Unraveling the Genomic Potential of the Thermophilic Bacterium Anoxybacillus flavithermus from an Antarctic Geothermal Environment

• Published in: Microorganisms
• Main Authors: Schultz, Júnia, Parise, Mariana Teixeira Dornelles, Parise, Doglas, Medeiros, Laenne G., Sousa, Thiago J., Kato, Rodrigo B., Uetanabaro, Ana Paula Trovatti, Araújo, Fabrício, Ramos, Rommel Thiago Jucá, de Castro Soares, Siomar, Rosado, Alexandre S., Brenig, Bertram B., de Carvalho Azevedo, Vasco Ariston, Góes-Neto, Aristóteles, 1Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia, 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, 4Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil, 6Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil, 7Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil, Brenig, Bertram, 8Department of Molecular Biology of Livestock, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Georg August University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
• Other Authors: Schultz, Júnia; 1Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia, Parise, Mariana Teixeira Dornelles; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Parise, Doglas; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Medeiros, Laenne G.; 4Laboratory of Molecular Microbial Ecology, Institute of Microbiology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 21941-902, RJ, Brazil, Sousa, Thiago J.; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Kato, Rodrigo B.; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Uetanabaro, Ana Paula Trovatti; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Araújo, Fabrício; 6Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil, Ramos, Rommel Thiago Jucá; 6Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Pará, Belém 66075-110, PA, Brazil, de Castro Soares, Siomar; 7Institute of Biological and Natural Sciences, Federal University of Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba 38025-180, MG, Brazil, Brenig, Bertram; 8Department of Molecular Biology of Livestock, Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Georg August University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany, de Carvalho Azevedo, Vasco Ariston; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Góes-Neto, Aristóteles; 3Institute of Biological Sciences, Federal University of Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte 31270-901, MG, Brazil, Rosado, Alexandre S.; 1Red Sea Research Center, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Makkah 23955, Saudi Arabia
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: English
• Published: 2022
• Subjects: Antarc*; Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Antarctica; Deception Island
• Online Access: https://resolver.sub.uni-goettingen.de/purl?gro-2/113917; https://doi.org/10.3390/microorganisms10081673

Antarctica is a mosaic of extremes. It harbors active polar volcanoes, such as Deception Island, a marine stratovolcano having notable temperature gradients over very short distances, with the temperature reaching up to 100 °C near the fumaroles and subzero temperatures being noted in the glaciers. From the sediments of Deception Island, we isolated representatives of the genus Anoxybacillus, a widely spread genus that is mainly encountered in thermophilic environments. However, the phylogeny of this genus and its adaptive mechanisms in the geothermal sites of cold environments remain unknown. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study to unravel the genomic features and provide insights into the phylogenomics and metabolic potential of members of the genus Anoxybacillus inhabiting the Antarctic thermophilic ecosystem. Here, we report the genome sequencing data of seven A. flavithermus strains isolated from two geothermal sites on Deception Island, Antarctic Peninsula. Their genomes were approximately 3.0 Mb in size, had a G + C ratio of 42%, and were predicted to encode 3500 proteins on average. We observed that the strains were phylogenomically closest to each other (Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) > 98%) and to A. flavithermus (ANI 95%). In silico genomic analysis revealed 15 resistance and metabolic islands, as well as genes related to genome stabilization, DNA repair systems against UV radiation threats, temperature adaptation, heat- and cold-shock proteins (Csps), and resistance to alkaline conditions. Remarkably, glycosyl hydrolase enzyme-encoding genes, secondary metabolites, and prophage sequences were predicted, revealing metabolic and cellular capabilities for potential biotechnological applications. National Council for Research and Development (CNPq) National Council for the Improvement of Higher Education (CAPES) KAUST Baseline Grant