external environment. The upper respiratory tract (URT)—including the nostrils, sinuses, pharynx, and oropharynx—is heavily colonized by microbes, while the lower respiratory tract (LRT), composed of the larynx, trachea, bronchi, and lungs, was long thought to be sterile. However, recent molecular studies have revealed that the lungs are not devoid of microbes but act more like...
Bacterial Phylum Verrucomicrobiota
The phylum Verrucomicrobiota comprises at least four characterized orders, with most species classified within the order Verrucomicrobiotales. Members of this phylum are either aerobic or facultatively aerobic, with the ability to ferment sugars. A notable exception is the genus Methylacidiphilum, which consists of aerobic methanotrophs. Additionally, some Verrucomicrobiota establish symbiotic relationships with protists. These bacteria are widely distributed across various environments,...
Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...

