Streptomyces deserti sp. nov., isolated from hyper-arid Atacama Desert soil

Abstract

The taxonomic position of a Streptomyces strain isolated from a hyper-arid desert soil was established using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemical and morphological properties typical of the genus Streptomyces and formed a phyletic line at the periphery of the Streptomyces coeruleorubidus subcluster in the 16S rRNA gene tree. DNA:DNA relatedness values between the isolate and its nearest phylogenetic neighbours, Streptomyces lomondensis NRRL 3252T and Streptomyces lusitanus NRRL B-12501T were 42.5 (±0.48)% and 25.0 (±1.78)%, respectively. The isolate was readily distinguished from these organisms using a combination of morphological and phenotypic properties. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that isolate C63T (CGMCC 4.6997T, = KACC 15425T) be classified as the type strain of Streptomyces deserti sp. nov.