中国白块菌-攀枝花块菌子囊果内可培养细菌的多样性研究

对新近发现的块菌属一新种-攀枝花白块菌（Tuber panzhihuanense）子囊果中可培养细菌的多样性进行了研究。采用胰蛋白大豆培养基（TSA）对菌株进行分离。用毛细管电泳（HPCE）对所有获得的菌株的16SrDNAV3高变区进行筛选获得不同条带大小的菌株,对筛选出的菌株的16SrDNA进行测序．并进行细菌多样性分析和研究。结果显示,攀枝花块菌子囊果内可培养细菌在数量及种类上都表现出很高的多样性,所有细菌分属于5个门的11个属和20个种。在所分离到的变形菌门的细菌中,数量最多的菌株（49．68％）属于γ-Proteobacteria,其中假单胞菌属的Pseudomonas lurida为优势类群;其次为d．Pro．teobacteria,占37．42％,其中以固氮菌Bradyrhizobium japonicum和Phyllobacteriumspp．为优势类群。其余的菌株属于放线菌门（Actinobacteria）（3．22％）和厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）（7．74％）,厚壁菌门中以芽孢杆菌属（Bacillus）为代表菌群。酸杆菌门中的Terriglobus roseus（1．94％）首次从块菌中分离获得。     

用传统分离培养法和高通量测序技术分析印度块菌子囊果内细菌的群落结构

块菌是重要的经济真菌, 在其生长发育过程中, 细菌扮演了重要角色。本文利用传统分离培养方法和高通量测序技术分析了印度块菌(Tuber indicum)子囊果内细菌的群落结构。共分离得到细菌532株, 根据物种累积曲线, 选取其中的112株细菌进行了16S rRNA基因序列分析, 共鉴定出4属40种, 其中假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)菌株占所测菌株数的80%, 不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)占12.5%, 链霉菌属(Streptomyces)占5%, 贪噬菌属(Variovorax)占2.5%。通过对印度块菌子囊果16S rRNA基因的V1-V3区高通量测序分析, 共获得细菌序列9,862条, 分属于7门43属220种, 其中变形菌门、拟杆菌门和放线菌门的物种占总物种数的99.7%, 是印度块菌子囊果内的优势细菌。黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)、壤霉菌属(Agromyces)、微杆菌属(Microbacterium)、剑菌属(Ensifer)和寡养食单胞菌属(Stenotrophomonas)的物种数占总物种的86.3%, 是印度块菌子囊果内细菌的优势属。研究结果表明, 采用胰蛋白大豆培养基仅分离得到印度块菌子囊果内少数细菌物种, 而采用高通量测序技术分析发现, 印度块菌子囊果内细菌物种种类丰富, 群落结构复杂。     

印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌的种群组成和群落结构

以印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌为研究对象,研究其种群组成和结构特征。(1)稀释平板法分离得到印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌的纯培养菌株,对菌株的16S rRNA序列测序分析,对测序的菌株数量和得到的OTUs数量绘制物种累积曲线,当物种累积曲线趋于平缓时,对OTUs进行系统发育分析,揭示可培养细菌的种群组成和结构特征。(2)对印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌16S rRNA基因的V3—V4区进行高通量测序,分析全部细菌类群的种群组成和结构特征。(1)分离得到菌根际可培养细菌793株,分属于3个属的61个OTUs,其中假单胞菌属(Pseudomonas)序列占总序列的86%,不动杆菌属(Acinetobacter)序列占总序列的9.8%,链霉菌属(Streptomyces)序列占总序列的6.5%。假单胞菌是印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤可培养细菌的绝对优势类群。(2)高通量测序得到菌根际细菌序列8937条,分属于20个门、198属、2073个OTUs。隶属于变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和酸杆菌门(Acidobacteria)的OTUs占总OTUs的65.9%,变形菌门、放线菌门和酸杆菌门细菌是印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌的优势细菌。隶属于黄杆菌属(Flavobacterium)、根瘤菌属(Rhizobium)和假黄色单胞菌属(Pseudoxanthomona)的OTUs占总OTUs的33%,黄杆菌属、根瘤菌属和假黄色单胞菌属细菌是印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌的优势属。印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤可培养细菌多样性较低,假单胞菌属细菌占据绝对优势地位。印度块菌-云南松菌根际土壤细菌类群具有较高的多样性,物种种类丰富,优势菌群集中。     

