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ARS Home » Pacific West Area » Albany, California » Western Regional Research Center » Produce Safety and Microbiology Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #365136
Research Project: Molecular Identification and Characterization of Bacterial and Viral Pathogens Associated with Foods

Location: Produce Safety and Microbiology Research

Title: An emended description of Arcobacter anaerophilus Sasi Jyothsna et al. 2013: genomic and phenotypic insights

Author
item ON, STEPHEN - Lincoln University - New Zealand
item Miller, William - Bill
item KELLY, DAVID - University Of Sheffield
item VANDAMME, PETER - Ghent University

Submitted to: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 4/22/2020
Publication Date: 5/11/2020
Citation: On, S.L., Miller, W.G., Kelly, D., Vandamme, P. 2020. An emended description of Arcobacter anaerophilus Sasi Jyothsna et al. 2013: genomic and phenotypic insights. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology. 70(6):3921-3923. https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.004214.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.004214

Interpretive Summary: Arcobacters are a group of bacteria mostly associated with water (fresh and marine) environments. These organisms are also routinely recovered from food (such as beef, pork, poultry, fish and shellfish) and several species have been associated with gastroenteritis in humans. Unlike the related genus Campylobacter, Arcobacter is distinguished by the ability to grow in air. In 2013, a novel Arcobacter, Arcobacter anaerophilus, was described. This organism could only grow in the absence of oxygen, thus making it unique among arcobacters and a revision of the genus Arcobacter (which had previously used aerobic growth as a main discriminator) was put forward. However, this study refutes the original description and demonstrates that Arcobacter anaerophilus, while preferring anaerobic conditions, can indeed grow in the presence of oxygen, consistent with other species in this genus. The complete chromosomal DNA sequence of A. anaerophilus was determined and the gene content analyzed. The gene content of this organism is consistent with its ability to grow under any oxygen concentration. Thus, the original description is in error and this study revises both the description of A. anaerophilus and of arcobacters in general.

Technical Abstract: The whole genome sequence of the type strain of Arcobacter anaerophilus, originally described as the first obligate anaerobe in this genus (Sasi Jyothsna et al. 2013) was determined and analysed. Genes characteristic for organisms capable of aerobic growth were identified, and the ability of the organism to grow under microaerobic and aerobic conditions confirmed in two independent laboratories. The genomic relationship of the organism to other representatives of the genus using in silico analyses indicated a close relationship. The description of A. anaerophilus is thus emended and the wider ramifications of these findings are discussed.