Multilocus sequence analysis of the actinobacterial genus Kribbella

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Phylogenetics
• Genomics

Background:

• The genus Kribbella currently comprises 17 validly-published species.
• Accurate phylogenetic analysis is crucial for bacterial taxonomy.

Purpose of the Study:

• To refine the phylogenetic analysis of the genus Kribbella using multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA).
• To evaluate the utility of the relA gene in MLSA of actinobacteria.
• To establish a robust method for taxonomic comparisons within the Kribbella genus.

Main Methods:

• MLSA was performed using sequences from 16S rRNA, gyrB, rpoB, recA, relA, and atpD genes.
• A five-gene concatenated sequence (4099 nt) of gyrB-rpoB-recA-relA-atpD was utilized for phylogenetic analysis.
• Phylogenetic relationships were assessed using genetic distances and single-gene and concatenated-sequence trees.

Main Results:

• The five-gene concatenated sequence effectively distinguished most Kribbella type strains (genetic distance >0.04).
• Single-gene trees generally mirrored the topology of the concatenated sequence tree.
• The relA gene, newly applied in MLSA for actinobacteria, demonstrated good bootstrap support, comparable to established genes like rpoB and atpD.

Conclusions:

• The concatenated gyrB-rpoB-recA-relA-atpD gene sequence provides a reliable method for Kribbella phylogeny.
• The relA gene is a valuable addition to MLSA for studying the Kribbella genus.
• This approach aids in determining closest phylogenetic relatives for accurate taxonomic comparisons.