title: Rhodobacter megalophilus sp. nov., a phototroph from the Indian Himalayas possessing a wide temperature range for growth.
abstract: Two strains of phototrophic, purple non-sulfur bacteria capable of growing at low temperatures (5 degrees C) were isolated from the Himalayas. The two strains showed positive phototaxis and grew over a relatively wide temperature range (5-40 degrees C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain JA194T clustered with members of the genus Rhodobacter. Strain JA194T showed highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with Rhodobacter sphaeroides DSM 158T (99 %). However, DNA-DNA hybridization experiments between Rba. sphaeroides DSM 158T and strain JA194T revealed a level of relatedness of only 67 %. The DNA base composition of strain JA194T was 66.67 mol% G+C (by HPLC). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, morphological, physiological, Fourier transform infrared fingerprinting and DNA-DNA hybridization studies, strain JA194T (=KCTC 5602T =JCM 14598T) is sufficiently different from other Rhodobacter species to merit its description as the type strain of a novel species, for which the name Rhodobacter megalophilus sp. nov. is proposed.
authors.affiliation: Bacterial Discovery Laboratory, Centre for Environment, IST, JNT University, Kukatpally, Hyderabad, India.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arunasri
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Venkata Ramana
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spröer
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Sasikala
authors.forename: Ch V
authors.initials: ChV
authors.lastname: Ramana
mesh_terms: D000531:Altitude; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001482:Base Composition; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000032:analysis; D005583:Fourier Analysis; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D005838:Genotype; D007194:India; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010641:Phenotype; D052817:Phototrophic Processes; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D016992:Rhodobacter / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013045:Species Specificity; D013696:Temperature
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S