Scleromatobacter humisilvae gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from oak forest soil

A novel bacterial strain, designated BS- T2- 15T, isolated from forest soil in close proximity to decaying oak wood, was charac-terized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences as well as phy-logenomic analyses based on coding sequences of 340 concatenated core proteins indicated that strain BS- T2- 15T forms a distinct and robust lineage in the Rubrivivax-Roseateles-Leptothrix-Azohydromonas-Aquincola-Ideonella branch of the order Burkholderiales. The amino acid identity and the percentage of conserved proteins between the genome of strain BS-T2 -15T and genomes of closely related type strains ranged from 64.27 to 66.57% and from 40.89 to 49.27 %, respectively, providing genomic evidence that strain BS-T2 -15T represents a new genus. Its cells are Gram- stain-negative, aerobic, motile by a polar flagellum, rod-shaped and form incrusted white to ivory colonies. Optimal growth is observed at 20-22 degrees C, pH 6 and 0% NaCl. The predominant fatty acids of strain BS-T2 -15T are C16: 1 omega 7c, C16: 0 and C14: 0 2 -OH. Its polar lipid profile consists of a mixture of phosphatidylethanolamine, diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol and its main respiratory quinone is ubiquinone 8. The estimated size of its genome is 6.28 Mb with a DNA G+C content of 69.56 mol%. Therefore, on the basis of phenotypic and genotypic properties, the new strain BS-T2 -15T represents a novel genus and species for which the name Scleromatobacter humisilvae gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is BS- T2- 15T (DSM 113115T=UBOCC-M-3373T).

Automated summary

This study reported a novel bacterial strain BS-T2-15T, isolated from forest soil in close proximity to decaying oak wood. It was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach and found to belong to a distinct and robust lineage in the order Burkholderiales. The strain exhibits some characteristic features such as being Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, motile, rod-shaped, and forming incrusted white to ivory colonies.