Title

Characterization of an UnusualNon-marine Alginolytic Organism.

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

2000

Abstract

An unknown bacterium that occurred as an experimental contaminant on a dilute nutrient broth (DNB) plate was characterized by phenotypic and phylogenetic analysis.The organism was found to be obligately aerobic, catalase positive, mesophilic, non-marine (NaCl intolerant), and rod-shaped in morphology. Under low-nutrient conditions the bacterium produced a highly active low-molecular weight agarase that caused softening and pitting of the agar around the bacterial colonies. This was considered to be unusual, since agar is a marine product. A portion of the 16s rRNA gene from this organism was amplified by PCR, cloned, and submitted for DNA sequencing. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene identified the microbe as a member of the genus Sphingomonas , although a species match was not found. This laboratory provisionally named this terrestrial organism Sphingomonas alginolyticus due to its ability to degrade agar.

Advisor

Mark. O. Martin

Department

bio

Support

Howard Hughes Medical Institute



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