title: Genomic characterization of eightEnsiferstrains isolated from pristine caves and a whole genome phylogeny ofEnsifer (Sinorhizobium).
abstract: A total of eightEnsifer sp.strains were isolated from two pristine cave environments. One strain was isolated from a cave water pool located in the Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, USA and the remaining seven strains were isolated from Lechuguilla Cave of Carlsbad Caverns National Park, New Mexico, USA. Whole genome sequencing and comparative genomic analyses of the eight isolates compared to various type strains from the generaEnsiferandSinorhizobiumdemonstrates that although members in these genera can be phylogenetically separated into two distinct clades, the percentage of conserved proteins (POCP) between various type strains fromEnsiferandSinorhizobiumare consistently higher than 50%, providing strong genomic evidence to support the classification of the generaEnsiferandSinorhizobiuminto a single genus.
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.; Genomics Facility, Tropical Medicine and Biology Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Heerman Kumar Sandra
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.; Genomics Facility, Tropical Medicine and Biology Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Han Ming
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Gan
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.; Genomics Facility, Tropical Medicine and Biology Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Mun Hua
authors.initials: MH
authors.lastname: Tan
authors.affiliation: School of Science, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.; Genomics Facility, Tropical Medicine and Biology Platform, Monash University Malaysia, Bandar Sunway, Selangor, Malaysia.
authors.forename: Wilhelm Wei Han
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Eng
authors.affiliation: Department of Biology, University of Akron, Akron, Ohio, USA.
authors.forename: Hazel A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Barton
authors.affiliation: Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: André O
authors.initials: AO
authors.lastname: Hudson
authors.affiliation: Thomas H. Gosnell School of Life Sciences, Rochester Institute of Technology Rochester, NY, USA.
authors.forename: Michael A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Savka
keywords: Ensifer sp. Strains; Sinorhizobium