中国南海沉积环境可培养细菌多样性研究

【目的】探索海洋沉积环境中可培养细菌的多样性。【方法】采用纯培养分离及16S rRNA基因序列鉴定的方法,对我国南海海域20个沉积物样品进行细菌多样性分析。【结果】共获得200株细菌,分属于47个属,99个种。经系统进化分析,可培养菌株主要分布于4个类群:厚壁菌门(Firmicutes)、变形菌门(Proteobacteria)、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)和拟杆菌门(Bacteroidetes),优势类群为Firmicutes,其中芽孢杆菌属(Bacillus)所占比例为55.6%;而Actinobacteria和Bacteroidetes两个类群获得菌株较少;在Firmicutes和Actinobacteria两个类群中发现8个潜在新种和3个潜在新属级类群。【结论】初步研究结果表明,南海海洋沉积环境可培养微生物资源丰富,新物种资源多样;其中,芽孢杆菌为海洋沉积环境中的优势类群,随着样品深度的增加,细菌多样性呈现递减的趋势,深度可能是影响细菌多样性的一个重要因素;其次,分离培养基和分离方法直接关系到样品中可培养微生物多样性的发现,有待深入研究。     

Ugan古河道胡杨可培养内生细菌的多样性

摘要：【目的】为了了解塔河废弃古河道胡杨可培养内生细菌的多样性。【方法】从2棵胡杨树干部抽出其内存液,采用三种不同的培养基对样品的内生细菌进行了分离纯化;对它们进行16S rDNA测定和系统进化分析。【结果】分离纯化不同表型的细菌62株,对它们的16S rDNA序列分析表明,62株菌分别属于四个大类群;厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、放线菌门(Actinobacteria)、α-变形菌纲(Alpha Proteobacteria) 、γ-变形菌纲(Gamma Proteobacteria),18个属,32个种;芽孢杆菌属和假单胞菌属是胡杨可培养内生细菌的优势细菌种群,它们分别占已测种群的40.32%、16.13%。其中菌株KTH-63为葡萄球菌科的潜在的新属新种,它与最近源菌株的16S rDNA序列相似率为92.491%;9株菌KLH-21、KLH-1、KTH-8、KTH-14、KNA-26、KLH-18、KTH-20、KNA-3、KLH-25是潜在的新种（16S rDNA相似率为96.089 %-97.769 %）,胡杨树干内存液中潜在新种的发现率高达总分离检测菌株的16.13 % 。本研究获得的胡杨可培养内生细菌的群落结构数据给植物内生细菌新增了10个属,18个种。【结论】胡杨具有多样性极其丰富的可培养内生细菌菌种资源,土著新种的发现频率超出了预期,胡杨可培养内生细菌的群落结构极大地刷新了植物内生细菌的种群记录,极具进一步发掘的潜力。     

天目山野生春兰根中可培养内生细菌多样性研究

为了解春兰植物内生细菌的多样性,采用稀释涂布法对表面灭菌的天目山野生春兰根内生细菌进行分离培养。通过R2A和TSA两种培养基共分离获得63株内生细菌。对16S rDNA序列测定结果进行系统发育分析可知,63株细菌分属于β-变形菌纲(31.74%)、γ-变形菌纲(7.94%)及厚壁菌门(60.32%)。其中厚壁菌门为最优势类群,芽孢杆菌属为最优势菌属,占分离总菌数的50.79%。天目山野生春兰根内生细菌多样性指数为1.56。结果表明,初春季节天目山野生春兰根内生细菌多样性较低。     

