Phylogenetic Analysis of Cultivable Antarctic Marine Bacteria

Abstract

Antarctic bacteria were isolated from various marine environments, and identified using phylogenetic analysis on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequences. Sediments, macro algae, marine animal and sea water samples were collected from around the Korean Antarctic Research Station King Sejong on King George Island, Antarctica (62°13′ S, 58°47′ W). The collected samples were transported to KOPRI under frozen conditions, diluted in sterilized seawater, and cultured on zobell agar plates at 10℃ and 25℃. Total 230 bacterial isolates were cultured and preserved in glycerol media (15%, v/v) at ？80℃. Phylogenetic analysis of the bacterial isolates indicated that bacterial strains isolated from marine organism, belonged to only γ-Proteobacteria, CFB group, Low and High GC Gram-positive bacteria. On the other hand, the sediments strains belonged to α-, β-, γ-Proteobacteria, CFB group, Low and High GC Gram-positive bacteria. Among the Antarctic marine bacteria, 15 strains (6.5%) were candidates for new species or genus.