Moritella dasanensis sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from the Arctic ocean

Abstract

An aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, ice-active substance-producing, rod-shaped psychrophile, designated strain ArB 0140(T), was isolated from seawater collected from near a glacier in Kongsfjorden, Svalbard Archipelago, Norway. Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain ArB 0140(T) showed a distinct phyletic line within the genus Moritella. Characteristic chemotaxonomic data [predominant isoprenoid quinone, Q8;major fatty acids, C(14 : 0), C(14 : 1), C(16 : 0), C(16 : 1) and C(22 : 6) (docosahexaenoic acid;DHA)] also corroborated the affiliation of strain ArB 0140(T) to the genus Moritella. The maximal growth rate of the novel strain was observed at 9 degrees C, with a maximum temperature for growth of 18 degrees C. The genomic DNA G+C content was 46.9 mol%. Based on the data obtained from this polyphasic study, including DNA-DNA relatedness, physiological and biochemical tests and ice-controlling activity, strain ArB 0140(T) was found to be genetically and phenotypically different from other recognized species of the genus Moritella. Therefore strain ArB 0140(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Moritella dasanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ArB 0140(T) (=KCTC 10814(T)=KCCM 42845(T)=JCM 14759(T)).