Isolation and description of a globally distributed cryosphere cyanobacterium from Antarctica

• Published in: Polar Research
• Main Authors: Ji Won Hong, Sung Hong Kim, Han-Gu Choi, Sung-Ho Kang, Ho-Sung Yoon
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: Norwegian Polar Institute 2013
• Subjects: Barton Peninsular; cryosphere cyanobacteria; King George Island; uncultured Oscillatoria species; Environmental sciences; GE1-350; Oceanography; GC1-1581; Barton; Barton Peninsula; South Shetland Islands; Antarc*; Antarctica; Polar Research
• Online Access: https://doi.org/10.3402/polar.v32i0.18529; https://doaj.org/article/d20bfdbe626c4d5c81cc93fc186a60e5

A previously uncultured cyanobacterium, strain KNUA009, was axenically isolated from a meltwater stream on Barton Peninsula, King George Island, South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. Molecular evidences showed that the isolate belongs to groups of globally distributed cryosphere cyanobacterial clones and this new isolate represents the first laboratory culture to be assigned to these groups. Strain KNUA009 was able to thrive at low temperatures ranging between 5°C and 20°C, but did not survive at temperatures of 25°C and above. As the isolate morphologically resembled Oscillatoria species, it is suggested that this cyanobacterium may represent a new species clade with cold resistance within the genus Oscillatoria.