Psychromonas arctica sp nov., a novel psychrotolerant, biofilm-forming bacterium isolated from Spitzbergen

Using starch as a carbon source at a cultivation temperature of 4degreesC, a number of Gram-negative, aerobic strains was isolated from sea-ice and sea-water samples collected at Spitzbergen in the Arctic. Analysis of the genetic diversity of the novel isolates by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) and ERIC fingerprinting revealed a homogenic group of biofilm-forming bacteria that contained small extrachromosomal elements. As a representative of the group, strain Pull 5.3(T) isolated from a sea-water sample, was used for detailed characterization. The results of phylogenetic analysis indicated that the newly isolated strain is a member of the gamma-subclass of the Proteobacteria and belongs to the genus Psychromonas. On the basis of DNA-DNA hybridization experiments, chemotaxonomic studies and phenotypic characterization, strain Pull 5.3(T) (= CECT 5674(T) =DSM 14288(T)) clearly represents a novel species, for which the name Psychromonas arctica sp. nov. is proposed.