Thermobifida fusca strain:PD01 Genome sequencing
This project reports the whole genome sequencing and genomic characterization of Thermobifida fusca strain (proposed designation: T. fusca strain PD01), a novel thermophilic actinobacterium isolated from the sediment of a freshwater lake chronically impacted by anthropogenic plastic pollution in Hyderabad, Telangana, India. The isolation site is characterized by heavy accumulation of plastic waste including polyethylene terephthalate (PET)-derived debris, representing a selective ecological pressure that might drove the enrichment of plastic-degrading microbial communities in the sediment microbiome. To the best of our knowledge, this is among the first documented isolations of T. fusca from a plastic- polluted freshwater aquatic environment, expanding the known ecological range of this species beyond its canonical terrestrial habitat.The strain exhibits PET biodegradation activity consistent with the known polyester hydrolase repertoire of the Thermobifida genus, with 107 predicted genes sharing no homologs with any known Thermobifida genome, potentially encoding novel hydrolytic or adaptive functions acquired through environmental selection in this unique aquatic niche. The genome comprises a single complete scaffold of 3,665,541 bp encoding 3,232 predicted genes, sequenced to characterize its genomic architecture, functional gene repertoire, metabolic potential, and taxonomic identity. This submission is part of an ongoing study aimed at elucidating the genomic basis of thermophilic PET biodegradation in polluted freshwater environments in India.