Abstract
A novel Gram-stain negative, aerobic, halotolerant, motile, rod-shaped, predatory bacterium ASxL5T, was isolated from a bovine slurry tank in Nottinghamshire, UK using Campylobacter hyointestinalis as prey. Other Campylobacter species and members of the Enterobacteriaceae were subsequently found to serve as prey. Weak axenic growth on Brain Heart Infusion agar was achieved upon subculture without host cells. The optimal growth conditions were 37 °C, at pH 7. Transmission electron microscopy revealed some highly unusual morphological characteristics related to prey availability. Phylogenetic analyses using 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that the isolate was related to members of the Oceanospirillaceae family but could not be classified clearly as a member of any known genus. Whole genome sequencing of ASxL5T confirmed the relationship to members the Oceanospirillaceae. Database searches revealed that several ASxL5T share 16S rRNA gene sequences with several uncultured bacteria from marine, and terrestrial surface and subsurface water. We propose that strain ASxL5T represents a novel species in a new genus. We propose the name Venatorbacter cucullus gen. nov., sp. nov. with ASxL5T as the type strain.
Highlights
A predatory bacterium is one that demonstrates the ability to pursue and kill other living bacteria to obtain biosynthetic materials and energy[1]
The ASxL5T bacterium was isolated from bovine slurry due to the observation that it formed plaques on C. hyointestinalis lawns similar to those produced by bacteriophage
Axenic culture was achieved independent of prey cells on rich solid media such as Brain Heart Infusion agar (BHI) and Blood agar (BA), with weak growth that improved on subculture using heavy inocula
Summary
A predatory bacterium is one that demonstrates the ability to pursue and kill other living bacteria to obtain biosynthetic materials and energy[1] This is distinct from the universal recycling of the nutrients from dead microorganisms and from parasitic interactions where bacteria form close associations with their hosts without killing them. Predatory bacteria have evolved diverse life cycles to exploit abundant food sources in the niches where they are found, for example in marine h abitats[2]. Predatory bacteria are suggested to enhance microbial diversity, and have positive effects on ecosystem health, productivity, and s tability[6] Despite these positive attributes, there are few studies of new predatory bacteria because of difficulties in culturing the bacteria, and the need for careful observation of cellular interactions in order to understand their complex lifecycles. Campylobacter hyointestinalis, a zoonotic pathogen that is increasingly associated with enteric disease in humans[10], was prevalent in the slurry and was used as a target host
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