攀枝花块菌-华山松菌根根际土壤可培养细菌的多样性研究（英文）

块菌作为可食用的地下外生菌根真菌,有着重要的经济价值和生态学意义。中国白块菌资源虽然被不断的描述和报道,但形成机制尚未为人所知。前人研究表明,块菌的菌根根际土壤微生物群落对块菌的形成有着重要的影响。因此,本研究以攀枝花块菌(Tuber panzhihuanense)-华山松(Pinus armandii)菌根根际土壤为研究对象,用可培养的方法揭示了其根际土壤的细菌多样性。结果显示,在所分离到的细菌中,β-Proteobacteria占了最大的比例(30.98%),以Burkholderia为优势类群,其次是以Pseudomonas为代表类群的γ-Proteobacteria(28.8%),另外,α-Proteobacteria(14.67%)的主要代表类群为Phyllobacterium和根瘤菌Rhizobium;此外,还分离到了分别以Arthrobacter和Bacillus为优势菌群代表的Actinobacteria(12.5%)和Firmicutes(7.6%);Bacteroidetes中只有唯一的代表菌株Chryseobacterium ureilyticum。另外,就目前对块菌属子实体及其根际土壤内的可培养细菌多样性研究进行了比较和探讨。     

内蒙古贺兰山某块菌的形态解剖学与分子生物学研究

利用形态解剖学和分子生物学方法,对采自内蒙古贺兰山地区实验样地青海云杉林下的块菌两菌株（菌株a和b）进行分析鉴定。研究发现：（1）两菌株子囊果均为黄褐色,表面光滑,没有明显的疣状突起和棱角。（2）菌株a产孢组织乳白色、致密团状,菌肉组织褐色;球形、棒状子囊呈蜂窝状排布,内含有1～4个带包被的、表面具有突起状纹饰的球型子囊孢子;子囊孢子双层壁,厚约1.7 μｍ,直径约20 μｍ（含纹饰）。（3）菌株b产孢组织有裂隙,松散,子实层内除了具有上述蜂窝状排布的子囊和内部的球型孢子外,还具有“口袋”状子囊,该子囊内含有大量两端尖、外壁光滑、褐色的椭球型孢子。（4）分子生物学进化分析表明,两菌株聚为一支,但属于块菌属的支持率相对较低;推断两菌株可能为中国猪块菌属Choiromyces新记录种。     

四川冬菜中细菌群落组成及多样性

【目的】了解腌制4年的四川南充冬菜中细菌群落组成及多样性。【方法】通过16S rDNA多样性分析样品细菌落组成;采用16S rDNA-RFLP方法分析从样品中分离出的纯培养细菌。【结果】16S rDNA多样性分析结果表明,样品中细菌主要属于变形杆菌门(Proteobacteria)和厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),分别占克隆文库的87.9%、7.1%,其中包括Virgibacillus kekensis,Marinococcus albus,Salinicoccus sp.,Lactobacillus halophilus和Halomonas等中度嗜盐菌,仅有5%属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。通过纯培养方法从冬菜中分离到35株菌,16S rDNA-RFLP分析结果表明,34株属于厚壁菌门(Firmicutes),包括Virgibacillus,Bacillus megaterium和Gracilibacillus saliphilus等中度嗜盐菌,1株属于放线菌门(Actinobacteria)。【结论】冬菜中细菌群落多样性较低,以中度嗜盐菌为主。     

不同培养条件对海洋沉积环境细菌的选择性分离

海洋环境中存在着大量未被培养和利用的微生物资源。本研究对一份南海沉积物样品采用不同培养温度、盐度、pH、样品稀释倍数和营养浓度条件进行可培养细菌的多样性研究。经过16S rRNA基因序列分析,获得825株菌分属于5个门,8个纲,17个目,26个科,57个属。分离到最多的属级类群为芽胞杆菌属（Bacillus）。通过不同培养条件的分离实验发现,厚壁菌类群在4 °C~60 °C、0%~15%盐度、pH 5~8及不同的样品稀释倍数和营养浓度实验条件中均为优势培养类群,具有广泛的环境适应性,但2~200的样品稀释倍数可以大大减少分离培养基中厚壁菌的数量。放线菌类群在4 °C低温和0%NaCl添加条件下的可培养多样性较高,同时pH 6和寡营养培养基有助于分离获得稀有放线菌类群。另外,本研究发现新物种资源的获取几率分别在寡营养培养基、5%~10%较高盐度和60°C高温培养有所增加。分离获得的5个主要细菌门类分别为厚壁菌门（Firmicutes,86%）、放线菌门（Actinobacteria,13%）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria,1%）、拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）和异常球菌-栖热菌门（Deinococcus-Thermus）。本研究共分离得到29株潜在新种,分别属于芽胞杆菌纲（Bacilli）、放线菌纲（Actinobacteria）、酸微菌纲（Acidimicrobiia）、嗜热油菌纲（Thermoleophilia）、红色杆菌纲（Rubrobacteria）和异常球菌纲（Deinococci）。海洋环境微生物新类群、海洋放线菌稀有类群等微生物新资源的选择性分离培养提供了有效的方法和方案,为后期的深入开展打下良好的基础。     

