sp. nov., a Novel Hyperthermophilic Starch-Degrading Archaeon.

A novel hyperthermophilic archaeon, termed strain T7324, was isolated from a mixed sulfate-reducing consortium recovered from hot water produced from a deep North Sea oil reservoir. The isolate is a strict anaerobic chemo-organotroph able to utilize yeast extract or starch as a carbon source. The genes for a number of sugar degradation enzymes and glutamate dehydrogenase previously attributed to the sulfate reducing strain of the consortium ( strain 7324) were identified in the nearly completed genome sequence. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain in the genus, but with an average nucleotide identity that is less than 90% to its closest relatives. Phylogenomic treeing reconstructions placed the strain on a distinct lineage clearly separated from other spp. The results indicate that the strain T7324 represents a novel species, for which the name sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T7324 (=DSM 27149 = KCTC 15808).