Analysis of Genomic and Characterization Features of Microbulbifer weihaiensis sp. nov., Isolated from Coastal Sediment

A strictly aerobic, straight-rod, motile Gram-negative bacterium, SDUM041083^T, was isolated from marine sediment in Xiaoshidao, Weihai, China, in the formation of yellowish-brown colonies. Its growing conditions are as follows: 20-40 °C, pH 5.5-9.5, and 0.5-11% (<i>w</i>/<i>v</i>) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that SDUM041083^T was related to members of the genus <i>Microbulbifer</i>. Strain SDUM041083^T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.23%) with <i>Microbulbifer okinawensis</i> JCM 16147^T. The primary cellular fatty acids of SDUM041083^T were iso-C11:0 3-OH, iso-C11:0, and iso-C15:0. The respiratory quinone of SDUM041083^T was Q-8, and the polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and one aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of SDUM041083^T was 57.5 mol%. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of SDUM041083^T indicate that the strain should be classified as a new species representing the genus <i>Microbulbifer</i>, with the name <i>Microbulbifer weihaiensis</i> sp. nov. being proposed. The type strain was SDUM041083^T (=KCTC 8896^T = MCCC 1H01537^T). Comparative genomic analysis showed that the 32 <i>Microbulbifer</i> species shared 1446 core genes and differed mainly in terms of lipid metabolism, signal transduction and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. Preliminary research showed that SDUM041083^T has the potential to degrade chitin. Biogeographic distribution analysis showed that the marine environments constitute the main habitat of the genus <i>Microbulbifer</i>.