Diversity of Culturable Bacteria Associated with Ascocarps of a Chinese White Truffle,Tuber panzhihuanense (Ascomycota)*

Culturable bacterial communities inhabiting ascocarps of Tuber panzhihuanense were investigated. Isolates obtained on tryptone soy agar (TSA) were screened with high performance capillary electrophoresis (HPCE) according to differences in size of 16S rDNA V3. Target isolates were identified by analysis of the whole length of 16S rDNA gene. The results revealed that the ascocarps of T. panzhihuanense harbored a great number of culturable bacteria which belonging to 20 species and 11 genera in 5 phyla. Most isolates (4968%) were affiliated to the γ Proteobacteria, dominated by Pseudomonas lurida. The second major subclass was α Proteobacteria (3742%), with Phyllobacterium and a nitrogen fixing bacterium Bradyrhizobium japonicum also occurring as dominant taxa. The remaining bacterial isolates contained members of Actinobacteria (322%) and Firmicutes (774%) of which Bacillus was the commonest bacterium. A novel Tuber associated culturable bacterium species, Terriglobus roseus, was isolated and detected for the first time in Tuber ascocarps.     

Diversity of Culturable Bacteria Associated with Tuber panzhihuanense Pinus armandii Ectomycorrhizosphere Soil

Truffles are edible hypogeous ectomycorrhizal fungi which have great economic importance for their organoleptic properties and have significant ecological interests for forestry. Although some new precious Chinese white truffle have been described constantly, the molecular mechanisms that control truffle body formation are largely unknown. It has been hypothesized that ectomycorrhizosphere soil communities may have influences on truffle production. Thus, isolation and molecular characterisation of culturable bacteria were carried out to investigate the bacteria diversity in mycorrhizosphere soil of Tuber panzhihuanense Pinus armandii in this work. Sequencing results showed a significant presence mostly affiliated with Burkholderia was β Proteobacteria (3098%). The second culturable fraction which dominated by Pseudomonas was γ Proteobacteria (288%) other isolates were mostly Phyllobacterium and Rhizobium, members of α Proteobacteria (1467%), actinobacteria (125%) and Firmicutes (76%) represented by Arthrobacter and Bacillus, respectively. Chryseobacterium ureilyticum was the only bacterial strain belonging to Bacteroidetes. Similarities and differences of culturable bacterial community of ascocarps and ectomycorrhizosphere soil associated with Tuber were discussed.     

New evidence for bacterial diversity in the ascoma of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii Vittad

The microbial community associated with ascocarps of the ectomycorrhizal fungus Tuber borchii Vittad. was studied by both cultivation and direct extraction of bacterial 16S rRNA gene (rDNA) sequence approaches. The inner part of six T. borchii ascoma collected in North-Central Italy was used to establish a bacterial culture collection and to extract the total genomic DNA to obtain a library of 16S rDNAs representative of the truffle bacterial community. Most of the isolates were affiliated to the gamma-Proteobacteria, mainly Fluorescent pseudomonads; some isolates were members of the Bacteroidetes group and Gram-positive bacteria, mostly Bacillaceae. The majority of the clones from the library were alpha-Proteobacteria showing significant similarity values, of greater than 97%, with members of the Sinorhizobium/Ensifer Group, Rhizobium and Bradyrhizobium spp. not previously identified as Tuber-associated bacteria. Only a few bacterial strains belonging to this bacterial subclass were found in the culture collection and isolated on a medium specific for Rhizobium-like organisms. A few clones were members of the beta- and gamma-Proteobacteria; as well as low and high G+C Gram-positive bacteria. Our findings clearly indicate that a dual approach increases the information obtained on the structural composition of a truffle bacterial community as compared to that derived via cultivation or direct recovery of 16S rDNA sequences alone.     

