Chitinophaga pendula

Classification Bacteria; Bacteroidota; Chitinophagia; Chitinophagales; Chitinophagaceae; Chitinophaga. Species: Chitinophaga pendula NCBI: 2849666

Description and Significance Gram-negative, rod-shaped, filamentous bacteria. Was isolated from a biofilm hanging in an air conditioner condensate drain line at the University of Hawaii. Most species similar to it are found in soils, this is the first species found in an air conditioner.

Genome Structure There are 1517 nucleotides on the strain's 16S rRNA gene. It is most similar to Chitinophaga rhizosphaerae,Chitinophaga caseinilytica, Chitinophaga lutea, Chitinophaga niabensis, and Chitinophaga ginsengisol. G+C content is 47.58mol%. Since it is a new strain, there is little other information on the structure.

Cell Structure, Metabolism and Life Cycle Non-motile, strictly aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive. Major fatty acids include 13-methyl tetradecanoic acid, cis-11-hexadecenoic acid, and 3-hydroxy-15-methyl hexadecanoic acid.

Ecology and Pathogenesis Found in a biofilm. Chitinophaga pendula is not pathogenic to humans.

References Onouye, T. C., Busse, H.-J., Prescott, R. D., Darris, M. K., & Donachie, S. P. (2023). Chitinophaga Pendula, sp. nov., from an air conditioner condensate drain line. International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, 73(8). https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006008

U.S. National Library of Medicine. (n.d.). Taxonomy browser (Chitinophaga Pendula). National Center for Biotechnology Information. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/Taxonomy/Browser/wwwtax.cgi?mode=Info&id=2849666&lvl=3&keep=1&srchmode=1&unlock&lin=s&log_op=lineage_toggle

News, U. (2023, September 5). Discovery finds new bacteria in an AC unit; students get involved. University of Hawaiʻi System News. https://www.hawaii.edu/news/2023/09/05/discovery-new-bacteria-in-ac-unit/

Author Page authored by Bethany Tart, student of Prof. Bradley Tolar at UNC Wilmington.