Genome sequence of Parvibaculum lavamentivorans gen. nov. sp. nov. DS1T
This bacterial strain is an exceptional example for the first tier of many environmentally important surfactant-degrading consortia. It was enriched from a sewage treatment plant in Germany for its ability to grow with LAS-surfactants as carbon and energy source, was difficult to isolate, and is the first representative of a novel genus in the alpha-subclass of Proteobacteria. In addition, strain DS-1 degrades not only LAS-surfactants, but also 16 other anionic and non-ionic commercial surfactants (hence the species name lavamentivorans). The genome sequence was established in the Microbial Genomes Program of the U.S. Department of Energy - Joint Genome Institute (DoE-JGI) and is publicly accessible via IMG.
Genome sequences of Comamonas testosteroni KF-1 and Delftia acidovorans SPH-1
The two closely related strains (fam. Comamonadaceae) belong to a subgroup within the beta-Proteobacteria for which a multitude of strains have been isolated for specialised metabolic activities, especially degradation of xenobiotics. These two bacterial strains were isolated from a sewage treatment plant in Germany for their ability to degrade SPC-intermediates, which derive from LAS-surfactant degradation. The genome sequences were established in the Microbial Genomes Program of the U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute (DoE-JGI) and are accessible via IMG.
Genome sequence of Desulfococcus biacutus KMRActS
The strictly anaerobic, sulfate-reducing bacterium Desulfococcus biacutus strain KMRActS can utilize acetone as sole carbon and energy source for growth. Whereas in aerobic and nitrate‑reducing bacteria acetone is activated by carboxylation with CO2 to acetoacetate, D. biacutus involves CO as a cosubstrate for acetone activation through a different, so far unknown pathway. In cooperation with Prof. Bernhard Schink's group in Konstanz, we established the strain KMRActS genome sequence as basis for a proteomic analysis of acetone utilization and a reverse genetic approach, in order to access key enzymes in this unusual acetone activation pathway for the first time. Its genome annotation is publicly accessible via IMG.
Genome sequence of Pseudomonas putida SQ1
P. putida strain SQ1 was isolated for its ability to utilize the sulfonated plant sugar sulfoquinovose (6-deoxy-6-sulfoglucose) as a sole source of carbon and energy for growth, and was enriched from a sample of littoral sediment of pre-Alpine Lake Constance, Germany. Its draft genome sequence was the basis for an elucidation of its complete SQ pathway, which follows a route analogous to the Entner-Doudoroff pathway for glucose, as published in PNAS.
Genome sequence of Bacillus stamsii sp. nov.
Strain BoGlc83 is a novel species within the genus Bacillus, and is a model organism for specialized sugar-utilizing bacteria in sulfidic sediments of freshwater lakes, such as in Lake Constance. It is able to grow aerobically, as well as anaerobically, with various organic substrates. Importantly, under reducing (sulfidic) conditions, its substrate range is narrow, and its growth depends on a methanogenic partner organism, thus, on syntrophic cooperation. Its genome sequence has been established in cooperation with Dr. Nicolai Müller of the Prof. Schink group at Konstanz; further, a proteomic survey of its syntrophic growth with a hydrogen-scavenging, methanogenic partner organism is currently being established.
Genome sequence of Bacillus aryabhattai SOS1
This strain was isolated from a plant leave and is the first known sulfoquionovose-degrading representative of the phylum Firmicutes within the group of Gram-positive bacteria. We believe that it involves yet another SQ degradation pathway. The genome sequencing has just been completed, and a proteomic survey is underway.
Genome sequences of Sphingomonas xenophagum SKN and Cupriavidus sp. CDG4
Both bacterial strains have been isolated for their ability to completely degrade xenobiotic industrial chemicals, i.e., the artificial sweetner saccharin and the synthetic surfactants secondary alkanesulfonates (SAS), respectively. Their genome sequences have been established in order to reveal which enzymes and genes have been recruited in these bacteria in order to assemble such novel degradation pathways.