Polycladospora coralii gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Thermoactinomycetaceae isolated from stony coral in the South China Sea

Two novel filamentous bacteria, designated as IB182353T and IB182357, were isolated from stony coral of the South China Sea. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strains IB182353T and IB182357 were closely related to Hazenella coriacea DSM 45707T (with 93.4 and 93.5% similarity, respectively). The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization results showed that the pairwise similarities between isolate IB182353T and the other recognized Thermoactinomycetaceae species were less than 68.9, 60.5 and 21.1 %, respectively. Both strains produced aerial and substrate mycelia, grew optimally at 25-30 °C, pH 8.0-9.0 and with 2-3 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type was meso-DAP and the whole-cell hydrolysates contained ribose. The polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified aminophospholipid and three unidentified phospholipids. The genomic DNA G+C content was 39.5 mol%. Strain IB182353T was distinguishable from its related type strains by the contents of two fatty acids, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C17 : 1  ω10c. Based on polyphasic taxonomic characterization, we propose that strains IB182353T and IB182357 represent a novel genus and species within the family Thermoactinomycetaceae, for which the name Polycladospora coralii gen. nov. sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is IB182353T (=MCCC 1K04631T=JCM 34206T).

Streptomyces sennicomposti sp. nov., an actinomycete isolated from compost of Senna siamea (Lam.)

A member of the genus Streptomyces , designated RCPT1-4T, was isolated from compost of Senna siamea (Lam.), collected from an agricultural area in Rayong province, Thailand. The spore morphology and the presence of ll-diaminopimelic acid in the peptidoglycan indicate that RCPT1-4T shows the typical properties of members of the genus Streptomyces . On the basis of the results of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strain should be classified as representing a member of the genus Streptomyces and was most closely related to Streptomyces fumigatiscleroticus NBRC 12999T with the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.2 %, followed by Streptomyces spiralis NBRC 14215T (99.0 %). In addition, RCPT1-4T shared the highest average nucleotide identity by blast (ANIb) (86.0 %), and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) (32.1 %) values with S. spiralis NBRC 14215T. Furthermore, several physiological and biochemical differences were observed between RCPT1-4T and the closely related type strains of species with validly published names. These taxonomic data indicated that RCPT1-4T could be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Streptomyces and the name Streptomyces sennicomposti sp. nov. is proposed for this strain. The type strain is RCPT1-4T (=TBRC 11260T=NBRC 114303T).

Draft Genome Sequence of Thermoactinomyces vulgaris Strain AGRTWHS02, Isolated from Pasture Soil of a Sheep Dairy Farm in New Zealand

Thermoactinomyces species are heat-resistant spore-forming bacteria that are capable of producing proteases. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of a new Thermoactinomyces vulgaris strain, AGRTWHS02, with a strong proteolytic activity, which was isolated from a sheep dairy farm environment in New Zealand. The genome is 2.56 Mbp, with a GC content of 47.9%.

Waste Management through Composting: Challenges and Potentials

Composting is the controlled conversion of degradable organic products and wastes into stable products with the aid of microorganisms. Composting is a long-used technology, though it has some shortcomings that have reduced its extensive usage and efficiency. The shortcomings include pathogen detection, low nutrient status, long duration of composting, long mineralization duration, and odor production. These challenges have publicized the use of chemical fertilizers produced through the Haber–Bosch process as an alternative to compost over time. Chemical fertilizers make nutrients readily available to plants, but their disadvantages outweigh their advantages. For example, chemical fertilizers contribute to greenhouse effects, environmental pollution, death of soil organisms and marine inhabitants, ozone layer depletion, and human diseases. These have resulted in farmers reverting to the application of composts as a means of restoring soil fertility. Composting is a fundamental process in agriculture and helps in the recycling of farm wastes. The long duration of composting is a challenge; this is due to the presence of materials that take a longer time to compost, especially during co-composting. This review discusses the proper management of wastes through composting, different composting methods, the factors affecting composting, long-duration composting, the mechanism behind it, the present trends in composting and prospects. The extraction of mono-fertilizers from compost, development of strips to test for the availability of heavy metals and pathogens as well as an odor-trapping technique can go a long way in enhancing composting techniques. The addition of activators to raw materials can help to improve the nutritional quality of compost. This review further recommends that degradable organic material in which composts slowly should be assessed for their ability to mineralize slowly, which could make them advantageous to perennial or biennial crops. Viricides, fungicides, anti-nematodes, and anti-bacterial of plant or organic sources could as well be added to improve compost quality. The enhancement of composting duration will also be useful.

