Catenulispora pinistramenti sp. nov., novel actinobacteria isolated from pine forest soil in Poland

The taxonomic status of two filamentous actinobacteria, isolates NF23 and NL8(T), recovered from the litter layer of a pine forest soil in Poland was established in a genome-based polyphasic study. The isolates showed a combination of chemotaxonomic, morphological and physiological properties associated with their classification in the genus Catenulispora. They formed a well supported lineage within the Catenulispora 16S rRNA gene tree and were most closely related to the type strains of Catenulispora acidiphila (99.1%), Catenulispora pinisilvae (99.9 %) and Catenulispora rubra (99.1 %), and like them, were found to have large genomes (10.8 and 11.5 Mbp, respectively). A phylogenomic tree based on the draft genomes of isolates NF23 and NL8(T) and their phylogenetic neighbours showed that they formed a distinct branch in the Catenulispora clade that was most closely related to C. pinisilvae DSM 111109(T). The isolates shared a combination of genomic, genotypic and phenotypic features, and had high average nucleotide index (ANI) and digital DNA:DNA hybridization (dDDH) similarities consistent with their assignment to the same species. The isolates were distinguished from the C. acidiphila, C. pinisilvae and C. rubra strains by a wealth of taxonomic data and by low ANI (84.9-93.9 %) and dDDH (29.6-54.7 %) values. It is proposed that the isolates be classified in the genus Catenulispora as C. pinistramenti sp. nov. with isolate NL8(T) (=DSM 111110(T)=PCM 3045(T)) as the type strain. The genomes of strains NF23 and NL8(T) are rich in natural product-biosynthetic gene clusters hence these strains have the potential to synthesize new specialised metabolites.

Automated summary

The taxonomic status of two filamentous actinobacteria, isolates NF23 and NL8(T), was clarified in a genome-based polyphasic study, revealing their close relationship with the genus Catenulispora. The isolates were classified as a new species Catenulispora pinistramenti sp. nov., sharing distinct genomic, genotypic, and phenotypic features. The genomes of NF23 and NL8(T) are rich in natural product-biosynthetic gene clusters, indicating their potential for synthesizing new specialised metabolites.