Genus of bacteria
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Afifella is a genus in the phylum Pseudomonadota (Bacteria). "Afifella" are found in marine and estuarine settings, including microbial mats. They are anaerobes, with one cultured representative capable of photosynthesis.
Etymology.
The generic name "Afifella" derives from S. Afif, British philosopher and painter, in recognition of his expertise and guidance in the subject of the philosophical tendency of structuralism, essential for the development and understanding of taxonomy as a science.
Species.
The genus contains three species:
Morphology and Physiology.
"A. marina" is an anaerobe that produces hydrogen. "A. pfennigii" is a motile, rod shaped, gram stain negative cell with a length of 1-2 μm and a width of 0.6 μm. "A. aestuarii" is a motile, oval or rod-shaped, gram-stain-negative, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative, pink-coloured phototrophic bacteria.
Isolation.
The three species of Afifella were isolated from coastal waters. "A. marina" was isolated from marine sponges on the Adriatic shore. "A. pfennigii" was isolated from a benthic microbial mat from a brackish pond located on the Rangiroa atoll in the Tuamotu islands near Australia. "A. aestuarii" was isolated from an estuary near Pata, Gujarat, India.
Culture and Growth.
"A. marina" growth on a rhodospirillaceae medium (DSMZ Medium 27), at 25 °C, with 3% NaCl, and is anaerobic in light. "A. pfennigii" growth on a (DSMZ Medium 27), at 28 °C, supplemented with 1% NaCl and 0.15% NaHCO3, and is anaerobic in light. "A. aestuarii" requires thiamine to grow and is the only "Afifella" isolate capable of photolithoautotrophic, photoorganoheterotrophic and chemoorganoheterotrophic growth modes.
Genome sequencing.
"A. marina" is designated as strain DSM 2698T and has a GC content of 63.8 mol%. "A. pfennigii" is designated as strain DSM17143T and has a GC content of 63.8 mol%"." "A. aestuarii" is designated as strain JA968T and has a GC content of 63.5 mol%. A comparison of the 16rRNA gene sequences showed that "A. aestuarii" strain JA968T was very similar to "A. marina" strain DSM 2698T at 99.9% similarity and "A. pfennigii" strain DSM17143T at 98.4% similarity.
References.
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