Alicyclobacillus chiapanensis PA2T, a novel species with specific adaptation in a bacterial cell wall isolated from an active volcano

Abstract Aliclyclobacillus is an interesting genus that has been isolated worldwide from extreme environments, such as acid soils, hot springs, volcanoes and acidic drinks. The species of this genera has phenotypic particularities such as the phospholipid in their membranes and the composition of its cell wall. Besides, the phenotypic diversity of the Alicyclobacillus species it has been reported just 30 genomes. We analyzed the genome of a polyextremophilic bacterium isolated from a crater lake in an active volcano. The identity of the strain PA2 T was analyzed with standard molecular markers gyrB, ileS, lepA and 16S rRNA genes and confirmed by the average nucleotide identity ANIm (97.17%,), ANIb (96.65%,), TETRA (Z-score) (0.98) and DDH (75.5%.). These phylogenetic analyses indicated that PA2 T is a new species, which we have named Alicyclobacillus chiapanensis PA2 T . The genome A. chiapanensis PA2 T structure consists of a circular 2.956.928 bp molecule, with an overall G + C of 62.77%. The entire genome has 3,256 genes, a total of 2,952 genes has a putative function, and 144 were considered unique. A comparative genomic analysis of the COG systems of A. chiapanensis PA2 T showed "extra" genes that correspond to dormancy and sporulation (3), transport across the membrane (5), and the cell wall and capsule (6). This isolate shows changes in structure and chemical composition in the bacterial cell wall. The “extra” genes may be associated with the adaptations to polyextremophilic conditions. Particularly, we identify cell wall-associated specific genes, which participate in the D-rhamnose metabolism and can form an outer layer to protect the cell in inhospitable conditions.