Description of high-altitude, cold-adaptive, metabolically versatile <i>Dyadobacter aurulentus</i> sp. nov. isolated from Western Himalayan farmland soils

High-altitude, cold habitats such as the Gangotri region of the Western Himalayas remain underexplored for culturable microbial diversity. Here, we describe <i>Dyadobacter aurulentus</i> sp. nov., a novel cold-adapted species isolated from such an environment. This strain demonstrates unique ecological and metabolic traits, including growth at low temperatures and degradation of aromatic compounds like sodium benzoate. Genomic analysis revealed key cold adaptation features such as cold-shock proteins, fatty acid desaturases, nitrate assimilation pathways, and multidrug resistance genes, supporting survival in nutrient-limited, low-temperature soils. The strain's distinct chemotaxonomic profile, marked by elevated C_16:0 and unique polar lipids, underscores its ecological specialization. Together, these features point to its potential utility in bioremediation and cold-environment biotechnology. This study broadens our understanding of the adaptive strategies and ecological functions of <i>Dyadobacter</i> spp. in extreme environments, with implications for bioprospecting cold-active enzymes and understanding resistance evolution in high-altitude microbial communities.