Blastopirellula sediminis sp. nov. a new member of Pirellulaceae isolated from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands

Two cream-coloured strains (JC732(T), JC733) of Gram-stain negative, mesophilic, catalase and oxidase positive, aerobic bacteria which divide by budding, form crateriform structures, and cell aggregates were isolated from marine habitats of Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. Both strains had genome size of 7.1 Mb and G + C content of 58.9%. Both strains showed highest 16S rRNA gene-based similarity with Blastopirellula retiformator Enr8(T) (98.7%). Strains JC732(T) and JC733 shared 100% identity of 16S rRNA gene and genome sequences. The coherence of both strains with the genus Blastopirellula was supported by the 16S rRNA gene based and the phylogenomic trees. Further, the chemo-taxonomic characters and the genome relatedness indices [ANI (82.4%), AAI (80.4%) and dDDH (25.2%)] also support the delineation at the species level. Both strains have the capability to degrade chitin and genome analysis shows the ability to fix N-2. Based on the phylogenetic, phylogenomic, comparative genomic, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics, strain JC732(T) is described as a new species of the genus Blastopirellula for which the name Blastopirellula sediminis sp. nov. is proposed, with strain JC733 as an additional strain.