Xanthobacter xylophilus sp nov., a member of the xylotrophic mycobacterial community of low-mineral oligotrophic waters

A novel obligately aerobic heterotrophic bacterium belonging to the genus Xanthobacter, strain Z-0055, was isolated from the bacterial community of dystrophic waters formed by xylotrophic fungi grown on decaying spruce wood. The cells are small (0.4 +/- 0.7 fum), ovoid, grarrmegative, and nonmotile. The strain reproduces by nonuniform division. Strain Z-0055 is a moderately acidophilic microorganism and grows in a pH range of 4.8-6.8, with an optimum at pH 5.5. The temperature range for growth is 10-28A degrees C, with an optimum at 20A degrees C. The bacterium utilizes salts of organic acids (citrate, oxalate, succinate, and gluconate), as well as xylose and xylan as carbon and energy sources. No growth was detected at NaCl concentrations higher than 1.5 g/l. The DNA G+C base content is 63.6 mol %. According to phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, strain Z-0055 belongs to the cluster containing X. flavus, X. aminoxidans, X. autotrophicus, and X. viscosus. The levels of similarity between the studied strain and these species are almost the same (96.0-97.0%). The genetic and ecophysiological properties of strain Z-0055 support classification of this acid-tolerant inhabitant of oligotrophic waters within the genus Xanthobacter as a new species X. xylophilus sp. nov.