Rhodococcus tukisamuensis sp. nov., isolated from soil

Nocardiopsis codii sp. nov., and Rhodococcus chondri sp. nov., two novel actinomycetal species isolated from macroalgae collected in the northern Portuguese coast

Two novel actinomycetal strains, designated CC-R113T and CC-R104T, were isolated from the tissues of two macroalgae collected on the northern Portuguese coast. Phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain CT-R113T belongs to the genus Nocardiopsis, being closely related to Nocardiopsis umidischolae 66/93T and Nocardiopsis tropica VKM Ac-1457T, with 98.65 and 98.39 % sequence similarity, respectively. The clade formed between the three type strains was confirmed by phylogenomic analysis. The genome of strain CT-R113T was 7.27 Mb in size with a G+C content of 71.3 mol %, with average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of 89.59 and 90.14 % with strains 66/93T and VKM Ac-1457T, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as C18 : 1  ω9c, iso-C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Menaquinone 10 (MK-10) was the major respiratory quinone. Comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CC-R104T belongs to the genus Rhodococcus and is most closely related to Rhodococcus pyridinivorans DSM 44555T, with 98.24 % sequence similarity. However, phylogenomic analysis revealed that strain CC-R104T establishes a clade with Rhodococcus artemisae DSM 45380T, being more distant from Rhodococcus pyridinivorans DSM 44555T. The genome of strain CC-R104T was 5.34 Mb in size with a G+C content of 67.01 mol%. The ANI value between strains CC-R104T and DSM 45380T was 81.2 % and between strains CC-R104T and DSM 44555T was 81.5 %. The major cellular fatty acids were identified as C18 : 1  ω9c, C16 : 0 and summed feature 3. Menaquinone 8 (MK-8) was the only respiratory quinone. For both CC-R113T and CC-R104T, optimum growth was observed at pH 7.0, 28 °C and 0-5 % NaCl and whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the cell-wall diamino acid. On the basis of phenotypic, molecular and chemotaxonomic characteristics, strains CT-R113T and CC-R104T are considered to represent novel species, for which the names Nocardiopsis codii sp. nov. (type strain CT-R113T=LMG33234T=UCCCB172T) and Rhodococcus chondri sp. nov. (type strain CC-R104T=LMG33233T=UCCCB171T) are proposed.

Rhodococcus oryzae sp. nov., a novel actinobacterium isolated from rhizosphere soil of rice (Oryza sativa L.)

A Gram-stain-positive, non-motile, creamy-white actinobacterium, which has an elementary branching rod-coccus life cycle was isolated from the rhizosphere soil of rice (Oryza sativa L.) collected from Northeast Agricultural University in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, north-east PR China, and its taxonomic status was examined by using a polyphasic approach. Results from the 16S rRNA gene sequence study showed that the isolate, designated strain NEAU-CX67^T, belonged to the genus Rhodococcus and formed a cluster with Rhodococcus maanshanensis DSM 44675^T, Rhodococcus kronopolitis NEAU-ML12^T and Rhodococcus tukisamuensis JCM 11308^T (98.3, 98.1 and 97.7% gene sequence similarity, respectively). The major fatty acids were C_16 : 0, 10-methyl C_18 : 0, C_18 : 1 ω9c and C_16 : 1 ω7c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The major isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H₂). Whole-cell hydrolysates contained meso-diaminopimelic acid. Arabinose, galactose and ribose were detected as diagnostic sugars from whole-cell hydrolysates. Mycolic acids were detected. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain NEAU-CX67^T was 64.6 mol%. Strain NEAU-CX67^T exhibited low average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with R. maanshanensis DSM 44675^T (92.1 and 45.4 %) and R. tukisamuensis JCM 11308^T (81.9 and 24.4 %). On the basis of results of phylogenetic, genotypic, physiological and chemotaxonomic analysis, strain NEAU-CX67^T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus for which the name Rhodococcus oryzae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-CX67^T (=DSM 107701^T=CCTCC AB 2018233^T).

Isolation, characterisation, and genome sequencing of Rhodococcus equi: a novel strain producing chitin deacetylase

Chitin deacetylase (CDA) can hydrolyse the acetamido group of chitin polymers to produce chitosans, which are used in various fields including the biomedical and pharmaceutical industries, food production, agriculture, and water treatment. CDA represents a more environmentally-friendly and easier to control alternative to the chemical methods currently utilised to produce chitosans from chitin; however, the majority of identified CDAs display activity toward low-molecular-weight oligomers and are essentially inactive toward polymeric chitin or chitosans. Therefore, it is important to identify novel CDAs with activity toward polymeric chitin and chitosans. In this study, we isolated the bacterium Rhodococcus equi F6 from a soil sample and showed that it expresses a novel CDA (ReCDA), whose activity toward 4-nitroacetanilide reached 19.20 U/mL/h during fermentation and was able to deacetylate polymeric chitin, colloidal chitin, glycol-chitin, and chitosan. Whole genome sequencing revealed that ReCDA is unique to the R. equi F6 genome, while phylogenetic analysis indicated that ReCDA is evolutionarily distant from other CDAs. In conclusion, ReCDA isolated from the R. equi F6 strain expands the known repertoire of CDAs and could be used to deacetylate polymeric chitosans and chitin in industrial applications.

