title: Methanococcus aeolicus sp. nov., a mesophilic, methanogenic archaeon from shallow and deep marine sediments.
abstract: Three strains of CO(2)-reducing methanogens were isolated from marine sediments. Strain PL-15/H(P) was isolated from marine sediments of the Lipari Islands, near Sicily and the other two strains, Nankai-2 and Nankai-3(T), were isolated from deep marine sediments of the Nankai Trough, about 50 km from the coast of Japan. Analysis of the cellular proteins and 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that these three strains represented a single novel species that formed a deep branch of the mesophilic methanococci. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that the three strains were most closely related to Methanothermococcus okinawensis (95 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity). However, strains PL-15/H(P), Nankai-2 and Nankai-3(T) grew at temperatures that were more similar to those of recognized species within the genus Methanococcus. Strain Nankai-3(T) grew fastest at 46 degrees C. Results of physiological and biochemical tests allowed the genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strains PL-15/H(P), Nankai-2 and Nankai-3(T) from closely related species. The name Methanococcus aeolicus sp. nov. is proposed, with strain Nankai-3(T) (=OCM 812(T)=DSM 17508(T)) as the type strain.
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA.
authors.forename: Melissa M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Kendall
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA.
authors.forename: Yitai
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 541 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30602-2605, USA.
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sieprawska-Lupa
authors.affiliation: Universität Regensburg, Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Universitätstraße 31, 93343 Regensburg, Germany.
authors.forename: Karl O
authors.initials: KO
authors.lastname: Stetter
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, University of Georgia, 541 Biological Sciences Building, Athens, GA 30602-2605, USA.
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Whitman
authors.affiliation: Biology Department, Portland State University, PO Box 751, Portland, OR 97207-0751, USA.
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Boone
mesh_terms: D019843:Archaeal Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001482:Base Composition; D019641:DNA, Archaeal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D008522:Mediterranean Sea; D017017:Methanococcus / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010140:Pacific Ocean; D010802:Phylogeny; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis; D019642:RNA, Archaeal / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012623:Seawater / Q000382:microbiology; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D013696:Temperature; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D019843:Archaeal Proteins; D019641:DNA, Archaeal; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D020543:Proteome; D019642:RNA, Archaeal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S