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A New Methanogenic, Hydrogenotrophic Archaeon from Spitsbergen Permafrost

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Abstract

A new strain of methanogenic archaea, designated VTT, was isolated from a sample of Spitsbergen permafrost. The cells were nonmotile curved rods, 2.7–5.3 × 0.3 µm. The optimal conditions for growth were 20°C, pH 6.6, and NaCl concentrations 0.03–0.05 M. The H2/CO2 gas mixture was the only substrate used. In the presence of H2/CO2, growth was stimulated by addition of yeast extract or rumen fluid. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain VTT belonged to the genus Methanobacterium and was most closely related to M. lacus 17A1T (97.02% similarity). Comparison of the sequenced and assembled genome of strain VTT with the genomes of other members of this genus confirmed these results and revealed species-level differences. Our results indicate that this methanogenic isolate belongs to a new species of methanogenic archaea, for which the name Methanobacterium spitsbergense sp. nov. was proposed, with the type strain VTT (=VKM B-3566T = JCM 39284T).

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Funding

This work was supported by the Russian Foundation for Basic Research (RFBR), grant no. 20-34-90087, and the Ministry of Science and Higher Education of the Russian Federation (Agreement no. 075-15-2021-1051).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Skryabin Institute of Biochemistry and Physiology of Microorganisms, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Russia

    V. E. Trubitsyn, N. E. Suzina & V. A. Shcherbakova

  2. Institute of Physicochemical and Biological Problems of Agriculture, Pushchino Scientific Center for Biological Research, Russian Academy of Sciences, 142290, Pushchino, Russia

    E. M. Rivkina

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  1. V. E. Trubitsyn
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Correspondence to V. E. Trubitsyn.

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Trubitsyn, V.E., Suzina, N.E., Rivkina, E.M. et al. A New Methanogenic, Hydrogenotrophic Archaeon from Spitsbergen Permafrost. Microbiology 92, 119–128 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0026261722603256

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