Isolation and characterization of Sporomusa carbonis sp. nov.: a carboxydotrophic hydrogenogen in the genus of Sporomusa isolated from a charcoal-burning pile

TL;DR

Scientists discovered a new bacteria species, Sporomusa carbonis, that produces hydrogen from carbon monoxide and is distinct from other Sporomusa species in its metabolism.

Contribution

The discovery of a novel carboxydotrophic hydrogenogen species in the Sporomusa genus with unique metabolic capabilities.

Findings

Strain ACPtT utilizes CO to produce H2+CO2 instead of acetogenesis, distinguishing it from other Sporomusa species.

Genomic analysis revealed the presence of cytochromes, ubiquinones, and the Wood–Ljungdahl gene cluster in ACPtT.

ACPtT is proposed as a new species, Sporomusa carbonis sp. nov., based on genomic, morphological, and physiological data.

Abstract

A Gram-negative bacterial strain, designated ACPtT, was isolated from the top of the covering soil of an active charcoal-burning pile. The cells of ACPtT were strictly anaerobic, rod-shaped and grew optimally at 40 °C and pH 7. The substrates ribose, glucose, sucrose, raffinose, melezitose, pyruvate, vanillate, syringate, methanol and CO were utilized for growth. Phylogenomic analysis of the 4.1 Mb genome showed that strain ACPtT represented a novel species of the genus Sporomusa. The most closely related species to ACPtT was Sporomusa malonica, with an average amino acid identity of 80.1%. The genome of ACPtT encoded cytochromes, ubiquinones, the Wood–Ljungdahl gene cluster and an Rnf complex, which were identified as common features of all Sporomusa type strains. However, strain ACPtT did not ferment H2+CO2 via acetogenesis as other Sporomusa species but employed the metabolism of a carboxydotrophic hydrogenogen, converting CO to H2+CO2. Based on the genomic, morphological and physiological features presented in this study, strain ACPtT is proposed as a novel species in the genus Sporomusa, with the name Sporomusa carbonis sp. nov. (DSM 116159T and CCOS 2105T).

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