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Joerg Graf - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Closed Genome Sequence of Aeromonas veronii Strain Hm21, an Isolate from the Medicinal Leech Hirudo verbana.
    Microbiology resource announcements, 2020
    Co-Authors: Joerg Graf, Michael C. Nelson, Sophie M. Colston
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Aeromonas veronii strain Hm21 was isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana and is used for genetic studies. We present here the 4.71-Mbp genome with a 56-kb plasmid and identify the mutations present in strains commonly used for genetic engineering.

  • Macrobdella decora: Old World Leech Gut Microbial Community Structure Conserved in a New World Leech
    2019
    Co-Authors: Emily Ann Mcclure, Michael C. Nelson, Amy Lin, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Leeches are found in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats on all continents. Sanguivorous leeches have been used in medicine for millennia. Modern scientific uses include studies of neurons, anticoagulants, and gut microbial symbioses. Hirudo verbana, the European medicinal leech, maintains a gut community dominated by two bacterial symbionts, Aeromonas veronii and Mucinivorans hirudinis, which sometimes account for as much as 97% of the total crop microbiota. The highly simplified gut anatomy and microbiome of H. verbana make it an excellent model organism for studying gut microbial dynamics. The North American medicinal leech, Macrobdella decora, is a hirudinid leech native to Canada and the northern U.S.A. In this study we show that M. decora symbiont communities are very similar to those in H. verbana. This similarity allowed for an extensive study in which wild caught animals were sampled to determine effects of geographic separation, time of collection, and feeding on the microbiome. Through 16S V4 rRNA deep sequencing we show that: i) the M. decora gut and bladder microbial communities are distinct, ii) the M. decora gut community is affected by feeding and long periods of starvation, and iii) geographic separation does not appear to affect the overall gut microbial community structure. We propose that M. decora is a replacement for H. verbana for studies of wild-caught animals and offer evidence for the conservation of annelid symbionts. Successful culturing and comparison of dominant symbionts from M. decora and H. verbena will provide the ability to assess host-symbiont co-evolution in future work. IMPORTANCE Building evidence implicates the gut microbiome in regulating animal digestion, nutritional acquisition, immune regulation, development, and even mood regulation. Because of the difficulty of assigning causative relationships in complex gut microbiomes a simplified model for testing hypotheses is necessary. Previous research in Hirudo verbana has suggested this animal as a highly simplified and tractable animal model of gut symbioses. Our data show that Macrobdella decora may work just as well as H. verbana without the drawback of being an endangered organism and with the added convenience of easy access to field-caught specimens. The similarity of the microbial community structure of species from two different continents reveals the highly-conserved nature of the microbial symbionts in sanguivorous leeches and confirms the medicinal leech as a highly simplified, natural animal model in which to study gut symbioses.

  • Host Matters: Medicinal Leech Digestive-Tract Symbionts and Their Pathogenic Potential.
    Frontiers in microbiology, 2016
    Co-Authors: Jeremiah N. Marden, Emily Ann Mcclure, Lidia Beka, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    Digestive-tract microbiota exert tremendous influence over host health. Host-symbiont model systems are studied to investigate how symbioses are initiated and maintained, as well as to identify host processes affected by resident microbiota. The medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, is an excellent model to address such questions owing to a microbiome that is consistently dominanted by two species, Aeromonas veronii and Mucinivorans hirudinis, both of which are cultivable and have sequenced genomes. This review outlines current knowledge about the dynamics of the H. verbana microbiome. We discuss in depth the factors required for A. veronii colonization and proliferation in the leech crop and summarize the current understanding of interactions between A. veronii and its annelid host. Lastly, we discuss leech usage in modern medicine and highlight how leech-therapy associated infections, often attributable to Aeromonas spp., are of growing clinical concern due in part to an increased prevalence of fluoroquinolone resistant strains.

