Thalassobius litorarius sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacterial Taxonomy
• Marine Biology

Background:

• The Rhodobacteraceae family encompasses diverse marine bacteria with significant ecological roles.
• Tidal flat environments are rich in microbial biodiversity, yet many species remain uncharacterized.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacterial strain from a tidal flat environment.
• To determine the phylogenetic and taxonomic placement of the novel isolate within the genus Thalassobius.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and cultivation of strain MME-075T from a tidal flat.
• Physicochemical characterization including salinity, temperature, and pH tolerance.
• Analysis of major fatty acids, respiratory quinones, and polar lipids.
• Genomic DNA G+C content determination.
• Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences.

Main Results:

• Strain MME-075T is a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-motile rod belonging to the Rhodobacteraceae family.
• Optimal growth conditions were determined to be 2% NaCl, 25–30°C, and pH 7.
• Phylogenetic analysis placed strain MME-075T within the genus Thalassobius, with high 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Thalassobius aestuarii (97.6%).

Conclusions:

• Strain MME-075T represents a novel species within the genus Thalassobius, named Thalassobius litorarius sp. nov.
• The phenotypic and phylogenetic data support the distinct taxonomic status of this new species.
• This discovery contributes to the understanding of microbial diversity in coastal ecosystems.