Sulfurimonas aquatica sp. nov., a sulfur-oxidizing bacterium isolated from water of a brackish lake

A novel chemolithoautotrophic bacterium, strain H1576(T), was isolated from water of a brackish lake. Strain H1576(T) grew aerobically on inorganic sulfur compounds. Hydrogen gas did not support autotrophic growth, and heterotrophic growth was not observed. Cells were rod shaped, motile, 1.5-2.7 mu m in length and 0.6-0.7 mu m in width. Growth was observed at 3-22 degrees C with an optimum growth temperature of 13-15 degrees C. The pH range for growth was 6.0-7.4 with an optimum pH of 6.6-6.8. Major fatty acids were summed feature 3 (C-16: 1 omega 7c and/or C-16: 1 omega 6c). The complete genome of strain H1576(T) consists of a circular chromosome and a plasmid, with total length of 2.8 Mbp and G+C content of 46.4 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain H1576(T) belongs to the genus Sulfurimonas but distinct from representatives of existing species. On the basis of genomic and phenotypic characteristics, a new species named Sulfurimonas aquatica sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain of strain H1576(T) (= BCRC 81254(T) = JCM 35004(T)).