New year, new genomes: GC and colleagues sequence bacteria from salt ponds and eelgrass meadows

photo by habitat.noaa.gov

Genome Center researchers Alexandara Alexiev, Guillame Jospin, Jenna Lang, Professor Jonathan Eisen, and David Coil, in collaboration with Megan Krusor of the Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, have published draft genome sequences of two strains of Pseudoalteromonas bacteria, isolated from root and leaf surfaces of the eelgrass Zostera marina.  This research, part of the Seagrass Microbiome Project, aims to characterize the microbiomes of these marine grasses, which provide critical spawning habitat for many species and may collectively store much more atmospheric carbon than terrestrial forests. With Ruth Lee, Jospin, Lang, Eisen and Coil also published draft genomes of two strains of Vibrio splendidus, a soil bacteria found in sediment from an eelgrass meadow at Bodega Bay, California. The open access articles were published in Genome Announcements: Draft Genome Sequences of Two Pseudoalteromonas Strains Isolated from Roots and Leaf Blades of the Seagrass Zostera marina Draft Genome Sequences of Two Vibrio splendidus Strains, Isolated from Seagrass Sediment 

photo by puertoricoismusic.com

From the Department of Biomedical Engineering, Associate Professor Marc Facciotti, in collaboration with colleagues from the University of Puerto Rico, published draft genome sequences of Halorubrum tropicale as well as Haloarcula rubripromontorii, two newly discovered species of halophilic bacteria isolated from the sea salt evaporation ponds of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico. Both are members of the Halobacteriaceae, a large and diverse family of bacteria found living in very salty water. The open access articles were published in Genomics Data: Draft genome sequence of Halorubrum tropicale strain V5, a novel halophilic archaeon isolated from the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico Draft genome of Haloarcula rubripromontorii strain SL3, a novel halophilic archaeon isolated from the solar salterns of Cabo Rojo, Puerto Rico