Two yeast strains (INY29 and INY13) representing a novel yeast species were isolated from the hypersaline marine environment of the Inland Sea, Qatar. Phylogenetic analysis based on the D1/D2 domains of the large subunit (LSU) regions and internal transcribed spacer (ITS1 and ITS2) regions showed that the two strains represent a single species in the genus Naganishia that is distinct from other species. These two strains were classified as members of the genus Naganishia and clustered in a strongly supported clade represented by Naganishia albidus in the Filobasidiales order in the phylogenetic tree drawn from ITS and D1/D2 sequences. The novel species was most closely related to the type strain of Naganishia cerealis but the two species differed by 1 % sequence divergence (four substitutions and one gap) in the D1/D2 domains and (five substitutions and one gap) in the ITS regions. In contrast to the closest relative, N. cerealis, the novel yeast species assimilated melibiose, glycerol, meso-erythritol, dl-lactate, methanol, propane 1-2-diol, butane 2-3-diol, and grew at 35 °C. The name Naganishia qatarensis sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these strains, with INY29 as the holotype.

Recently the shrimp farming has blooming as a crucial counterpart in the aquaculture industry which contribute the remarkable role in sea food production as well economy of the country. However, this could be fluctuated every year through several circumstances such as unfavorable (Poor water and soil quality) environmental factors. The environmental factors includes disease causing bacterial pathogens in the soil and water which causes the bacterial diseases in the aquatic animals, like this hectic problems are prevented through bioaugmentation strategies. The pond environment plays a vital role in determining the healthy culture system, but there is high risk for manipulation by bacterial community which takes care of waste generated in the system through in situ bioremediation. Due to the impact of rapidly growing bacterial diseases of shrimps throughout the world, numerous studies have been carried out to find immunostimulants, immunomodulators and biotic component that can be used against vibrio causing pathogens, and can also be used as an alternative for antibiotics. Recent research focus towards the marine resources such as microalgae, seaweed, live feeds (like artemia, copepods, rotifers), bacteriophage, and probiotics have been found to have higher potential in reducing vibriosis. Eco-based shrimp farming includes green water technology, phage therapy bio-floc technology (BFT) and integrated multi-trophic aquaculture (IMTA), these methods hold a promising alternative to antibiotics in the near future. Bacterial diseases caused by vibrios have been reported in penaeid shrimp culture systems implicating at least 14 species and they are Vibrio harveyi, V. splendidus, V. parahaemolyticus, V. alginolyticus, V. anguillarum, V. vulnificuslogei etc.

The genus Vibrio accounts for a major group of marine and estuarine bacteria capable of causing diseases in various aquatic organisms including fishes, corals, shellfish's and shrimps. Infections with these organisms have profound environmental and economic consequences. In the present study, 52 isolates of Vibrio species were isolated from the water samples collected from 14 sites surrounding Qatar during the winter season. Using 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and MALDI-TOF MS we identified 13 different luminous and non-luminous Vibrio species. V. alginolyticus (50%) was the predominant species followed by V. harveyi (11%), V. owensii (7%), V. nigripulchritudo (6%), V. rotiferianus (6%), V. mediterranei (6%), V. hepatarius (2%), V. shilonii (2%), V. maritimus (2%), V. coralliilyticus (2%), V. tubiashii (2%), V. parahaemolyticus (2%), and V. proteolyticus (2%). We were able to identify all (100%) isolates using 16S rRNA, (>94 percentage similarity) as compared to MALDI TOF-MS which could correctly identify only 60% isolates. Majority (70%) of the potentially pathogenic Vibrio's isolates of Vibrio's were recovered from the fishing ports of Qatar namely Al-Khor and Al-Wakra. The isolation of various pathogenic species of Vibrio's from the Qatari marine environment indicates the potential sanitary risk and stresses the need for further studies to prevent infections.Acknowledgments:This research was supported by the research grant (Grant NPRP 6-647-1-127) from the Qatar National Research Fund (a member of Qatar Foundation) to R. Fotedar (Ministry of Environment, Qatar), Thorsten Stoeck (L, Germany), Teun Boekhout (CBS- KNAW, The Netherlands) and Jack Fell (RSMAS,USA).

We report the draft genome sequences of seven Vibrio cholerae isolates from patients. Four isolates were profiled as multilocus sequence type 69, serogroup O1, a subset of seventh-pandemic El Tor clonal isolates. Presented here are genome assemblies and evidence for major pathogenicity islands, virulence factors, and antimicrobial resistance genes.

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