Multidisciplinary involvement and potential of thermophiles

The full biotechnological exploitation of thermostable enzymes in industrial processes is necessary for their commercial interest and industrious value. The heat-tolerant and heat-resistant enzymes are a key for efficient and cost-effective translation of substrates into useful products for commercial applications. The thermophilic, hyperthermophilic, and microorganisms adapted to extreme temperatures (i.e., low-temperature lovers or psychrophiles) are a rich source of thermostable enzymes with broad-ranging thermal properties, which have structural and functional stability to underpin a variety of technologies. These enzymes are under scrutiny for their great biotechnological potential. Temperature is one of the most critical parameters that shape microorganisms and their biomolecules for stability under harsh environmental conditions. This review describes in detail the sources of thermophiles and thermostable enzymes from prokaryotes and eukaryotes (microbial cell factories). Furthermore, the review critically examines perspectives to improve modern biocatalysts, its production and performance aiming to increase their value for biotechnology through higher standards, specificity, resistance, lowing costs, etc. These thermostable and thermally adapted extremophilic enzymes have been used in a wide range of industries that span all six enzyme classes. Thus, in particular, target of this review paper is to show the possibility of both high-value-low-volume (e.g., fine-chemical synthesis) and low-value-high-volume by-products (e.g., fuels) by minimizing changes to current industrial processes.

Draft genome sequence of Thermoactinomyces sp. strain AS95 isolated from a Sebkha in Thamelaht, Algeria

The members of the genus Thermoactinomyces are known for their protein degradative capacities. Thermoactinomyces sp. strain AS95 is a Gram-positive filamentous bacterium, isolated from moderately saline water in the Thamelaht region of Algeria. This isolate is a thermophilic aerobic bacterium with the capacity to produce extracellular proteolytic enzymes. This strain exhibits up to 99 % similarity with members of the genus Thermoactinomyces, based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. Here we report on the phenotypic features of Thermoactinomyces sp. strain AS95 together with the draft genome sequence and its annotation. The genome of this strain is 2,558,690 bp in length (one chromosome, but no plasmid) with an average G + C content of 47.95 %, and contains 2550 protein-coding and 60 RNA genes together with 64 ORFs annotated as proteases.

Thermoactinomyces khenchelensis sp. nov., a filamentous bacterium isolated from soil sediment of a terrestrial hot spring

A novel thermophilic filamentous bacterium, designated strain T36(T), was isolated from soil sediment sample from a hot spring source collected in Khenchela province, Algeria. Strain T36(T) was identified as a member of the genus Thermoactinomyces by a polyphasic approach. Strain T36(T) was observed to form white aerial mycelium and non-coloured to pale yellow substrate mycelium, both producing endospores, sessile or borne by short sporophores. The optimum growth temperature and pH were found to be 37-55 °C and 7.0-9.0, respectively and the optimum NaCl concentration for growth was found to be 0-7 % (w/v). The diagnostic diamino acid in the cell wall peptidoglycan was identified as meso-diaminopimelic acid. The predominant menaquinone of strain T36(T) was identified as MK-7 (H0). The major fatty acids were found to be iso-C15:0 and iso-C17:0. The phospholipids detected were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylinositol and phosphoglycolipid. The chemotaxonomic properties of strain T36(T) are consistent with those shared by members of the genus Thermoactinomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the sequence similarities between strain T36(T) and Thermoactinomyces species with validly published names were less than 98 %. Based on the combined genotypic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that strain T36(T) should be classified as representative of a novel species, for which the name Thermoactinomyces khenchelensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T36(T) (=DSM 45951(T) = CECT 8579(T)).