Functional genomics and taxonomic insights into heavy metal tolerant novel bacterium Brevibacterium metallidurans sp. nov. NCCP-602T isolated from tannery effluent in Pakistan

The strain designated NCCP-602^T was isolated from tannery effluent, and displayed aerobic, gram-positive, rod-shaped cells that were characterized by oxidase negative, catalase positive, and non-motile features. The most favourable growth conditions were observed at a temperature of 30°C, pH 7.0, and NaCl concentration of 1% (w/v). It tolerated heavy metals at high concentrations of chromium (3600 ppm), copper (3300 ppm), cadmium (3000 ppm), arsenic (1200 ppm) and lead (1500 ppm). The results of phylogenetic analysis, derived from sequences of the 16S rRNA gene, indicated the position of strain NCCP-602^T within genus Brevibacterium and showed that it was closely related to Brevibacterium ammoniilyticum JCM 17537^T. Strain NCCP-602 ^T formed a robust branch that was clearly separate from closely related taxa. A comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity and dDDH values between the closely related type strains and strain NCCP-602^T provided additional evidence supporting the classification of strain NCCP-602^T as a distinct novel genospecies. The polar lipid profile included diphosphatidylglycerol, glycolipid, phospholipids and amino lipids. MK-7 and MK-8 were found as the respiratory quinones, while anteiso-C_15:0, iso-C_15:0, iso-C_16:0, iso-C_17:0, and anteiso-C_17:0 were identified as the predominant cellular fatty acids (> 10%). Considering the convergence of phylogenetic, phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, and genotypic traits, it is suggested that strain NCCP-602 ^T be classified as a distinct species Brevibacterium metallidurans sp. nov. within genus Brevibacterium with type strain NCCP-602^T (JCM 18882^T = CGMCC1.62055^T).