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

A strictly aerobic, straight-rod, motile Gram-negative bacterium, SDUM041083T, 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% (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that SDUM041083T was related to members of the genus Microbulbifer. Strain SDUM041083T showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity (98.23%) with Microbulbifer okinawensis JCM 16147T. The primary cellular fatty acids of SDUM041083T were iso-C11:0 3-OH, iso-C11:0, and iso-C15:0. The respiratory quinone of SDUM041083T was Q-8, and the polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, and one aminolipid. The genomic DNA G+C content of SDUM041083T was 57.5 mol%. The phenotypic and genotypic characteristics of SDUM041083T indicate that the strain should be classified as a new species representing the genus Microbulbifer, with the name Microbulbifer weihaiensis sp. nov. being proposed. The type strain was SDUM041083T (=KCTC 8896T = MCCC 1H01537T). Comparative genomic analysis showed that the 32 Microbulbifer species shared 1446 core genes and differed mainly in terms of lipid metabolism, signal transduction and xenobiotic biodegradation and metabolism. Preliminary research showed that SDUM041083T has the potential to degrade chitin. Biogeographic distribution analysis showed that the marine environments constitute the main habitat of the genus Microbulbifer.