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Desulfosporomusa polytropa gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium from sediments of an oligotrophic lake

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Abstract

Five strains of sulfate-reducing bacteria were isolated from the highest positive dilutions of a most probable number (MPN) series supplemented with lactate and inoculated with sediments from the oligotrophic Lake Stechlin. The isolates were endospore-forming and were motile by means of laterally inserted flagella. They stained Gram-negative and contained b-type cytochromes. CO difference spectra indicated the presence of P582 as a sulfite reductase. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rDNA sequences revealed that the isolates were very closely affiliated with the genus Sporomusa. However, sulfate and amorphous Fe(OH)3, but not sulfite, elemental sulfur, MnO2, or nitrate were used as terminal electron acceptors. Homoacetogenic growth was found with H2/CO2 gas mixture, formate, methanol, ethanol, and methoxylated aromatic compounds. The strains grew autotrophically with H2 plus CO2 in the presence or absence of sulfate. Formate, butyrate, several alcohols, organic acids, carbohydrates, some amino acids, choline, and betaine were also utilized as substrates. The growth yield with lactate and sulfate as substrate was 7.0 g dry mass/mol lactate and thus two times higher than in sulfate-free fermenting cultures. All isolates were able to grow in a temperature range of 4–37°C. Physiologically and by the presence of a Gram-negative cell wall, the new isolates resemble known Desulfosporosinus species. However, phylogenetically they are affiliated with the Gram-negative genus Sporomusa belonging to the Selenomonas subgroup of the Firmicutes. Therefore, the new isolates reveal a new phylogenetic lineage of sulfate-reducing bacteria. A new genus and species, Desulfosporomusa polytropa gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors thank Jürgen Fröhlich (University of Mainz, Germany) for determination of the molar G+C contents of the chromosomal DNA and thank H.G. Trüper and H. Hippe for advice in taxonomic questions. This work was supported by a grant of the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institut für Chemie und Biologie des Meeres, Universität Oldenburg, Carl-von-Ossietzky Strasse 9–11, 26111, Oldenburg, Germany

    Henrik Sass, Heike Rütters & Heribert Cypionka

  2. School of Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences, Cardiff University, Main Building, Park Place, Cardiff , CF10 3YE, UK

    Henrik Sass

  3. Bereich Mikrobiologie, Department Biologie I, Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München, Maria-Ward-Strasse 1a, 80638, Munich, Germany

    Jörg Overmann

  4. Institut für Gewässerökologie und Binnenfischerei, Abteilung Limnologie Geschichteter Seen, Alte Fischerhütte 2, 16775, Neuglobsow, Germany

    Hans-Dietrich Babenzien

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  1. Henrik Sass
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  2. Jörg Overmann
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  3. Heike Rütters
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  4. Hans-Dietrich Babenzien
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  5. Heribert Cypionka
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Correspondence to Henrik Sass.

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Dedicated to Prof. H. G. Schlegel on the occasion of his 80th birthday.

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Sass, H., Overmann, J., Rütters, H. et al. Desulfosporomusa polytropa gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel sulfate-reducing bacterium from sediments of an oligotrophic lake. Arch Microbiol 182, 204–211 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-004-0703-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00203-004-0703-3

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