Pan-Genome Analyses of the Genus Cohnella and Proposal of the Novel Species Cohnella silvisoli sp. nov., Isolated from Forest Soil

Two strains, designated NL03-T5(T) and NL03-T5-1, were isolated from a soil sample collected from the Nanling National Forests, Guangdong Province, PR China. The two strains were Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped and had lophotrichous flagellation. Strain NL03-T5(T) could secrete extracellular mucus whereas NL03-T5-1 could not. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the two strains belong to the genus Cohnella, were most closely related to Cohnella lupini LMG 27416(T) (95.9% and 96.1% similarities), and both showed 94.0% similarity with Cohnella arctica NRRL B-59459(T), respectively. The two strains showed 99.8% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between them. The draft genome size of strain NL03-T5(T) was 7.44 Mbp with a DNA G+C content of 49.2 mol%. The average nucleotide identities (ANI) and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between NL03-T5(T) and NL03-T5-1 were 99.98% and 100%, indicating the two strains were of the same species. Additionally, the ANI and dDDH values between NL03-T5(T) and C. lupini LMG 27416(T) were 76.1% and 20.4%, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of strain NL03-T5(T) included anteiso-C(15:0) and iso-C(16:0). The major polar lipids and predominant respiratory quinone were diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG) and menaquinone-7 (MK-7). Based on phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characterization, genomic DNA G+C content, and ANI and dDDH values, strains NL03-T5(T) and NL03-T5-1 represent novel species in the genus Cohnella, for which the name Cohnella silvisoli is proposed. The type strain is NL03-T5(T) (=GDMCC 1.2294(T) = JCM 34999(T)). Furthermore, comparative genomics revealed that the genus Cohnella had an open pan-genome. The pan-genome of 29 Cohnella strains contained 41,356 gene families, and the number of strain-specific genes ranged from 6 to 1649. The results may explain the good adaptability of the Cohnella strains to different habitats at the genetic level.