Current taxonomy of Rhodococcus species and their role in infections

Rhodococcus is a genus of obligate aerobic, Gram-positive, partially acid-fast, catalase-positive, non-motile, and none-endospore bacteria. The genus Rhodococcus was first introduced by Zopf. This bacterium can be isolated from various sources of the environment and can grow well in non-selective medium. A large number of phenotypic characterizations are used to compare different species of the genus Rhodococcus, and these tests are not suitable for accurate identification at the genus and species level. Among nucleic acid-based methods, the most powerful target gene for revealing reliable phylogenetic relationships is 16S ribosomal RNA gene (16S rRNA gene) sequence analysis, but this gene is unable to differentiation some of Rhodococcus species. To date, whole genome sequencing analysis has solved taxonomic complexities in this genus. Rhodococcus equi is the major cause of foal pneumonia, and its implication in human health is related to cases in immunocompromised patients. Macrolide family together with rifampicin is one of the most effective antibiotic agents for treatment rhodococcal infections.

Genome-Based Taxonomic Classification of the Phylum Actinobacteria

The application of phylogenetic taxonomic procedures led to improvements in the classification of bacteria assigned to the phylum Actinobacteria but even so there remains a need to further clarify relationships within a taxon that encompasses organisms of agricultural, biotechnological, clinical, and ecological importance. Classification of the morphologically diverse bacteria belonging to this large phylum based on a limited number of features has proved to be difficult, not least when taxonomic decisions rested heavily on interpretation of poorly resolved 16S rRNA gene trees. Here, draft genome sequences of a large collection of actinobacterial type strains were used to infer phylogenetic trees from genome-scale data using principles drawn from phylogenetic systematics. The majority of taxa were found to be monophyletic but several orders, families, and genera, as well as many species and a few subspecies were shown to be in need of revision leading to proposals for the recognition of 2 orders, 10 families, and 17 genera, as well as the transfer of over 100 species to other genera. In addition, emended descriptions are given for many species mainly involving the addition of data on genome size and DNA G+C content, the former can be considered to be a valuable taxonomic marker in actinobacterial systematics. Many of the incongruities detected when the results of the present study were compared with existing classifications had been recognized from 16S rRNA gene trees though whole-genome phylogenies proved to be much better resolved. The few significant incongruities found between 16S/23S rRNA and whole genome trees underline the pitfalls inherent in phylogenies based upon single gene sequences. Similarly good congruence was found between the discontinuous distribution of phenotypic properties and taxa delineated in the phylogenetic trees though diverse non-monophyletic taxa appeared to be based on the use of plesiomorphic character states as diagnostic features.

Rhodococcus defluvii sp. nov., isolated from wastewater of a bioreactor and formal proposal to reclassify [Corynebacterium hoagii] and Rhodococcus equi as Rhodococcus hoagii comb. nov

A Gram-stain-positive, non-endospore-forming rod-shaped bacterium, strain Ca11T, was isolated from a bioreactor with extensive phosphorus removal and was studied in detail for its taxonomic allocation. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed closest sequence similarity of the strain to type strains of [ Corynebacterium hoagii ] and Rhodococcus equi (98.9 %), Rhodococcus koreensis and Rhodococcus wratislaviensis (both 98.4 %), Rhodococcus opacus and Rhodococcus canchipurensis (both 98.0 %) followed by Rhodococcus kunmingensis and Rhodococcus imtechensis (97.7 %). Phylogenetic trees showed a distinct clustering of strain Ca11T with the type strains of [ C. hoagii ], R. equi , and R. kunmingensis separate to all other species of the genus Rhodococcus . The quinone system of strain Ca11T was composed of dihydrogenated menaquinones with 8 (major amount) as well as 7 and 6 isoprenoid units [MK-8(H2), MK-7(H2), MK-6(H2)]. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannoside, one unknown phospholipid and an unidentified glycolipid. The fatty acid profile was similar to that reported for R. equi and contained major amounts of C16 : 0, C18 : 1ω9c and 10-methyl C18 : 0, supporting the allocation of the strain to the genus Rhodococcus . Physiological and biochemical characterization and DNA–DNA hybridization with type strains of the most closely related species allowed clear phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of the isolate. On the basis of these results, strain Ca11T ( = DSM 45893T = LMG 27563T) represents a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus , with the proposed name Rhodococcus defluvii sp. nov. In addition, a polyphasic taxonomic analysis of [ Corynebacterium hoagii ] DSM 20295T and Rhodococcus equi DSM 20307T indicated that the two strains belong to the same species, for which the name Rhodococcus hoagii comb. nov. takes priority, according to the Rules of the Bacteriological Code.

