Novel hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon Infirmifilum lucidum gen. nov. sp. nov., reclassification of Thermofilum uzonense as Infirmifilum uzonense comb. nov. and assignment of the family Thermofilaceae to the order Thermofilales ord. nov.

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A novel hyperthermophilic crenarchaeon, strain 3507LTT, was isolated from a terrestrial hot spring near Tinguiririca volcano, Chile. Cells were non-motile thin, slightly curved filamentous rods. It grew at 73–93 °C and pH range of 5 to 7.5 with an optimum at 85 °C and pH 6.0–6.7. The presence of culture broth filtrate of another hyperthemophilic archaeon as well as yeast extract was obligatory for growth of the novel isolate. Strain 3507LTT is an anaerobic chemoorganoheterotroph, fermenting monosaccharides, disaccharides and polysaccharides (lichenan, starch, xanthan gum, xyloglucan, alpha-cellulose and amorphous cellulose). No growth stimulation was detected when nitrate, thiosulfate, selenate or elemental sulfur were added as the electron acceptors. The complete genome of strain 3507LTT consisted of a single circular chromosome with size of 1.63 Mbp. The DNA G+C content was 53.9%. According to the 16S rRNA gene sequence as well as conserved protein sequences phylogenetic analyses, strain 3507LTT together with Thermofilum uzonense formed a separate cluster within a Thermofilaceae family (Thermoproteales/Thermoprotei/Crenarchaeota). Based on phenotypic characteristics, phylogeny as well as AAI comparisons, a novel genus and species Infirmifilum lucidum strain 3507LTT (=VKM B-3376T = KCTC 15797T) gen. nov. sp. nov. was proposed. Its closest relative, Thermofilum uzonense strain 1807–2T should be reclassified as Infirmifilum uzonense strain 1807–2T comb. nov. Finally, based on phylogenomic and comparative genome analyses of representatives of Thermofilaceae family and other representatives of Thermoproteales order, a proposal of transfer of the family Thermofilaceae into a separate order Thermofilales ord. nov. was made.