Gluconacetobacter persimmonis sp. nov., Isolated from Korean Traditional Persimmon Vinegar

Screening was performed to isolate cellulose-producing microorganisms from the Korean traditional fermented persimmon vinegar. The resulting strain, KJ $145^{T}$, was then taxonomically investigated by phenotypic characterization, particularly chemotaxonomic, and by phylogenetic inference based on a 16S rDNA sequence analysis including other related taxa. Strain KJ $145^{T}$ was found to grow rapidly and form pale white colonies with smooth to rough surfaces on a GYC agar. Strain KJ $145^T$ also produced acetate from ethanol, and was tolerable to 10% ethanol in SM medium. In a static culture, a thick cellulose pellicle was produced, and in GYC broth, the strain grew at temperatures ranging from 28 to $40^\circ{C}$ with an optimum pH of 4.0. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain KJ $145^T$ was 61.9 mol%, and the predominant ubiquinone was Q 10 as the major quinone and Q9 as the minor quinone. The major cellular fatty acids were $C_{16:0}$ and the sum in feature 7 ($C_{18:1}$ w9c, w12t and/or w7c). A 16S rRNA-targeted oligonucleotide probe specific for strain KJ $145^T$was constructed, and the phylogenetic position of the new species was derived from a 16S rDNA-based tree. When comparing the 16S rDNA nucleotide sequences, strain KJ $145^T$ was found to be most closely related to G. hansenii LMG $1527^T$ (99.2%), although KJ $145^T$ was still distinct from G. hansenii LMG $l527^T$ and G. xylinus LMG $1515^T$ in certain phenotypic characteristics. Therefore, on the basis of 16S rDNA sequences and taxonomic characteristics, it is proposed that strain KJ $145^T$ should be placed in the genus Gluconacetobacter as a new species, Gluconacetobacter persimmonis sp. nov., under the type-strain KJ $145^T$ (=KCTC =$10175BP^T$=KCCM=$10354^T$).