Taxonomical Classification of Novel Filamentous Cyanobacterial Strain Leptolyngbya sp., Isolated from Open Raceway Microalgae Culture Pond

Abstract

A filamentous cyanobacterium was isolated from the microalgae culture pond, and cultured in BG-11 medium. Microscopic analysis revealed that the non-motile filaments were composed of single trichomes that were typically consisting of cylindrical cells with evident constriction at the cross-walls. Akinetes, false-branching, gas vacuoles, heterocysts or sheaths were not found. To determine the taxonomical position of the isolate, 16S rRNA and 16S-23S intergenic spacer (ITS) region sequences were obtained and compared with the GenBank database of cyanobacteria. The results revealed that the strain belonged to the genus Leptolyngbya and finally designated as Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1. To ascertain the precise phylogenetic position of the isolate, phylogenetic analysis were conducted using 16S rRNA and 16S-23S ITS sequences. Based on these results, Leptolyngbya sp. KIOST-1 might be considered as novel species in the genus Leptolyngbya, and further studies are currently in process to investigate the genome of the isolate.