Anoxybacillus voinovskiensis sp. nov., a moderately thermophilic bacterium from a hot spring in Kamchatka

Abstract

A novel moderately thermophilic bacterium, strain TH13T, was isolated from a hot spring in Kamchatka. It was found to be a Gram-positive, facultative aerobe; the straight, non-motile rods grew at 30–64 °C (optimum 54 °C). The isolate was positive for catalase and oxidase tests and reduced nitrate to nitrite, but was negative for H2S production and growth in more than 3 % NaCl (w/v). The isolate grew at pH 7–8, but not at pH values higher than 9. The DNA G+C content was 43·9 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain TH13T was a member of the genus Anoxybacillus. DNA–DNA hybridization revealed a low relatedness (less than 30·2 %) between the isolate and its close phylogenetic neighbours Anoxybacillus pushchinoensis and Anoxybacillus flavithermus. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic data and DNA–DNA hybridization data, it was concluded that the isolate merited classification as a novel species, for which the name Anoxybacillus voinovskiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of this species is TH13T (=NCIMB 13956T=JCM 12111T).