{
  "id": 6378955,
  "title": "Description of Venenivibrio orakeikorakoensis sp. nov. and Venenivibrio aotearoaensis sp. nov, and emended description of genus Venenivibrio, Venenivibrio stagnispumantis species",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/08/description-of-venenivibrio-orakeikorakoensis-sp-nov-and-venenivibrio",
  "topic": "science",
  "section": "Science",
  "published": "2026-09-08T00:00:00.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "bioRxiv",
    "slug": "biorxiv",
    "url": "https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.64898/2026.09.07.749006v1?rss=1"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Two thermophilic bacterial strains, labeled OKO1 and KUI1, were discovered in hot springs within the Taup[o] Volcanic Zone of New Zealand. Through analysis of their 16S rRNA gene, both strains were found to belong to the genus Venenivibrio, with sequence similarities of 99.13% and 98.82% to Venenivibrio stagnispumantis CP.B2T, respectively. To further characterize these novel isolates, a polyphasic taxonomic approach was employed in conjunction with V. stagnispumantis. Although the new strains shared a close phylogenetic relationship with V. stagnispumantis, they exhibited significant differences in cell morphology, physiology, and genomic content. Both strains demonstrated a broad tolerance to temperature and pH, while re-examination of V. stagnispumantis CP.B2T uncovered a wider range of physiological capabilities than previously reported, aligning its phenotype more closely with the new isolates. Comparative genomic analyses revealed key differences in genes encoding cytochromes, hydrogenases, and nitrogen metabolism, indicating distinct metabolic potentials among the strains. Despite sharing average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of 95-96%, placing them near the accepted species boundary, the phenotypic and genomic evidence collectively supports the designation of OKO1T and KUI1T as two separate species within the genus Venenivibrio. Consequently, Venenivibrio orakeikorakoensis sp. nov. (type strain OKO1T) and Venenivibrio aotearoaensis sp. nov. (type strain KUI1T) have been proposed as new members within the genus, and the descriptions of Venenivibrio stagnispumantis and the genus Venenivibrio have been amended to reflect the expanded phenotypic and genomic diversity uncovered in this study.",
  "summary": "Two thermophilic bacterial strains, designated OKO1 and KUI1, were isolated from hot springs within the Taup[o] Volcanic Zone of New Zealand. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene identified both as members of the genus Venenivibrio, sharing 99.13% and 98.82% sequence similarity with Venenivibrio stagnispumantis CP.B2T, respectively. The novel isolates were characterised using a polyphasic taxonomic…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}