RESEARCH ARTICLE Genome Analysis of the Biotechnologically Relevant Acidophilic Iron Oxidising Strain JA12 Indicates Phylogenetic and Metabolic Diversity within the Novel Genus “Ferrovum”

Background Members of the genus “Ferrovum ” are ubiquitously distributed in acid mine drainage (AMD) waters which are characterised by their high metal and sulfate loads. So far isolation and microbiological characterisation have only been successful for the designated type strain “Ferrovummyxofaciens ” P3G. Thus, knowledge about physiological characteristics and the phylogeny of the genus “Ferrovum ” is extremely scarce. Objective In order to access the wider genetic pool of the genus “Ferrovum”we sequenced the genome of a “Ferrovum”-containing mixed culture and successfully assembled the almost complete genome sequence of the novel “Ferrovum ” strain JA12. Phylogeny and Lifestyle The genome-based phylogenetic analysis indicates that strain JA12 and the type strain represent two distinct “Ferrovum ” species. “Ferrovum ” strain JA12 is characterised by an unusually small genome in comparison to the type strain and other iron oxidising bacteria