Comparative Genomics Underlines the Functional and Taxonomic Diversity of Novel “<i>Ferrovum</i>” Related Iron Oxidizing Bacteria

Abstract

Although acidophilic iron oxidizing bacteria related to “Ferrovum myxofaciens” P3G have been detected in various mining sites the knowledge about their physiology is limited to the type strain “F. myxofaciens” P3G. In order to further the knowledge on the metabolic capacity of “Ferrovum” related iron oxidizers we conducted a comparative genome analysis of three “Ferrovum” strains: JA12, PN-J185 and Z-31 (Z-31). The results of the phylogenetic analysis and the genome-to-genome distance calculation indicate that Z-31 belongs to a different “Ferrovum” species than JA12 and PN-J185. Comparative genome analyses revealed variations regarding the carbon, nitrogen and energy metabolism of the three strains which also corroborate the results concerning their phylogenetic relationship.

Intra-genus metabolic diversity facilitates co-occurrence of multiple Ferrovum species at an acid mine drainage site

“…All cultured Ferrovum spp. can grow autotrophically via iron oxidation [7, 15, 16, 18, 19] and we predict that the two MAGs presented here share that ability. Each genome contains high molecular weight, Cyc2-like proteins found in other Ferrovum taxa [16].…”

“…16S rRNA gene tree of Ferrovum spp. Group nomenclature from [18]. DSVs found in the emergence are indicated by circles, triangles indicate those found in the limestone lined channel, and squares those found in the Rose Pool.…”

“…are abundant at sites with pH ranging from less than 3 to 7 [4–6, 13, 14] and with iron concentrations ranging from 2 μM [5] to 71 mM [7]. High-throughput sequencing and ‘omics techniques have aided in characterizing the metabolic potential of Ferrovum via non-culture-based techniques [15–18] across these large gradients of Fe and pH. These studies indicate that Ferrovum is a diverse genus composed of six clades (Groups I - VI) of closely related species and strains [18].…”

“…High-throughput sequencing and ‘omics techniques have aided in characterizing the metabolic potential of Ferrovum via non-culture-based techniques [15–18] across these large gradients of Fe and pH. These studies indicate that Ferrovum is a diverse genus composed of six clades (Groups I - VI) of closely related species and strains [18]. Still, only four Ferrvoum genomes are publicly available and these are from Ferrovum Groups I and IV.…”

“…No genomes have been reported for Groups, II, III, IV, or V. The published genomes and culture studies suggest that Ferrovum spp. are autotrophs that pair Fe(II) oxidation with carbon fixation [7, 15, 16, 18, 19]. Some members of the genus also fix nitrogen and are therefore important to nutrient cycling [7, 19].…”