Comparative genomic analyses of Lutimaribacter degradans sp. nov. With the ability to PAHs-biodegradation and transformation

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are common contaminants in the various environments, some of which are carcinogenic in experimental animals and are widely considered as one of main cause to the cancer burden in humans. Lutimaribacter is one of microorganisms that have the potential to break down petroleum hydrocarbons and PAHs efficiently. In this study, we isolated three strains of the genus Lutimaribacter from saline lake samples for the first time, which strains EGI FJ00013T, EGI FJ00014, and EGI FJ00015 have lower 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities with validly published species of this genus. This study based on a polyphasic taxonomic method concludes that three strains belong to a new species of the genus Lutimaribacter, for which we propose the name Lutimaribacter degradans sp. nov., with EGI FJ00013T as the type species. Strains EGI FJ00013T, EGI FJ00014, and EGI FJ00015 have an optimum growth temperature of 28-30 °C and they can grow at high NaCl concentration (12%, m/v). The three isolates show different ability to degrade PAHs. Notably, strain EGI FJ00015 exhibits a wide range of PAHs-degradation activities. This study provides a detailed investigation for the strain isolation, polyphasic taxonomy, PAHs-biodegradation, and comparative genome analysis of the new isolates of the genus Lutimaribacter in the saline lake.