Pedobacter svalbardensis, a psychrophile isolated from the Svalbard archipelago

Abstract

A red-coloured, aerobic bacterium, strain AB 15T was isolated from the Arctic pond. It was found to be a Gram-negative, oxidase-positive, rod-shaped organism. The organism optimally grew at 18.6 ℃, pH 6 in sea-salt-free Zobell's broth without NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that this strain was related to the genus Pedobacter, showing 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95% with respect to type strains of Pedobacter terrae, Pedobacter koreensis, Pedobacter sandarakinus, Pedobacter suwonensis, respectively. Assimilation of carbohydrate, enzyme activity and other biochemical properties were checked by using API 20NE, API ZYM, API 50CH, API 20E kit (bioM&eacute

riux). On the basis of phenotypic properties and phylogenetic distinctiveness, strain AB 15T represents a novel species of the genus Pedobacter.