Summary auto-generated
This study describes Pelospora glutarica, a newly identified strictly anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium isolated from freshwater sediment. Strain WoGl3T was enriched on glutarate as its sole energy and carbon source. The bacterium ferments glutarate through decarboxylation, producing butyrate, isobutyrate, and carbon dioxide. It grows only on three dicarboxylic acid substrates: glutarate, methylsuccinate, and succinate. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed the organism belongs to the family Syntrophomonadaceae, within the Gram-positive bacteria with low DNA G+C content. However, sequence similarity values of only 89.2-91.9% with other cultured members of this family, along with phylogenetic analyses, demonstrated that strain WoGl3T occupies a distinct position requiring classification as a new genus. The bacterium is rod-shaped, motile, Gram-negative, and forms terminal spores. It exhibits optimal growth at pH 7.1-8.2 and 37°C in low-salt freshwater conditions. Energy conservation during glutarate fermentation involves a membrane-bound, sodium-dependent glutaconyl-CoA decarboxylase. Based on these findings, the authors formally propose the new genus Pelospora and species Pelospora glutarica, with strain WoGl3T designated as the type strain.
Key findings
- Pelospora glutarica is a new strictly anaerobic, spore-forming bacterium that ferments glutarate to butyrate, isobutyrate, and CO₂ via a sodium-dependent decarboxylation mechanism
- The organism belongs to family Syntrophomonadaceae based on 16S rRNA analysis but exhibits distinct phylogenetic separation (89.2-91.9% sequence similarity) warranting a new genus classification
- Strain WoGl3T grows exclusively on three dicarboxylic acids (glutarate, methylsuccinate, succinate) and has narrow growth requirements (pH 7.1-8.2, optimal temperature 37°C, low-salt freshwater conditions)
- Phylogenetic analysis using multiple tree-construction methods and alignment of approximately 16,000 sequences confirmed the organism's separate status within Syntrophomonadaceae
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Abstract
The strictly anaerobic, Gram-negative, spore-forming bacterium strain WoGl3(T) had been enriched and isolated in mineral medium with glutarate as the sole source of energy and organic carbon. Glutarate was fermented to a mixture of butyrate, isobutyrate, CO(2) and small amounts of acetate. Strain WoGl3(T) grew only with the dicarboxylates glutarate, methylsuccinate and succinate. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed an affiliation of strain WoGl3(T) to the family Syntrophomonadaceae. This monophyletic group is comprised of strain WoGl3(T) and the genera Syntrophomonas, Syntrophospora and Thermosyntropha, within the phylum of Gram-positive bacteria with a low DNA G+C content. Overall intra-group 16S rRNA sequence similarities of 89.2--93.9% document a separate phylogenetic status for strain WoGl3(T). Strain WoGl3(T) (=DSM 6652(T)) is described as the type strain of a new species within a new genus, Pelospora glutarica gen. nov., sp. nov.