Methanoregula boonei gen. nov., sp. nov., an acidiphilic methanogen isolated from an acidic peat bog

Suzanna L. Bräuer, Hinsby Cadillo-Quiroz, Rebekah J. Ward, Joseph B. Yavitt, Stephen H. Zinder

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

140 Scopus citations

Abstract

A novel acidiphilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogen, designated strain 6A8T, was isolated from an acidic (pH 4.0-4.5) and ombrotrophic (rain-fed) bog located near Ithaca, NY, USA. Cultures were dimorphic, containing thin rods (0.2-0.3 μm in diameter and 0.8-3.0 μm long) and irregular cocci (0.2-0.8 μm in diameter). The culture utilized H2/CO 2 to produce methane but did not utilize formate, acetate, methanol, ethanol, 2-propanol, butanol or trimethylamine. Optimal growth conditions were near pH 5.1 and 35 °C. The culture grew in basal medium containing as little as 0.43 mM Na+ and growth was inhibited completely by 50 mM NaCl. To our knowledge, strain 6A8T is one of the most acidiphilic (lowest pH optimum) and salt-sensitive methanogens in pure culture. Acetate, coenzyme M, vitamins and yeast extract were required for growth. It is proposed that a new genus and species be established for this organism, Methanoregula boonei gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Methanoregula boonei is 6A8T (=DSM 21154T =JCM 14090T).

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)45-52
Number of pages8
JournalInternational Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Volume61
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Jan 2011
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Microbiology
  • Ecology, Evolution, Behavior and Systematics

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