Characteristics of the New Xanthan-Producing Strain Xanthomonas campestris М 28: Study of the Genome, Cultivation Conditions, and Physicochemical and Rheological Properties of the Polysaccharide.

A new, highly efficient xanthan-producing strain, Xanthomonas campestris M 28, was obtained. It produces up to 28 g/L of the polysaccharide on a molasses medium, which is almost two times higher than the productivity of the NRRL B-1459 strain. Whole-genome sequencing of the strain was performed with the Illumina method and nanopore sequencing. The genome of X. campestris M 28 contained one chromosome of 5 102 828 nucleotides with an average G + C content of 65.03%. The structure and physicochemical and rheological properties of the obtained xanthan were studied. It was found that the addition of xanthan to the bentonite dispersion led to the formation of primary clay particles (70 nm) and aggregates of ~190 nm without the formation of a precipitate. This indicated the interaction of macromolecules with particles and aggregates with the formation of polymer-clay bridging structures. This ensures the stability of clay dispersions and makes it possible to achieve the required rheological properties of drilling fluids based on xanthan obtained in a molasses medium, thereby reducing its cost. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]