Abstract
Meiothermus silvanus (Tenreiro et al. 1995) Nobre et al. 1996 belongs to a thermophilic genus whose members share relatively low degrees of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Meiothermus constitutes an evolutionary lineage separate from members of the genus Thermus, from which they can generally be distinguished by their slightly lower temperature optima. M. silvanus is of special interest as it causes colored biofilms in the paper making industry and may thus be of economic importance as a biofouler. This is the second completed genome sequence of a member of the genus Meiothermus and only the third genome sequence to be published from a member of the family Thermaceae. The 3,721,669 bp long genome with its 3,667 protein-coding and 55 RNA genes is a part of the Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea project.
Highlights
Strain VI-R2T (T (= DSM 9946 = ATCC 700542 = BCRC 17112) was first described as ‘Thermus silvanus’ by Tenreiro et al in 1995 [1]
Strain VI-R2T was isolated from the hot spring located at the end of a 450 m tunnel and from thermal water piped to a spa at Vizela in northern Portugal [1]
A patent based on different natural plant extracts inhibiting biofilm formation of thermophilic species in paper or board machines, amongst them M. silvanus, has been recently issued [16]
Summary
The Genomic Standards Consortium a distinct group on the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, whereas the red/orange pigmented strains form two groups, one comprising M. silvanus and the other the remaining species [8,9]. M. silvanus is well known to form colored biofilms in the paper industry, which makes this species an economic threat [12,13]. A patent based on different natural plant extracts inhibiting biofilm formation of thermophilic species in paper or board machines, amongst them M. silvanus, has been recently issued [16]. In addition to being found on paper and board machines [12] uncultured clone 16S rRNA gene sequences very similar to M. silvanus VI-R2T (X84211) have been detected in the gut of an invasive wood-boring beetle (98% identity, EU148672) [18] and in seawater adjacent to a Pacillopora meandrina coral colony at Palmyra Atoll (99% identity, EU249942). We present a summary classification and a set of features for M. silvanus VI-R2T, together with the description of the complete genomic sequencing and annotation
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
