Microbial Diversity and Biosyntethic Potential of a UK Hypersaline Brine

Michael Macey (The Open University, UK)

10:30 - 10:45 Wednesday 15 April Morning

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Abstract

Extremophiles define the boundaries of habitability and offer insights into unique metabolic processes. The Droitwich Spa, UK, provides access to a unique, stable hypersaline brine. Its chemical composition was characterised via Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission Spectroscopy (ICP-OES) and its microbial community was investigated. Novel microbial strains were enriched on halophilic media. Taxonomic identification was performed using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, and the genomes of key isolates were fully sequenced and analysed. Bioinformatics was used to identify functional genes, biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs), and perform pangenomic comparisons. Antimicrobial potential was screened against ESKAPE pathogens, and lysogenic bacteriophage presence was tested via induction assays. The brine chemistry was confirmed as hypersaline, showing slight shifts from historical analyses. Multiple bacterial strains were isolated, including a novel strain of the recently delineated Vreelandella genus (Vreelandella D1). The genome of Vreelandella D1 contained numerous BGCs; the isolate demonstrated positive antimicrobial activity against several ESKAPE pathogens. Genomic analysis also revealed an integrated prophage, which was successfully induced and characterised. The Droitwich Spa brine is a key UK site for extremophile research. The isolation of Vreelandella D1, with its antimicrobial capacity and associated novel bacteriophage, underscores the potential for discovering biological novelty and new bioactive molecules in local extreme environments.

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