Prosthecobacter algae sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge using algal metabolites

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacterial Taxonomy
• Environmental Microbiology

Background:

• Activated sludge is a crucial component of wastewater treatment.
• Algal metabolites can influence microbial community composition.
• The Verrucomicrobiaceae family harbors diverse bacterial species with varied ecological roles.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and taxonomically characterize a novel bacterial strain from activated sludge.
• To determine the phylogenetic and genotypic relationship of the isolate to known bacteria.
• To propose a new species within the Prosthecobacter genus.

Main Methods:

• Polyphasic taxonomic investigation including 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
• Genomic DNA G+C content determination.
• Chemotaxonomic analyses: quinone and polar lipid profiling, and fatty acid analysis.

Main Results:

• Strain EBTL04(T) is a Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, fusiform-shaped bacterium.
• Phylogenetic analysis places EBTL04(T) within the Prosthecobacter genus, with 98.6% 16S rRNA gene similarity to Prosthecobacter dejongeii.
• Genotypic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic data differentiate EBTL04(T) from related species, supporting its classification as a new species.

Conclusions:

• Strain EBTL04(T) represents a novel species, Prosthecobacter algae sp. nov.
• The proposed type strain is EBTL04(T) (KCTC 23681(T) = JCM 18053(T)).
• This finding contributes to the taxonomic diversity of the Prosthecobacter genus.