Comparative Genomic Analysis of Phylogenetically Closely Related Hydrogenobaculum sp. Isolates from Yellowstone National Park

A comparative genomic analysis of four closely related Hydrogenobaculum isolates from Yellowstone National Park's Dragon Spring outflow channel revealed subtle but significant differences in their genetic makeup compared to a geographically distinct strain, Y04AAS1. The DS isolates exhibited unique genes associated with arsenite oxidation and type II secretion systems, while Y04AAS1 harbored genes for thiosulfate metabolism, nitrate respiration, and mercury resistance, many of which were likely acquired via horizontal gene transfer. The study also identified distinct CRISPR loci and differences in average nucleotide identity and conserved DNA percentage between the two groups. Fragment recruitment analysis suggested that the DS metagenome was more similar to the DS isolates than to Y04AAS1, indicating a continuum of Hydrogenobaculum genotypes within the geothermal environment.

Romano, C., D’Imperio, S., Woyke, T., Mavromatis, K., Lasken, R., Shock, E. L., & McDermott, T. R. (2013). Comparative Genomic Analysis of Phylogenetically Closely Related Hydrogenobaculum sp. Isolates from Yellowstone National Park. Applied and Environmental Microbiology, 79(9), 2932–2943. https://doi.org/10.1128/aem.03591-12