  • Complete Genome Sequence of the Novel Leech Symbiont
    2016
    Co-Authors: Michael C. Nelson, Lindsey Bomar, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    Mucinivorans hirudinisM3T was isolated from the digestive tract of the medicinal leech,Hirudo verbana, and is the type species of a new genus within the Rikenellaceae. Here, we report the complete annotated genome sequence of this bacterium

  • Draft Genome Sequence of Pedobacter sp. Strain Hv1, an Isolate from Medicinal Leech Mucosal Castings
    Genome announcements, 2015
    Co-Authors: Brittany M. Ott, Joerg Graf, Lidia A Beka, Rita V M Rio
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT The Pedobacter sp. Hv1 strain was isolated from the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, mucosal castings. These mucosal sheds have been demonstrated to play a role in horizontal symbiont transmission. Here, we report the draft 4.9 Mbp genome sequence of Pedobacter sp. strain Hv1.

Daniel A Wagenaar - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • electrophysiology and transcriptomics reveal two photoreceptor classes and complex visual integration in Hirudo verbana
    bioRxiv, 2019
    Co-Authors: Annette Stowasser, Aaron Stahl, Joshua B Benoit, Daniel A Wagenaar
    Abstract:

    Abstract Among animals with complex visual processing mechanisms, the leech Hirudo verbana is a rare example in which all neurons can be identified. However, little is known about its visual system, which is composed of several pigmented head eyes and photosensitive non-pigmented sensilla that are distributed across its entire body. Although several interneurons are known to respond to visual stimuli, their response properties are poorly understood. Among these, the S cell system is especially intriguing: It is multimodal, spans the entire body of the leech, and is thought to be involved in complex sensory integration. To improve our understanding of the role of this system, we tested its spectral sensitivity, spatial integration, and adaptation properties. The response of the S cell system to visual stimuli was found to be strongly dependent on the size of the area stimulated, and adaptation was local. Furthermore, a “bleaching experiment” demonstrated that at least two color channels contributed to the response, and that their contribution was dependent on the adaptation to the background. The existence of at least two color channels was further supported by transcriptomic evidence, which indicated the existence of at least two distinct groups of putative opsins for leeches. Taken together, our results show that the S cell system has highly sophisticated response properties, and could be involved in the processing of complex visual stimuli. We propose the leech as a novel system to understand visual processing mechanisms with many practical advantages. Summary statement Detailed quantitative analysis of light responses in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana unequivocally demonstrates the existence of parallel visual pathways processing visual and UV stimuli. Responses to spatially complex stimuli indicate relatively sophisticated information processing.

  • electrophysiology and transcriptomics reveal two photoreceptor classes and complex visual integration in Hirudo verbana
    The Journal of Experimental Biology, 2019
    Co-Authors: Annette Stowasser, Aaron Stahl, Joshua B Benoit, Daniel A Wagenaar
    Abstract:

    Among animals with visual processing mechanisms, the leech Hirudo verbana is a rare example in which all neurons can be identified. However, little is known about its visual system, which is composed of several pigmented head eyes and photosensitive non-pigmented sensilla that are distributed across its entire body. Although several interneurons are known to respond to visual stimuli, their response properties are poorly understood. Among these, the S-cell system is especially intriguing: it is multimodal, spans the entire body of the leech and is thought to be involved in sensory integration. To improve our understanding of the role of this system, we tested its spectral sensitivity, spatial integration and adaptation properties. The response of the S-cell system to visual stimuli was found to be strongly dependent on the size of the area stimulated, and adaptation was local. Furthermore, an adaptation experiment demonstrated that at least two color channels contributed to the response, and that their contribution was dependent on the adaptation to the background. The existence of at least two color channels was further supported by transcriptomic evidence, which indicated the existence of at least two distinct groups of putative opsins for leeches. Taken together, our results show that the S-cell system has response properties that could be involved in the processing of spatial and color information of visual stimuli. We propose the leech as a novel system to understand visual processing mechanisms with many practical advantages.

