A novel planctomycetotal isolate from subsurface percolates belongs to the novel species Anatilimnocola aquadivae sp. nov. in the family Pirellulaceae

Abstract

Abstract The family Pirellulaceae (phylum Planctomycetota ) is known for its environmental versatility, with members isolated from marine habitats, algal surfaces, soil and lakes; yet, no member has been isolated from terrestrial subsurface habitats. Here, we describe the planctomycetal strain NA78 T that was discovered in percolates from fractured limestone in ca. 0.6 m depth at the Hainich Critical Zone Exploratory (CZE) in central Germany. Cells of the isolated strain are pear-shaped, measuring approximately 1.1 × 1.8 μm, and divide by asymmetrical cell division (“polar budding”). Liquid cultures have a whitish color and cells of the strain form aggregates. Colonies are rigid, round and of whitish to beige color. Strain NA78 T grows under oxic conditions and thrives at temperatures between 18 and 24 °C, with an optimum at 18 °C. The strain tolerates pH values from 6.0 to 9.0, with optimal growth at pH 7.5, and matches the pH range of the bedrock percolate. Its genome has a size of 7.97 Mbp and a DNA G + C content of 58.2%. From combined results of phylogenetic analyses and phenotypic and genomic characterization, we conclude that strain NA78 T belongs to a novel species of the genus Anatilimnocola . We thus introduce the name Anatilimnocola aquadivae sp. nov., represented by NA78 T (= CECT 30429 T  = STH00992 T ; the STH number refers to the Jena Microbial Resource collection JMRC) as the type strain.