Mariluticola halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Devosiaceae isolated from South China Sea sediment

A novel member of class Alphaproteobacteria was isolated from marine sediment of the South China Sea. Cells of strain LMO-2(T) were Gram-stain negative, greyish in colour, motile, with a single lateral flagellum and short rod in shape with a slight curve. Strain LMO-2(T) was positive for oxidase and negative for catalase. The bacterium grew aerobically at 10-40 degrees C (optimum, 25-30 degrees C), pH 5.5-10.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and 0-9% NaCl (w/v; optimum, 2-3 %). Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and phylogenomic analysis of the whole genome sequence indicated that strain LMO-2(T) represents a new genus and a new species within the family Devosiaceae, class Alphaproteobacteria, phylum Pseudomonadota. Comparisons of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of strain LMO-2(T) showed 94.8% similarity to its closest relative. The genome size is similar to 3.45 Mbp with a DNA G+C content of 58.17 mol%. The strain possesses potential capability for the degradation of complex organic matter, i.e. fatty acid and benzoate. The predominant cellular fatty acids (>10%) were C-16: 0 and C-18 :1 omega 7c 11-methyl. The sole respiratory quinone was ubiquinone-10. The major identified polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phospholipid. Based on the polyphasic taxonomic data, strain LMO-2(T) represents a novel genus and a novel species for which the name Mariluticola halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., was proposed in the family Devosiaceae. The type strain is LMO-2(T) (=CGMCC 1.19273(T)=JCM 34934(T)).

Automated summary

A novel member of Alphaproteobacteria, Mariluticola halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., was isolated from marine sediment of the South China Sea. Strain LMO-2(T) possesses the potential capability for the degradation of complex organic matter, such as fatty acid and benzoate. It represents a new genus within the family Devosiaceae.