Oceanotoga teriensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from offshore oil-producing wells.

A novel, moderately thermophilic, chemo-organotrophic bacterium was isolated from formation fluid samples from an offshore oil-production well head at Bombay High (Western India). Cells were rod-shaped with a sheath-like outer structure ('toga'); the cells appeared singly, in pairs or in short chains. Cells grew at 25-70 °C (optimum 55-58 °C), pH 5.5-9.0 (optimum pH 7.3-7.8) and 0-12  % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 4.0-4.5  %). The isolate was able to grow on various carbohydrates or complex proteinaceous substances. The isolate reduced thiosulfate and elemental sulfur. The major end products of glucose fermentation were acetate, H₂ and CO₂. The DNA G+C content of the genomic DNA was 26.8 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene placed the strain within the order Thermotogales in the bacterial domain. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons and in combination with morphological and physiological characteristics, the isolate represents a novel species of new genus, for which the name Oceanotoga teriensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is OCT74(T) (=JCM 15580(T)=LMG 24865(T)).