  • Responses To Mechanically And Visually Cued Water Waves In The Nervous System Of The Medicinal Leech
    2017
    Co-Authors: Andrew M. Lehmkuhl, Arunkumar Muthusamy, Daniel A Wagenaar
    Abstract:

    Sensitivity to water waves is a key modality by which aquatic predators can detect and localize their prey. For one such predator, the medicinal leech, Hirudo verbana, behavioral responses to visual and mechanical cues from water waves are well documented. Here, we quantitatively characterized the response patterns of a multisensory interneuron, the S cell, to mechanically and visually cued water waves. The frequency dependence of the S-cell response matched the behavioral response well, in that sensitivity was higher for low frequencies in the visual modality and for high frequencies in the mechanical modality. We demonstrated that neither the cephalic ganglia nor the tail brain is required for the S cell to respond to visually cued water waves. The direction of spike propagation within the S-cell system did follow the direction of wave propagation under certain circumstances, but it is unlikely that downstream neuronal targets can use this information. In terms of overall firing rate, the S cell response was not direction selective. Accordingly we propose a role for the S cell in the detection of waves but not in the localization of their source.

  • Responses to Conflicting Stimuli in a Simple Stimulus–Response Pathway
    The Journal of neuroscience : the official journal of the Society for Neuroscience, 2015
    Co-Authors: Pieter Laurens Baljon, Daniel A Wagenaar
    Abstract:

    The “local bend response” of the medicinal leech (Hirudo verbana) is a stimulus–response pathway that enables the animal to bend away from a pressure stimulus applied anywhere along its body. The neuronal circuitry that supports this behavior has been well described, and its responses to individual stimuli are understood in quantitative detail. We probed the local bend system with pairs of electrical stimuli to sensory neurons that could not logically be interpreted as a single touch to the body wall and used multiple suction electrodes to record simultaneously the responses in large numbers of motor neurons. In all cases, responses lasted much longer than the stimuli that triggered them, implying the presence of some form of positive feedback loop to sustain the response. When stimuli were delivered simultaneously, the resulting motor neuron output could be described as an evenly weighted linear combination of the responses to the constituent stimuli. However, when stimuli were delivered sequentially, the second stimulus had greater impact on the motor neuron output, implying that the positive feedback in the system is not strong enough to render it immune to further input.

  • scanning behavior in the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana
    PLOS ONE, 2014
    Co-Authors: Cynthia M Harley, Daniel A Wagenaar
    Abstract:

    While moving through their environment, medicinal leeches stop periodically and wave their head or body back and forth. This activity has been previously described as two separate behaviors: one called ‘head movement’ and another called ‘body waving’. Here, we report that these behaviors exist on a continuum, and provide a detailed description of what we now call ‘scanning’. Scanning-related behavior has been thought to be involved in orientation; its function has never before been assessed. While previous studies suggested an involvement of scanning in social behavior, or sucker placement, our behavioral studies indicate that scanning is involved in orienting the leech towards prey stimuli. When such stimuli are present, scanning behavior is used to re-orient the leech in the direction of a prey-like stimulus. Scanning, however, occurs whether or not prey is present, but in the presence of prey-like stimuli scanning becomes localized to the stimulus origin. Most likely, this behavior helps the leech to gain a more detailed picture of its prey target. The display of scanning, regardless of the presence or absence of prey stimuli, is suggestive of a behavior that is part of an internally driven motor program, which is not released by the presence of sensory stimuli. The data herein include first steps to understanding the neural mechanisms underlying this important behavior.

Michael C. Nelson - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • Closed Genome Sequence of Aeromonas veronii Strain Hm21, an Isolate from the Medicinal Leech Hirudo verbana.
    Microbiology resource announcements, 2020
    Co-Authors: Joerg Graf, Michael C. Nelson, Sophie M. Colston
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Aeromonas veronii strain Hm21 was isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana and is used for genetic studies. We present here the 4.71-Mbp genome with a 56-kb plasmid and identify the mutations present in strains commonly used for genetic engineering.

