Bdellovibrio svalbardensis sp. nov., a newly described predator isolated from Svalbard, Norway

Identified as a newly described species from a biocrust in Svalbard, Norway (78° 54' 8.27″ N 12° 01' 20.34″ E), isolate PAP01^T has different characteristics from any known predatory bacteria. The isolate was vibrio-shaped strain that employed flagellar motility. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate clustered within the genus Bdellovibrio in the family Bdellovibrionaceae. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between strain PAP01^T and the type strain (Bdellovibrio bacteriovorus HD100) was 95.7 %. The PAP01^T genome has a size of 3.898 Mbp and possesses 3732 genes and a G+C content of 45.7 mol%. The results of genetic and physiological tests indicated the phenotypic differentiation of strain PAP01^T from the two other Bdellovibrio species with validly published names. Based on the physiological and phylogenetic data, as well as the prey range spectrum and osmolality sensitivities, isolate PAP01^T represents a novel species within the genus Bdellovibrio, for which the name Bdellovibrio svalbardensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is PAP01^T (=KCTC 92583^T=DSM 115080^T).