Thauera mechernichensis sp nov., an aerobic denitrifier from a leachate treatment plant

A heterotrophic bacterial strain TL1(T) capable of aerobic denitrification was previously enriched in continuous culture from a landfill leachate trea tment plant and isolated as a pure culture. The taxonomic position of this isolate within the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria was determined by 16 S rDNA sequence analysis and by conventional taxonomy including substrate s pectrum, quinone type (ubiquinone Q-8) and cellular fatty acid composition. Detection of the specific polyamine 2-hydroxyputrescine supports the membe rship of strain TL1(T) in the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria. The resu lts of 16S rDNA sequencing showed that the strain clustered with, but was s eparate from, Thauera aromatica and Thauera selenatis. DNA-DNA hybridizatio n experiments indicated that the new isolate represents a new species of th e genus, for which the name Thauera mechernichensis is proposed; the type s train is DSM 12266(T).