  • Macrobdella decora: Old World Leech Gut Microbial Community Structure Conserved in a New World Leech
    2019
    Co-Authors: Emily Ann Mcclure, Michael C. Nelson, Amy Lin, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Leeches are found in terrestrial, aquatic, and marine habitats on all continents. Sanguivorous leeches have been used in medicine for millennia. Modern scientific uses include studies of neurons, anticoagulants, and gut microbial symbioses. Hirudo verbana, the European medicinal leech, maintains a gut community dominated by two bacterial symbionts, Aeromonas veronii and Mucinivorans hirudinis, which sometimes account for as much as 97% of the total crop microbiota. The highly simplified gut anatomy and microbiome of H. verbana make it an excellent model organism for studying gut microbial dynamics. The North American medicinal leech, Macrobdella decora, is a hirudinid leech native to Canada and the northern U.S.A. In this study we show that M. decora symbiont communities are very similar to those in H. verbana. This similarity allowed for an extensive study in which wild caught animals were sampled to determine effects of geographic separation, time of collection, and feeding on the microbiome. Through 16S V4 rRNA deep sequencing we show that: i) the M. decora gut and bladder microbial communities are distinct, ii) the M. decora gut community is affected by feeding and long periods of starvation, and iii) geographic separation does not appear to affect the overall gut microbial community structure. We propose that M. decora is a replacement for H. verbana for studies of wild-caught animals and offer evidence for the conservation of annelid symbionts. Successful culturing and comparison of dominant symbionts from M. decora and H. verbena will provide the ability to assess host-symbiont co-evolution in future work. IMPORTANCE Building evidence implicates the gut microbiome in regulating animal digestion, nutritional acquisition, immune regulation, development, and even mood regulation. Because of the difficulty of assigning causative relationships in complex gut microbiomes a simplified model for testing hypotheses is necessary. Previous research in Hirudo verbana has suggested this animal as a highly simplified and tractable animal model of gut symbioses. Our data show that Macrobdella decora may work just as well as H. verbana without the drawback of being an endangered organism and with the added convenience of easy access to field-caught specimens. The similarity of the microbial community structure of species from two different continents reveals the highly-conserved nature of the microbial symbionts in sanguivorous leeches and confirms the medicinal leech as a highly simplified, natural animal model in which to study gut symbioses.

  • Complete Genome Sequence of the Novel Leech Symbiont
    2016
    Co-Authors: Michael C. Nelson, Lindsey Bomar, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    Mucinivorans hirudinisM3T was isolated from the digestive tract of the medicinal leech,Hirudo verbana, and is the type species of a new genus within the Rikenellaceae. Here, we report the complete annotated genome sequence of this bacterium

  • mucinivorans hirudinis gen nov sp nov an anaerobic mucin degrading bacterium isolated from the digestive tract of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2015
    Co-Authors: Michael C. Nelson, Michele Maltz, Lindsey Bomar, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    Three anaerobic bacterial strains were isolated from the digestive tract of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana, using mucin as the primary carbon and energy source. These strains, designated M3T, M4 and M6, were Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming and non-motile. Cells were elongated bacilli approximately 2.4 µm long and 0.6 µm wide. Growth only occurred anaerobically under mesophilic and neutral pH conditions. All three strains could utilize multiple simple and complex sugars as carbon sources, with glucose fermented to acid by-products. The DNA G+C contents of strains M3T, M4 and M6 were 44.9, 44.8 and 44.8 mol%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acid of strain M3T was iso-C15 : 0. Phylogenetic analysis of full-length 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the three strains shared >99 % similarity with each other and represent a new lineage within the family Rikenellaceae of the order Bacteroidales , phylum Bacteroidetes . The most closely related bacteria to strain M3T based on 16S rRNA gene sequences were Rikenella microfusus DSM 15922T (87.3 % similarity) and Alistipes finegoldii AHN 2437T (87.4 %). On the basis of phenotypic, genotypic and physiological evidence, strains M3T, M4 and M6 are proposed as representing a novel species of a new genus within the family Rikenellaceae , for which the name Mucinivorans hirudinis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Mucinivorans hirudinis is M3T ( = ATCC BAA-2553T = DSM 27344T).

