Aquabacter cavernae sp. nov., a bacterium isolated from cave soil.

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Phylogenetics

Background:

• Cave ecosystems harbor unique microbial communities.
• The genus Aquabacter is known for its metabolic versatility.
• Exploration of novel bacterial species contributes to understanding microbial diversity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacterium from a cave soil sample.
• To determine the phylogenetic and taxonomic position of the novel isolate.
• To propose a new species within the Aquabacter genus.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and cultivation of bacteria from cave soil.
• Gram staining, biochemical tests, and physiological characterization.
• 16S rRNA gene sequencing for phylogenetic analysis.
• Chemotaxonomic analysis (fatty acids, polar lipids, quinones).
• DNA G+C content determination and DNA-DNA hybridization.

Main Results:

• A novel Gram-negative, aerobic bacterium, strain Sn-9-2^T, was isolated.
• Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed <97.5% similarity to known Aquabacter species.
• Low DNA-DNA hybridization values (<22%) confirmed its status as a distinct genomic species.
• Chemotaxonomic data (ubiquinone-10, major fatty acids) were consistent with the Aquabacter genus.

Conclusions:

• Strain Sn-9-2^T represents a novel species of the genus Aquabacter.
• The proposed name for this new species is Aquabacter cavernae sp. nov.
• This discovery highlights the potential of cave environments for novel microbial findings.