Phylogenetic analysis and in situ identification of the intestinal microbial community of rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss, Walbaum)

AIMS: To identify the dominant culturable and nonculturable microbiota of rainbow trout intestine. METHODS AND RESULTS: Microbial density of rainbow trout intestine was estimated by direct microscopic counts (4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, DAPI) and by culturing on tryptone soya agar (TSA). Differential gradient gel electrophoresis analysis of bacterial DNA from intestinal samples, re-amplification of bands and sequence analysis was used to identify the bacteria that dominated samples where aerobic counts were < or =2% of the DAPI counts. 16S rDNA gene sequences of 146 bacterial isolates and three sequences of uncultured bacteria were identified. A set of oligonucleotide probes was constructed and used to detect and enumerate the bacterial community structure of the gastrointestinal tract of rainbow trout by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). Members of the gamma subclass of Proteobacteria (mainly Aeromonas and Enterobacteriaceae) dominated the bacterial population structure. Acinetobacter, Pseudomonas, Shewanella, Plesiomonas and Proteus were also identified together with isolates belonging to the beta subclass of Proteobacteria and Gram-positive bacteria with high and low DNA G + C content. In most samples, the aerobic count (on TSA) was 50-90% of the direct (DAPI) count. A bacterium representing a previously unknown phylogenetic lineage with only 89% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Anaerofilum pentosovorans was detected in intestinal samples where aerobic counts were < or =2% of direct (DAPI) counts. Ten to 75% of the microbial population in samples with low aerobic counts hybridized (FISH) with a probe constructed against this not-yet cultured bacterium. CONCLUSIONS: Proteobacteria belonging to the gamma subclass dominated the intestinal microbiota of rainbow trout. However, in some samples the microflora was dominated by uncultivated, presumed anaerobic, micro-organisms. The bacterial population structure of rainbow trout intestine, as well as total bacterial counts, varied from fish to fish. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: Good correlation was seen between cultivation results and in situ analysis, however, a molecular approach was crucial for the identification of organisms uncultivated on TSA.     

Analysis of denitrification genes and comparison of nosZ, cnorB and 16S rDNA from culturable denitrifying bacteria in potato cropping systems

Bacterial denitrification in agricultural soils is a major source of nitrous oxide, a potent greenhouse gas. This study examined the culturable bacterial population of denitrifiers in arable field soils in potato (Solanum tuberosum L.) production and denitrification genes (nir, nor and nos) and 16S rDNA in those isolates. Enrichments for culturable denitrifiers yielded 31 diverse isolates that were then analysed for denitrification genes. The nitrous oxide reductase (nosZ) gene was found in all isolates. The majority of isolates ( approximately 90%) contained the cnorB nitric oxide reductase gene, with the remainder containing the qnorB gene. Nitrite reductase genes (nirS and nirK) were amplifiable from most of the isolates, and were segregated between species similar to previously isolated denitrifiers. Isolated strains were preliminarily identified using fatty acid methyl ester analysis and further identified using 16S rDNA sequencing. The majority of isolates (21) were classified as Pseudomonas sp., with smaller groups of isolates being most similar to Bosea spp. (4), Achromobacter spp. (4) and two isolates closely related to Sinorhizobium/Ensifer spp. Phylogenetic trees were compared among nosZ, cnorB and 16S rDNA genes for a subset of Pseudomonas strains. The trees were mostly congruent, but some Pseudomonas sp. isolates grouped differently depending on the gene analysed, indicating potential horizontal gene transfer of denitrification genes. Although Bosea spp. are known denitrifiers, to the best of our knowledge this is the first report of isolation and sequencing of denitrification genes from this bacterial genus.     

