Thiobacillus sajanensis sp. nov., a New Obligately Autotrophic Sulfur-Oxidizing Bacterium Isolated from Khoito-Gol Hydrogen-Sulfide Springs, Buryatia

• Published in: Microbiology (New York) 2006-09, Vol.75 (5), p.582-592
• Main Authors: Dul'tseva, N M, Tourova, T P, Spiridonova, E M, Kolganova, T V, Osipov, G A, Gorlenko, V M
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Thiobacillus
• ISSN: 0026-2617
• DOI: 10.1134/S0026261706050080

Four strains of rod-shaped gram-negative sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from Khoito-Gol hydrogen-sulfide springs in the eastern Sayan Mountains (Buryatia). The cells of the new isolates were motile by means of a single polar flagellum. The strains were obligately chemolithoautotrophic aerobes that oxidized thiosulfate (with the production of sulfur and sulfates) and hydrogen sulfide. They grew in a pH range of 6.8-9.5, with an optimum at pH 9.3 and in a temperature range of 5-39 degree C, with an optimum at 28-32 degree C. The cells contained ubiquinone Q-8. The DNA G+C content of the new strains was 62.3-64.2 mol %. According to the results of analysis of their 16S rRNA genes, the isolates belong to the genus Thiobacillus within the subclass Betaproteobacteria. However, the similarity level of nucleotide sequences of the 16S rRNA genes was insufficient to assign the isolates to known species of this genus. The affiliation to the genus Thiobacillus was confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridization of the isolates with the type strain of the type species of the genus Thiobacillus, T. thioparus DSM 505 super(T) (= ATCC 8158 super(T)). Despite the phenotypic similarity, the hybridization level was as low as 21-29%. In addition, considerable differences were revealed in the structure of the genes encoding RuBPC, the key enzyme of autotrophic CO sub(2) assimilation, between the known Thiobacillus species and the new isolates. Based on molecular-biological features and certain phenotypic distinctions, the new isolates were assigned to a new Thiobacillus species, T. sajanensis sp. nov., with the type strain 4HG super(T) (= VKM B-2365 super(T)).