Methanoregula boonei gen. nov., sp. nov., an acidiphilic methanogen isolated from an acidic peat bog

Abstract

A novel acidiphilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen, designated strain 6A8T, was isolated from an acidic (pH 4.0–4.5) and ombrotrophic (rain-fed) bog located near Ithaca, NY, USA. Cultures were dimorphic, containing thin rods (0.2–0.3 μm in diameter and 0.8–3.0 μm long) and irregular cocci (0.2–0.8 μm in diameter). The culture utilized H2/CO2 to produce methane but did not utilize formate, acetate, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol or trimethylamine. Optimal growth conditions were near pH 5.1 and 35 °C. The culture grew in basal medium containing as little as 0.43 mM Na+ and growth was inhibited completely by 50 mM NaCl. To our knowledge, strain 6A8T is one of the most acidiphilic (lowest pH optimum) and salt-sensitive methanogens in pure culture. Acetate, coenzyme M, vitamins and yeast extract were required for growth. It is proposed that a new genus and species be established for this organism, Methanoregula boonei gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Methanoregula boonei is 6A8T (=DSM 21154T =JCM 14090T).