Paracraurococcus lichenis sp. nov., isolated from lichen in Thailand

A novel bacterium, designated as strain LOR1-02^T and isolated from a lichen sample collected from Kham Riang Subdistrict, Kantharawichai District, Maha Sarakham Province, Thailand, underwent thorough investigation utilizing a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Strain LOR1-02^T demonstrated growth within a temperature range of 20-42 °C (optimal at 30 °C), pH range of 5.0-7.5 (optimal at pH 7.0), and tolerance to 4.0% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis revealed its close relation to Paracraurococcus ruber JCM 9931^T, with a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 97.16%, placing it within the genus Paracraurococcus. The approximate genome size of strain LOR1-02^T was determined to be 8.6 Mb, with a G + C content of 70.9 mol%. Additionally, ANIb, ANIm, and AAI values between the whole genomes of strain LOR1-02^T and type strains were calculated as 82.6-83.4%, 86.1-86.8%, and 81.4-82.2%, respectively, while the dDDH value was determined to be 26.3-28.5% (C.I. 24.0-31.0%). The predominant fatty acids detected were C_18:1ω7c and/or C_18:1ω6c, C_16:0, and C_18:12OH. The major ubiquinone identified was Q-10, and the polar lipids included phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylcholine, diphosphatidylglycerol, along with unidentified phosphoaminolipid, lipids, and an amino lipid. Based on comprehensive phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic characterization, it is concluded that strain LOR1-02^T represents a novel species within the genus Paracraurococcus, for which the name Paracraurococcus lichenis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain designation is LOR1-02^T (= JCM 33121^T = NBRC 112776^T = TISTR 2503^T).