Rosettibacter primus gen. nov., sp. nov., and Rosettibacter firmus sp. nov., facultatively anaerobic moderately thermophilic bacteria of the class Ignavibacteria from hot springs of North Ossetia

A novel facultatively anaerobic moderately thermophilic bacteria, strains 4137-Me^T and 4148-Me^T, were isolated from hot springs of Karmadon and Ursdon, respectively (North Ossetia, Russian Federation). Gram-negative, motile rods were present singly, in pairs, rosettes, and aggregates, or formed biofilms. Both strains grew optimally at 50–55 °C, pH 7.0 and did not require sodium chloride or yeast extract for growth. They were chemoorganoheterotrophs, growing on mono-, di- and polysaccharides (cellulose, starch, xylan, lichenan, galactan, xyloglucan, mannan, xanthan gum, guar gum) as well as proteinaceous substrates (gelatin, peptone, beef and yeast extract). Growth under anaerobic conditions was observed in presence and absence of external electron acceptors. Sulfur, thiosulfate, arsenate, Fe-citrate, and ferrihydrite were reduced with acetate, starch, or yeast extract as electron donors. The respiratory quinone was MK-7. Major cellular fatty acids of both strains were iso-C_15:0, anteiso-C_17:0, C_15:0, iso-C_16:0 and additionally iso-C_17:0 for strain 4137-Me^T. The size of the genome and genomic DNA G + C content of strain 4137-Me^T were 3.24 Mb. and 29.9 %, respectively; for strain 4148-Me^T – 3.33 Mb and 30.7 %. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence and conserved protein sequences phylogenies, strains 4137-Me^T and 4148-Me^T represented a distinct lineage of the family Melioribacteraceae within the class Ignavibacteria. Based on phylogenetic analysis and phenotypic features, the novel isolates were assigned to a novel genus, for which the name Rosettibacter gen. nov. is proposed. Strain 4148-Me^T represents its type species Rosettibacter primus sp. nov., while strain 4137-Me^T represents a new species Rosettibacter firmus sp. nov.