title: Characterization and radiation resistance of new isolates of Rubrobacter radiotolerans and Rubrobacter xylanophilus.
abstract: In this study we characterized new strains of the slightly thermophilic species Rubrobacter radiotolerans and the thermophilic species Rubrobacter xylanophilus, both of which were previously represented only by the type strains isolated, respectively, from Japan and the United Kingdom. The new isolates were recovered from two hot springs in central Portugal after gamma irradiation of water and biofilm samples. We assessed biochemical characteristics, performed DNA-DNA hybridization, and carried out 16S rDNA sequence analysis to demonstrate that the new Rubrobacter isolates belong to the species R. radiotolerans and R. xylanophilus. We also show for the first time that the strains of R. xylanophilus and other strains of R. radiotolerans are extremely gamma radiation resistant.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Bioquímica Universidade de Coimbra, Portugal.
authors.forename: A C
authors.initials: AC
authors.lastname: Ferreira
authors.forename: M F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Nobre
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: F A
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Rainey
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Battista
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: da Costa
mesh_terms: D001173:Arthrobacter / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics* / Q000528:radiation effects*; D018441:Biofilms; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics*; D005720:Gamma Rays; D006358:Hot Temperature; D007564:Japan; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics*; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D006113:United Kingdom
chemical_list: D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S