Sediminicola is a genus of Gram-negative, aerobic, rod-shaped bacteria belonging to the family Flavobacteriaceae within the phylum Bacteroidota. The genus was first proposed by Khan et al. in 2006 and was emended by Hwang et al. in 2015.
Etymology The name Sediminicola derives from Latin: sedimen (genitive sedminis), meaning "sediment," and the suffix -cola (from Latin incola), meaning "an inhabitant" or "dweller." Thus, Sediminicola means "an inhabitant of sediment," referring to the source from which the type strains were isolated. The gender is masculine, and the pronunciation is se-di-mi-NI-ko-la.
Taxonomy
- Domain: Bacteria
- Phylum: Bacteroidota
- Class: Flavobacteriia
- Order: Flavobacteriales
- Family: Flavobacteriaceae
- Genus: Sediminicola Khan et al. 2006 emend. Hwang et al. 2015
- Type species: Sediminicola luteus Khan et al. 2006
Characteristics Cells are rods approximately 0.5–0.7 × 3–5 μm in size, nonmotile, and Gram-stain-negative. Colonies are golden-yellow in color. Flexirubin-type pigments are not produced. The genus is aerobic, catalase-positive, and weakly positive for oxidase. Growth occurs at 10–30°C (optimum 20°C) and requires artificial seawater (NaCl alone is insufficient). Nitrate is reduced. Gelatin, casein, and starch are hydrolyzed. The predominant cellular fatty acids include C15:0 iso, C15:0 anteiso, C15:1 iso, C17:1 iso ω9c, C17:0 iso 3-OH, and summed feature 3 (C16:1 iso ω7c / i-C15:0 2-OH). The only respiratory quinone is menaquinone-6 (MK-6). The genomic DNA G+C content ranges from 37.9 to 40 mol%.
Species The genus currently contains two validly published and correctly named species:
- Sediminicola luteus Khan et al. 2006 – The type species. Isolated from sediments collected on the shores of the Pacific Ocean and the Sea of Japan.
- Sediminicola arcticus Hwang et al. 2015 – A psychrophilic (cold-loving) bacterium isolated from deep-sea sediment of the Arctic Ocean. Grows optimally at 15°C and pH 6.5–7.5 in the presence of 3.5% (w/v) sea salts.
A third species, "Sediminicola litoralis" Liu et al. 2025, has been proposed (isolated from tidal flat sediment) but is not yet validly published under the ICNP.
Habitat and Ecology Members of the genus Sediminicola are marine bacteria isolated from sediment environments, including coastal sediments, deep-sea sediments, and tidal flat sediments. Genomic analyses have indicated that the genus possesses metabolic capabilities for polysaccharide degradation, and some strains have been found to contain proteorhodopsin genes, suggesting photoheterotrophic potential.
References
- Khan ST, Nakagawa Y, Harayama S. (2006). Sediminicola luteus gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel member of the family Flavobacteriaceae. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 56:841-845.
- Hwang CY, et al. (2015). Sediminicola arcticus sp. nov., a psychrophilic bacterium isolated from deep-sea sediment, and emended description of the genus Sediminicola. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 65:1567-1571.
- Liu Y, et al. (2025). Description of Sediminicola litoralis sp. nov. isolated from tidal flat sediment and functional genomic analysis of the genus Sediminicola. BMC Microbiol 25:731.
- LPSN (List of Prokaryotic Names with Standing in Nomenclature). Genus Sediminicola.