  • Draft Genome Sequence of Aeromonas veronii Hm21, a Symbiotic Isolate from the Medicinal Leech Digestive Tract
    Genome announcements, 2013
    Co-Authors: Lindsey Bomar, Michael C. Nelson, W. Zac Stephens, Katrina B. Velle, Karen Guillemin, Joerg Graf
    Abstract:

    ABSTRACT Aeromonas veronii strain Hm21 was isolated from the digestive tract of the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana and has been used to identify genes that are important for host colonization. This species is also a symbiont in the gut of zebrafish and is a pathogen of mammals and fish. We present here a 4.68-Mbp draft genome sequence for Hm21.

Peter Kämpfer - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.

  • niabella hirudinis and niabella drilacis sp nov isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Stefanie P Glaeser, Harald Galatis, Karin Martin, Peter Kämpfer
    Abstract:

    Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, strains E96T and E90T, were isolated from medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) and characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the two strains shared 98.1 % sequence similarity and were affiliated with the genus Niabella within the phylum Bacteroidetes , with 94.4–97.6 % sequence similarity to type strains of species of the genus Niabella and highest sequence similarity to the type strain of Niabella aurantiaca (97.3 and 97.6 %, respectively). Niabella -related 16S rRNA gene sequences were recently detected in the bladders of Hirudo verbana; however, no cultured representatives were so far available. Genomic fingerprint analysis using repetitive element primed (rep)- and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCRs and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments clearly showed that the strains were different from each other (DNA–DNA relatedness values of 39.1 %, reciprocal 28.0 %) and from the type strains of N. aurantiaca (<19.7 %) and Niabella tibetensis (<41.1 %). Chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed the affiliation to the genus Niabella . Both strains contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids of both strains were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), which is characteristic for the genus Niabella . Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and physiological characterization, we propose two novel species of the genus Niabella , Niabella hirudinis sp. nov., with strain E96T ( = DSM 25812T = CCM 8411T = LMG 26956T) as the type strain, and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., with strain E90T ( = DSM 25811T = CCM 8410T = LMG 26954T) as the type strain.

  • Niabella hirudinis and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., isolated from the medicinal leech Hirudo verbana
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Stefanie P Glaeser, Harald Galatis, Karin Martin, Peter Kämpfer
    Abstract:

    Two Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacteria, strains E96T and E90T, were isolated from medicinal leeches (Hirudo verbana) and characterized by a polyphasic taxonomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly full-length 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that the two strains shared 98.1 % sequence similarity and were affiliated with the genus Niabella within the phylum Bacteroidetes , with 94.4–97.6 % sequence similarity to type strains of species of the genus Niabella and highest sequence similarity to the type strain of Niabella aurantiaca (97.3 and 97.6 %, respectively). Niabella -related 16S rRNA gene sequences were recently detected in the bladders of Hirudo verbana; however, no cultured representatives were so far available. Genomic fingerprint analysis using repetitive element primed (rep)- and randomly amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD)-PCRs and DNA–DNA hybridization experiments clearly showed that the strains were different from each other (DNA–DNA relatedness values of 39.1 %, reciprocal 28.0 %) and from the type strains of N. aurantiaca (<19.7 %) and Niabella tibetensis (<41.1 %). Chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed the affiliation to the genus Niabella . Both strains contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone. The major fatty acids of both strains were iso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 1 G, iso-C17 : 0 3-OH and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH), which is characteristic for the genus Niabella . Based on genotypic, chemotaxonomic and physiological characterization, we propose two novel species of the genus Niabella , Niabella hirudinis sp. nov., with strain E96T ( = DSM 25812T = CCM 8411T = LMG 26956T) as the type strain, and Niabella drilacis sp. nov., with strain E90T ( = DSM 25811T = CCM 8410T = LMG 26954T) as the type strain.