Culturable Bacteria Present in the Fluid of the Hooded-Pitcher Plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Sarracenia Minor</Emphasis> Based on 16S rDNA Gene Sequence Data

The culturable microbial community within the pitcher fluid of 93 Sarracenia minor carnivorous plants was examined over a 2-year study. Many aspects of the plant/bacterial/insect interaction within the pitcher fluid are minimally understood because the bacterial taxa present in these pitchers have not been identified. Thirteen isolates were characterized by 16S rDNA sequencing and subsequent phylogenetic analysis. The Proteobacteria were the most abundant taxa and included representatives from Serratia, Achromobacter, and Pantoea. The Actinobacteria Micrococcus was also abundant while Bacillus, Lactococcus, Chryseobacterium, and Rhodococcus were infrequently encountered. Several isolates conformed to species identifiers (>98% rDNA gene sequence similarity) including Serratia marcescens (isolates found in 27.5% of pitchers), Achromobacter xylosoxidans (37.6%), Micrococcus luteus (40.9%), Bacillus cereus (isolates found in 10.2%), Bacillus thuringiensis (5.4%), Lactococcus lactis (17.2%), and Rhodococcus equi (2.2%). Species–area curves suggest that sampling efforts were sufficient to recover a representative culturable bacterial community. The bacteria present represent a diverse community probably as a result of introduction by insect vectors, but the ecological significance remains under explored.     

喀斯特原生土壤与退化生态系统土壤细菌群落结构

运用PCR-RFLP技术,对桂西北喀斯特原生土壤和退化生态系统土壤细菌16S rDNA基因多样性及系统发育关系进行了研究.结果表明：原生土壤比退化生态系统土壤具有更丰富的16S rDNA基因型和更高的多样性指数,两样地共有的基因型仅有2个.从每种基因型中随机选择一个克隆子作为代表进行测序分析,所有序列与GenBank 数据库中序列的同源性为87%～100%,且两样地中均有超过一半的基因型序列与数据库中已知序列同源性低于97%,属于分类在“种”地位上的新发现细菌;通过系统发育研究将两样地的细菌分为10大类群,两样地共同拥有5大类群,但两样地的细菌优势类群明显不同,原生土壤为Proteobacteria,含39种基因型,占总克隆子数的58.0%,退化生态系统土壤为Acidobacteria和Proteobacteria,分别含19种和15种基因型,占总克隆子数的32.5%和30.5%;与原生土壤细菌类群相比,退化生态系统土壤Proteobacteria类群明显减少,Acidobacteria类群明显增加.土壤理化性质及土壤环境因素的差异是引起两类型土壤细菌多样性差异的原因.     

Impact of cultivation on characterisation of species composition of soil bacterial communities

The species composition of culturable bacteria in Scottish grassland soils was investigated using a combination of Biolog and 16S rDNA analysis for characterisation of isolates. The inclusion of a molecular approach allowed direct comparison of sequences from culturable bacteria with sequences obtained during analysis of DNA extracted directly from the same soil samples. Bacterial strains were isolated on Pseudomonas isolation agar (PIA), a selective medium, and on tryptone soya agar (TSA), a general laboratory medium. In total, 12 and 21 morphologically different bacterial cultures were isolated on PIA and TSA, respectively. Biolog and sequencing placed PIA isolates in the same taxonomic groups, the majority of cultures belonging to the Pseudomonas (sensu stricto) group. However, analysis of 16S rDNA sequences proved more efficient than Biolog for characterising TSA isolates due to limitations of the Microlog database for identifying environmental bacteria. In general, 16S rDNA sequences from TSA isolates showed high similarities to cultured species represented in sequence databases, although TSA-8 showed only 92.5% similarity to the nearest relative, Bacillus insolitus. In general, there was very little overlap between the culturable and uncultured bacterial communities, although two sequences, PIA-2 and TSA-13, showed >99% similarity to soil clones. A cloning step was included prior to sequence analysis of two isolates, TSA-5 and TSA-14, and analysis of several clones confirmed that these cultures comprised at least four and three sequence types, respectively. All isolate clones were most closely related to uncultured bacteria, with clone TSA-5.1 showing 99.8% similarity to a sequence amplified directly from the same soil sample. Interestingly, one clone, TSA-5.4, clustered within a novel group comprising only uncultured sequences. This group, which is associated with the novel, deep-branching Acidobacterium capsulatum lineage, also included clones isolated during direct analysis of the same soil and from a wide range of other sample types studied elsewhere. The study demonstrates the value of fine-scale molecular analysis for identification of laboratory isolates and indicates the culturability of approximately 1% of the total population but under a restricted range of media and cultivation conditions.