Microvirga terrae sp. nov., Isolated from Soil

A Gram-stain-negative and strictly aerobic bacterium, strain R24(T), was isolated from soil in South Korea. Cells were non-motile short rods showing catalase- and oxidase-positive activities. Growth was observed at 15-40 & DEG;C (optimum, 25-30 & DEG;C) and pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, 8.0-9.0), and in the presence of 0-3.0% NaCl (optimum, 0%). Strain R24(T) contained ubiquinone-10 as the sole respiratory quinone, C-16:0, C-18:0, and summed feature 8 (comprising C-18:1 omega 7c and/or C-18:1 omega 6c) as the major fatty acids, and phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and phosphatidylcholine as the major polar lipids. The DNA G+C content calculated from the whole genome sequence was 64.4%. Strain R24(T) was most closely related to Microvirga aerilata 5420S-16(T) with a 98.6% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain R24(T) and all Microvirga species were less than 82.5 and 23.8%, respectively. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequences revealed that strain R24(T) formed a phyletic lineage within the genus Microvirga. Based on its phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and molecular characteristics, strain R24(T) represents a novel species of the genus Microvirga, for which the name Microvirga terrae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is R24(T) (= KACC 21784(T) = JCM 34259(T)).

Automated summary

A new species of genus Microvirga, named Microvirga terrae sp. nov., was isolated from soil in South Korea. The strain R24(T) showed unique phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular characteristics that differentiate it from other Microvirga species. It forms a distinct evolutionary lineage within the genus Microvirga.