title: Cytomorphological and genetic characterization of troglobitic Leptolyngbya strains isolated from Roman hypogea.
abstract: Six Leptolyngbya strains, isolated from the archaeological surfaces of hypogean sites, were phenotypically and genetically characterized by light and electron microscopy and 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S internally transcribed spacer (ITS) sequencing. Three phycoerythrin-rich (red) and three phycocyanin-rich (green) isolates were assigned to different operational taxonomic units (OTUs). Among the green isolates, one strain showed an OTU intraspecific variation due to differences in the ITS sequences and genomic polymorphism. Within the ITS sequence, variable regions, conserved domains and tRNA(Ile) and tRNA(Ala) genes showed high sequence identity among the phylotypes. Together, these data indicated a relatedness of the six strains to other Leptolyngbya from subaerophytic and geothermal environments and allowed the definition of novel Leptolyngbya OTUs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Italy.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bruno
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Billi
authors.forename: Simona
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bellezza
authors.forename: Patrizia
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Albertano
mesh_terms: D016000:Cluster Analysis; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000166:cytology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D008853:Microscopy; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D010860:Pigments, Biological / Q000096:biosynthesis; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D012344:RNA, Transfer, Ala / Q000235:genetics; D012355:RNA, Transfer, Ile / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012689:Sequence Homology, Nucleic Acid; D012988:Soil Microbiology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D021903:DNA, Ribosomal Spacer; D010860:Pigments, Biological; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012344:RNA, Transfer, Ala; D012355:RNA, Transfer, Ile