Rhodococcus nanhaiensis sp. nov., an actinobacterium isolated from marine sediment

In this study, two strains (SCSIO 10187(T) and SCSIO 10197) were isolated from a sediment sample collected from the South China Sea and characterized by using a polyphasic approach. Growth was observed at 15-35 °C (optimum 28 °C) and pH 5.0-8.0 (optimum pH 6.0). Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the strains were identified as members of the genus Rhodococcus. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the two strains clustered together and the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities between them and other members of the genus Rhodococcus were 93.2-97.7 %. The menaquinone type was MK-8(H(2)). Major cellular fatty acids were C(16 : 0), C(18 : 1)ω9c, C(17 : 0), 10-methyl C(18 : 0), C(18 : 0), C(19 : 0) and C(17 : 1)ω8c. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol and phosphatidylinositol mannoside. The DNA G+C contents of strains SCSIO 10187(T) and SCSIO 10197 were 63.7 and 63.2 mol%, respectively. The combined genotypic and phenotypic data showed that the two strains represent a novel species of the genus Rhodococcus, for which the name Rhodococcus nanhaiensis is proposed; the type strain is SCSIO 10187(T) ( = DSM 45608(T) = CCTCC AB 2011024(T)), with SCSIO 10197 ( = DSM 45609 = CCTCC AB 2011025) as a reference strain.

The genome of a pathogenic rhodococcus: cooptive virulence underpinned by key gene acquisitions

We report the genome of the facultative intracellular parasite Rhodococcus equi, the only animal pathogen within the biotechnologically important actinobacterial genus Rhodococcus. The 5.0-Mb R. equi 103S genome is significantly smaller than those of environmental rhodococci. This is due to genome expansion in nonpathogenic species, via a linear gain of paralogous genes and an accelerated genetic flux, rather than reductive evolution in R. equi. The 103S genome lacks the extensive catabolic and secondary metabolic complement of environmental rhodococci, and it displays unique adaptations for host colonization and competition in the short-chain fatty acid–rich intestine and manure of herbivores—two main R. equi reservoirs. Except for a few horizontally acquired (HGT) pathogenicity loci, including a cytoadhesive pilus determinant (rpl) and the virulence plasmid vap pathogenicity island (PAI) required for intramacrophage survival, most of the potential virulence-associated genes identified in R. equi are conserved in environmental rhodococci or have homologs in nonpathogenic Actinobacteria. This suggests a mechanism of virulence evolution based on the cooption of existing core actinobacterial traits, triggered by key host niche–adaptive HGT events. We tested this hypothesis by investigating R. equi virulence plasmid-chromosome crosstalk, by global transcription profiling and expression network analysis. Two chromosomal genes conserved in environmental rhodococci, encoding putative chorismate mutase and anthranilate synthase enzymes involved in aromatic amino acid biosynthesis, were strongly coregulated with vap PAI virulence genes and required for optimal proliferation in macrophages. The regulatory integration of chromosomal metabolic genes under the control of the HGT–acquired plasmid PAI is thus an important element in the cooptive virulence of R. equi.

Rhodococcus is a prototypic genus within the Actinobacteria, one of the largest microbial groups on Earth. Many of the ubiquitous rhodococcal species are biotechnologically useful due to their metabolic versatility and biodegradative properties. We have deciphered the genome of a facultatively parasitic Rhodococcus, the animal and human pathogen R. equi. Comparative genomic analyses of related species provide a unique opportunity to increase our understanding of niche-adaptive genome evolution and specialization. The environmental rhodococci have much larger genomes, richer in metabolic and degradative pathways, due to gene duplication and acquisition, not genome contraction in R. equi. This probably reflects that the host-associated R. equi habitat is more stable and favorable than the chemically diverse but nutrient-poor environmental niches of nonpathogenic rhodococci, necessitating metabolically more complex, expanded genomes. Our work also highlights that the recruitment or cooption of core microbial traits, following the horizontal acquistion of a few critical genes that provide access to the host niche, is an important mechanism in actinobacterial virulence evolution. Gene cooption is a key evolutionary mechanism allowing rapid adaptive change and novel trait acquisition. Recognizing the contribution of cooption to virulence provides a rational framework for understanding and interpreting the emergence and evolution of microbial pathogenicity.

Rhodococcus yunnanensis sp. nov., a mesophilic actinobacterium isolated from forest soil

A Gram-positive, aerobic, non-motile, mesophilic strain, designated YIM 70056T, was isolated from a forest soil sample in Yunnan Province, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that this isolate had less than 97·0 % similarity to any Rhodococcus species with validly published names, with the exception of Rhodococcus fascians (DSM 20669T), which was found to be its closest neighbour (98·9 % similarity). Chemotaxonomic data, including peptidoglycan type, diagnostic sugar compositions, fatty acid profiles, menaquinones, polar lipids and mycolic acids, were determined for this isolate; the results supported the affiliation of strain YIM 70056T to the genus Rhodococcus. The DNA G+C content was 63·5 mol%. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization with R. fascians DSM 20669T, in combination with chemotaxonomic and physiological data, demonstrated that isolate YIM 70056T represents a novel Rhodococcus species, for which the name Rhodococcus yunnanensis sp. nov. is proposed, with YIM 70056T (=CCTCC AA 204007T=KCTC 19021T=DSM 44837T) as the type strain.