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Title: Micropepsia pineolensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a mildly acidophilic alphaproteobacterium isolated from a poor fen, and proposal of Micropepsiaceae fam. nov. within Micropepsiales ord. nov.

Author
item HARBISON, AUSTIN - Appalachian State University
item PRICE, LAIKEN - Appalachian State University
item Flythe, Michael
item BRÄUER, SUZANNA - Appalachian State University

Submitted to: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 11/18/2016
Publication Date: 5/5/2017
Citation: Harbison, A.B., Price, L., Flythe, M.D., Bräuer, S.L. 2017. Micropepsia pineolensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a mildly acidophilic alphaproteobacterium isolated from a poor fen, and proposal of Micropepsiaceae fam. nov. within Micropepsiales ord. nov. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 67:839-844.

Interpretive Summary: Peatlands serve as the largest natural source of methane (a greenhouse gas) worldwide, thus they are major contributors to global climate change. Mid-latitude peatlands that are high producing are also known to produce more methane. Despite their ecological importance, little is known about nutrient cycling in peatlands and the microorganism that carryout the nutrient cycling processes. This study aimed to isolate and characterize microorganisms in peat samples collected from an acidic, oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) poor fen located near Pineola, NC, USA. Novel, obligately anaerobic, acid-tolerant, bacteria were isolated. These bacteria convert carbohydrates to acids in the fen. Here we propose the taxonomy of these new bacteria and the new genus and species names, Micropepsia pineolensis. These results provide further insight into the nutrient cycling processes within mid-latitude peatlands and the microbial ecology of these important wetlands.

Technical Abstract: A novel, obligately anaerobic, acid-tolerant, fermentative alphaproteobacterium, designated strain CS4T, was isolated from an acidic, oligotrophic (nutrient-poor) poor fen located near Pineola, NC, USA. Cultures contained Gram-negative, slightly curved, non-motile, non-spore forming, non-prosthecate rods (0.1-0.3 µm in diameter and 0.4-4 µm long, depending, in part, on the growth substrate). Growth optima were 35° C, pH 5.6, and with 0-50 mM NaCl. The culture fermented cellobiose, D-glucose, D-mannose, fructose, galactose, glycerol, lactose, maltose, peptone, sucrose, trehalose and xylose. Respiratory growth was not detected. Phylogenetic analysis of the SSU rRNA gene and physiological features, it is herein proposed that a novel order, family, genus and species be placed within the Alphaproteobacteria: Micropepsiales ord. nov., Micropepsiaceae fam. nov., Micropepsia pineolensis gen. nov. sp. nov. Strain CS4T is the type strain CS4T (=JCM 30711T =ATCC BAA-2724T).