Life Sciences Commons^™

Genomic And Physiological Characterization Of The Verrucomicrobia Isolate Diplosphaera Colitermitum Gen. Nov., Sp. Nov., Reveals Microaerophily And Nitrogen Fixation Genes, John T. Wertz, Eunji Kim, John A. Breznak, Thomas M. Schmidt

University Faculty Publications and Creative Works

Previously we reported the cultivation of novel verrucomicrobia, including strain TAV2 (93% 16S rRNA gene identity to its nearest cultivated representative, Opitutus terreae PB90-1) from the gut of the termite Reticulitermes flavipes. To gain better insight into the Verrucomicrobia as a whole and understand the role of verrucomicrobia within the termite gut ecosystem, we analyzed a draft genome and undertook a physiological characterization of TAV2. Strain TAV2 is an autochthonous member of the R. flavipes gut microbiota and groups phylogenetically among diverse Verrucomicrobia from R. flavipes and other termites that are represented by 16S rRNA gene sequences alone. TAV2 is …