Bordetella petrii sp nov., isolated from an anaerobic bioreactor, and amended description of the genus Bordetella

A novel Bordetella species was isolated from an anaerobic, dechlorinating b ioreactor culture enriched from river sediment. The only strain, Se-1111R(T ) (= DSM 12804(T) = CCUG 43448(T)), for which the name Bordetella petrii is proposed, is designated the type strain of the novel species. Strain Se-11 11RT was isolated from the dechlorinating mixed culture due to its ability to anaerobically reduce selenate to elemental selenium. Comparative 16S rDN A sequence analysis showed a close relationship between Se-1111RT and membe rs of the genus Bordetella within the beta -Proteobacteria, This close memb ers of the genus Bordetella within the beta -Proteobacteria. This close phy logenetic relatedness was also reflected in several metabolic properties of Se-1111R(T), including its incapacity to utilize carbohydrates, by the hig h G+C content (63.8 mol%) of its DNA and by the presence of Q-8 as the majo r isoprenoid quinone. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments with type strains o f all species of the genus Bordetella and closely related species Achromoba cter xylosoxidans subsp. denitrificans provided further evidence for the as signment of strain Se-1111RT as a novel species of the genus Bordetella. Th is genus currently consists of seven aerobic species, all of which are know n to occur in close pathogenic, opportunistic or possibly commensal relatio nships with various host organisms. B. petrii is the first member of this g enus isolated from the environment and capable of anaerobic growth. The pro posal of the novel species and an emended description of the genus Bordetel la is presented.