# Microaceticoccus formicicus gen. nov., sp. nov., an ammonia-tolerant formate-utilizing bacterium originating from a biogas process

## TL;DR

Scientists discovered a new ammonia-tolerant bacterium, Microaceticoccus formicicus, from a biogas process that uses formate and produces acetate.

## Contribution

The discovery and characterization of a novel bacterial genus and species with ammonia tolerance and formate utilization.

## Key findings

- AMB_02T is a new species in the genus Microaceticoccus, within the Peptoniphilaceae family.
- The bacterium tolerates high ammonia levels and uses formate, amino acids, and carbohydrates for growth.
- Genomic analysis revealed a 2.5 Mb genome with genes for the reductive glycine pathway.

## Abstract

A strictly anaerobic bacterial strain, designated as AMB_02T, was isolated from a propionate enrichment culture obtained from a high-ammonia biogas digester. The cells were anaerobic and coccoid (0.5 µm), often appearing as diplococci or in a short chain of three to four cells. Growth was observed between 20 and 45 °C (optimum at 37–39 °C), with an initial pH of 6.5–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0–8.5), and the species tolerated up to 0.8 M NH4Cl and 0.5 M NaCl. The major cellular fatty acids were C16 : 0 (31.6%), C14 : 0 (14.6%) and C18 : 0 (13.3%). AMB_02T grew with formate, carbohydrates and aa, including asparagine, histidine, tryptone and tryptophan. Acetate was the major product formed. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AMB_02T was most closely related to the species Citroniella saccharovorans (92.5%). The genome of strain AMB_02T was 2.5 Mb in length with a G+C content of 34.8 mol%, and 2,354 protein-coding genes were predicted. Furthermore, genes coding for the reductive glycine pathway potentially used for formate metabolism were identified. Comparative genomic analysis of AMB_02T revealed the closest similarity to C. saccharovorans [21.2% digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and 77.4% average nt identity (ANI)] and to Parvimonas micra (24.4% dDDH and 76.9% ANI). Based on the phenotypic characteristics and phylogenetic analyses, AMB_02T is regarded as a novel genus, Microaceticoccus, within the family Peptoniphilaceae for which the species name Microaceticoccus formicicus is proposed. The type strain is AMB_02T=DSM 110248T=JCM 39108T.