title: Novel species and expanded distribution of ellipsoidal multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes.
abstract: Multicellular magnetotactic prokaryotes (MMPs) are a peculiar group of magnetotactic bacteria, each comprising approximately 10-100 cells of the same phylotype. Two morphotypes of MMP have been identified, including several species of globally distributed spherical mulberry-like MMPs (s-MMPs), and two species of ellipsoidal pineapple-like MMPs (e-MMPs) from China (Qingdao and Rongcheng cities). We recently collected e-MMPs from Mediterranean Sea sediments (Six-Fours-les-Plages) and Drummond Island, in the South China Sea. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the MMPs from Six-Fours-les-Plages and the previously reported e-MMP Candidatus Magnetananas rongchenensis have 98.5% sequence identity and are the same species, while the MMPs from Drummond Island appear to be a novel species, having > 7.1% sequence divergence from the most closely related e-MMP, Candidatus Magnetananas tsingtaoensis. Identification of the novel species expands the distribution of e-MMPs to Tropical Zone. Comparison of nine physical and chemical parameters revealed that sand grain size and the content of inorganic nitrogen (nitrate, ammonium and nitrite) in the sediments from Rongcheng City and Six-Fours-les-Plages were similar, and lower than found for sediments from the other two sampling sites. The results of the study reveal broad diversity and wide distribution of e-MMPs.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.|CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Yi-ran
authors.initials: YR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.|CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Wen-yan
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: College of Resource and Environment, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao, 266109, China.
authors.forename: Ke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.|CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Hong-miao
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.|CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Hai-jian
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.|University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100049, China.
authors.forename: Cong
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Jian-hong
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Aix-Marseille Université, Université du Sud Toulon-Var, CNRS/INSU, IRD, UM110, Mediterranean Institute of Oceanography (MIO), Marseille, F-13288, France.
authors.forename: Nathalie
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Pradel
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LCB UMR 7257, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 31, chemin Joseph Aiguier, Marseille CEDEX20, Marseille, F-13402, France.
authors.forename: Claire-Lise
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Santini
authors.affiliation: Paleomagnetism and Geochronology Lab, Key Laboratory of the Earth's Deep Interior, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors.forename: Jin-hua
authors.initials: JH
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Tropical Marine Bio-resources and Ecology, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Guangzhou, 510301, China.
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.affiliation: Paleomagnetism and Geochronology Lab, Key Laboratory of the Earth's Deep Interior, Institute of Geology and Geophysics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100029, China.
authors.forename: Yong-xin
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Pan
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Marine Ecology & Environmental Sciences, Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Qingdao, 266071, China.|CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Qingdao National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology, Laboratory of Marine Ecology and Environmental Science, Qingdao, 266071, China.
authors.forename: Tian
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: CNRS, Laboratoire International Associé de la Bio-Minéralisation et Nano-Structures (LIA-BioMNSL), Marseille cedex 20, F13402, Marseille, France.|Aix Marseille Université, CNRS, LCB UMR 7257, Institut de Microbiologie de la Méditerranée, 31, chemin Joseph Aiguier, Marseille CEDEX20, Marseille, F-13402, France.
authors.forename: Long-fei
authors.initials: LF
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D002681:China; D020564:Deltaproteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology* / Q000528:radiation effects; D019015:Geologic Sediments / Q000382:microbiology*; D008124:Locomotion; D008280:Magnetics; D019083:Mediterranean Region; D058974:Phylogeography