Burkholderia bannensis sp nov., an acid-neutralizing bacterium isolated from torpedo grass (Panicum repens) growing in highly acidic swamps

Two strains of acid-neutralizing bacteria, E25(T) and E21, were isolated from torpedo grass (Panicum repens) growing in highly acidic swamps (pH 2-4) in actual acid sulfate soil areas of Thailand. Cells of the strains were Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming rods, 0.6-0.8 mu m wide and 1.6-2.1 mu m long. The strains showed good growth at pH 4.0-8.0 and 17-37 degrees C. The organisms contained ubiquinone Q-8 as the predominant isoprenoid quinone and C(16:1) C(17:0) cyclo and C(18:1)omega 7C as the major fatty acids. Their fatty acid profiles were similar to those reported for other Burkholderia species. The DNA G +C content of the strains was 65 mol%. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the strains were shown to belong to the genus Burkholderia. Although the calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of E25(T) to strain E21 and the type strains of Burkholderia unamae, B. tropica, B. sacchari, B. nodosa and B. mimosarum was 100, 98.7, 98.6, 97.6, 97.4 and 97.3%, respectively, strains E25(T) and E21 formed a group that was distinct in the phylogenetic tree; the DNA DNA relatedness of E25(T) to E21 and B. unamae CIP 107921(T), B. tropica LMG 22274(T), B. sacchari LMG 19450(T), B. nodosa LMG 23741(T) and B. mimosarum LMG 23256(T) was 90, 42, 42, 42, 45 and 35%, respectively. The results of physiological and biochemical tests including whole-cell protein pattern analysis allowed phenotypic differentiation of these strains from previously described Burkholderia species. Therefore, strains E25(T) and E21 represent a novel species, for which the name Burkholderia bannensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E25(T) (=NBRC 103871(T) = BCC 36998(T)).