Draft genome sequence of Thermovorax subterraneus 70BT, a thermophile isolated from a geothermally active underground mine that produces hydrogen

Thermovorax subterraneus 70B(T) is a thermophile found in a geothermically active underground mine. The strain 70B(T) belongs to the class of Clostridia, order of Thermosediminibacterales, and family of Thermosediminibacteraceae. Strain 70B(T) was the only type strain since the genus was discovered >10 years ago. Strain 70B(T) was compared to strains from other genera in terms of its phenotypics, chemotaxonomics, and phylogenetics (16S rRNA gene) in previous studies. However, the genome sequence of this strain has not been described. We herein described the genome sequence of strain 70B(T). In total, the assembled genome of strain 70B(T) has a size of 2,451,552 bp, contributed by 44 contigs, with a coverage of 445X, a N50 of 86,294 bp, and a GC% of 43.8. A total of 2,540 genes were encoded in the genome, including 2,431 protein-coding sequences, 46 pseudogenes, and 63 RNA genes. Through the Cluster of Orthologous Groups (COGs) analysis, a total of 2,404 protein-coding genes were functionally assigned to COGs in the genome of strain 70B(T). Among the members of Thermosediminibacteraceae family, strain 70B(T) has the closest relationship to Caldanaerovirga acetigignens JW/SA-NV4(T) based on the genome-to-genome comparison indexes (i.e., ANI, dDDH, AAI, and POCP). An earlier study reported that strain 7013T could produce hydrogen. We discovered genes encoding [FeFe] hydrogenase through gene mining analysis. For future research, this genome data will be used as a reference for all matters pertaining to the genus Thermovorax and family Thermosediminibacteraceae. (c) 2022 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

Automated summary

This study describes the genome sequence of thermophile strain 70B(T), which belongs to the family Thermosediminibacteraceae. The strain shows the closest relationship to Caldanaerovirga acetigignens JW/SA-NV4(T) based on genome-to-genome comparisons. Additionally, genes encoding [FeFe] hydrogenase were discovered in this strain.