Hymenobacter terrae sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from soil

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Environmental Science

Background:

• Soil microbial communities harbor diverse bacterial species with unique adaptations.
• The genus Hymenobacter is known for its presence in various environments and its UV tolerance.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacterial strain from soil samples.
• To determine the taxonomic position of the novel strain through phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic analyses.

Main Methods:

• Isolation of bacteria from soil samples in Seoul, South Korea.
• Characterization using Gram staining, growth conditions, DNA G+C content, fatty acid analysis, and polar lipid profiling.
• Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing and genomic DNA-DNA hybridization.

Main Results:

• A novel Gram-negative, UV-tolerant bacterial strain, DG7A(T), was isolated.
• Chemotaxonomic data revealed major fatty acids iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15:0, and summed feature 3, with phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid.
• Phylogenetic analysis indicated DG7A(T) belongs to the genus Hymenobacter, with 98.35% 16S rRNA gene similarity to Hymenobacter soli PB17(T), but low genomic DNA similarity (5.3%).

Conclusions:

• Strain DG7A(T) represents a novel species, Hymenobacter terrae sp. nov.
• The distinct phylogenetic and genomic characteristics support its classification as a new species within the Hymenobacter genus.