Hydrogenimonas urashimensis sp. nov., a hydrogen-oxidizing chemolithoautotroph isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent in the Southern Mariana Trough.

A novel thermophilic bacterium, strain SSM-sur55, was isolated from a chimney structure at the Urashima site on the Southern Mariana Trough in the Pacific Ocean. Growth was observed at temperatures between 25 and 60°C (optimum, 55°C; 180min doubling time), at pH values between 5.3 and 7.2 (optimum, pH 5.9) and in the presence of between 1.6 and 5.6% (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 3.2%). The isolate used molecular hydrogen as its sole energy source, carbon dioxide as its sole carbon source, ammonium as its sole nitrogen source, and elemental sulfur as its sole sulfur source. Thiosulfate, molecular oxygen (0.1%, v/v) or elemental sulfur was utilized as its sole electron acceptor. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain SSM-sur55 belonged to the genus Hydrogenimonas of the class "Campylobacteria", and its closest relative was Hydrogenimonas thermophila EP1-55-1% (94.9%). On the basis of the phylogenetic, physiological and molecular characteristics, strain SSM-sur55 represents a novel species within the genus Hydrogenimonas, for which the name Hydrogenimonas urashimensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain SSM-sur55 (JCM 19825=KCTC 15926).