title: Characterization of the first cultured representative of a Bacteroidetes clade specialized on the scavenging of cyanobacteria.
abstract: The anaerobic, mesophilic and moderately halophilic strain L21-Spi-D4Twas recently isolated from the suboxic zone of a hypersaline cyanobacterial mat using protein-rich extracts of Arthrospira (formerly Spirulina) platensis as substrate. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA genes indicated an affiliation of the novel strain with the Bacteroidetes clade MgMjR-022, which is widely distributed and abundant in hypersaline microbial mats and heretofore comprised only sequences of uncultured bacteria. Analyses of the complete genome sequence of strain L21-Spi-D4Trevealed a possible specialization on the degradation of cyanobacterial biomass. Besides genes for enzymes degrading specific cyanobacterial proteins a conspicuous transport complex for the polypeptide cyanophycin could be identified that is homologous to typical polysaccharide utilization loci of Bacteroidetes. A distinct and reproducible co-occurrence pattern of environmental 16S rRNA gene sequences of the MgMjR-022 clade and cyanobacteria in the suboxic zone of hypersaline mats points to a specific dependence of members of this clade on decaying cyanobacteria. Based on a comparative analysis of phenotypic, genomic and ecological characteristics we propose to establish the novel taxa Salinivirga cyanobacteriivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., represented by the type strain L21-Spi-D4T, and Salinivirgaceae fam. nov., comprising sequences of the MgMjR-022 clade.
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie IRD, MIO, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Wajdi
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ben Hania
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie IRD, MIO, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Manon
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Joseph
authors.affiliation: Department Microbial Ecology and Diversity Research, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Boyke
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Bunk
authors.affiliation: Department Central Services, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Cathrin
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Spröer
authors.affiliation: Department Microorganisms, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6758-8150
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Klenk
authors.affiliation: Laboratoire de Microbiologie IRD, MIO, Aix Marseille Université, Marseille, France.
authors.forename: Marie-Laure
authors.initials: ML
authors.lastname: Fardeau
authors.affiliation: Department Microorganisms, Leibniz Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
authors.forename: Stefan
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6247-0938
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Spring
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D041963:Bacteroidetes / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D001482:Base Composition; D000458:Cyanobacteria / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000378:metabolism; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D005227:Fatty Acids; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012965:Sodium Chloride