  • kaistia hirudinis sp nov isolated from the skin of Hirudo verbana
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Stefanie P Glaeser, Harald Galatis, Karin Martin, Peter Kämpfer
    Abstract:

    A Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana and studied for its taxonomic allocation. 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to other strains showed that the strain was closely related to species of the genus Kaistia . Kaistia geumhonensis was shown to be the most closely related species (96.8 %), followed by Kaistia soli (96.6 %) and Kaistia dalseonensis (96.2 %). All other species of the genus Kaistia showed 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities <96 %. Chemotaxonomic data for strain E94T (major ubiquinone: Q-10; major polar lipids: diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, hydroxyphosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, unknown phospholipids, aminolipids and aminophospholipids; and major fatty acids: C18 : 1ω7c, C19 : 0ω8c cylco, C16 : 0 and C18 : 0) supported the affiliation of the isolate to the genus Kaistia . Phenotypic differentiation of strain E94T from all species of the genus Kaistia was possible using different physiological characters. Strain E94T represents a novel species of the genus Kaistia , for which the name Kaistia hirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E94T ( = LMG 26925T = CIP 110381T = CCM 8401T).

  • flavobacterium cutihirudinis sp nov isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana
    International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 2013
    Co-Authors: Stefanie P Glaeser, Harald Galatis, Karin Martin, Peter Kämpfer
    Abstract:

    A Gram-staining-negative, non-endospore-forming, yellow-pigmented strain (E89(T)) was isolated from the skin of the medical leech Hirudo verbana obtained from a leech farm located in Biebertal, Germany. 16S rRNA gene sequencing analysis showed that the isolate was grouped in the genus Flavobacterium. Strain E89(T) was most closely related to Flavobacterium chilense LM-09-Fp(T) (98.2 %), Flavobacterium chungangense CJ7(T) (98.1 %), and Flavobacterium oncorhynchi 631-08(T) (98.1 %). 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to all other species of the genus Flavobacterium were ≤ 97.4 %. A menaquinone of the type MK-6 was found to be the predominant respiratory quinone and the polar lipid profile consisted of the major compounds phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine, two unidentified aminolipids, one unknown phospholipid and two unknown lipids. The fatty acid profile was composed of iso-C15 : 0, C15 : 0, summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH) found in major amounts and several hydroxylated fatty acids in smaller amounts, among them iso-C15 : 0 3-OH and iso-C17 : 0 3-OH. All these data support the allocation of the isolate in the genus Flavobacterium. Physiological/biochemical characterization and DNA-DNA hybridizations with the type strains of the most closely related species allowed a clear phenotypic and genotypic differentiation of the strain. Based on these data, strain E89(T) represents a novel species of the genus Flavobacterium, for which the name Flavobacterium cutihirudinis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is E89(T) (= DSM 25795(T) = LMG 26922(T) = CIP 110374(T)).

  • Devosia epidermidihirudinis sp. nov. isolated from the surface of a medical leech
    Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 2013
    Co-Authors: Harald Galatis, Karin Martin, Peter Kämpfer, Stefanie P Glaeser
    Abstract:

    A Gram-negative, rod-shaped organism, isolated from the surface of the medical leech Hirudo verbana was characterized phenotypically and genotypically. The calculated 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities to those of the most closely related species grouped strain E84^T into the genus Devosia showing the highest similarities to Devosia limi (98.1 %), followed by Devosia psychrophila (97.9 %), Devosia neptuniae (97.3 %), and Devosia glacialis (97.5 %). Chemotaxonomic analyses showed that the major quinone was ubiquinone Q-10. The polar lipid profile consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and three glycolipids. The major fatty acid profile consisted of C_18:1 ω7c 11-methyl, C_19:0 cyclo ω8c, and C_16:0, C_18:0 and C_18:1 ω7c with C_18:0 3OH as hydroxylated fatty acid. This profile is very similar to those of the patterns reported for the already described Devosia species. The results of DNA–DNA hybridization, physiological and biochemical tests allowed both genotypic and phenotypic differentiation of strain E84^T from all other Devosia species suggesting a novel species for which the name Devosia epidermidihirudinis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain E84^T (=CIP 110375^T = LMG 26909^T = CCM 8398^T).

Rita V M Rio - One of the best experts on this subject based on the ideXlab platform.