Complete genome sequence of the strain Defluviitoga tunisiensis L3, isolated from a thermophilic, production-scale biogas plant

Abstract

An anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium belonging to the phylum Thermotogae was isolated from a rural, thermophilic biogas plant (54°C) producing methane-rich biogas from maize silage, barley, cattle and pig manure. Here we report the first complete genome sequence of the Defluviitoga tunisiensis strain L3, an isolate from the family Thermotogaceae. The strain L3 encodes several genes predicted to be involved in utilization of a large diversity of complex carbohydrates including cellobiose and xylan for the production of acetate, hydrogen (H2) and carbon dioxide (CO2). The genome sequence of D. tunisiensis L3 provides the basis for biotechnological exploitation of genetic determinants playing an important role in thermophilic fermentation processes utilizing renewable primary products.

Keywords: Acidogenesis; Biogas production; Carbohydrate utilization; Renewable primary products; Thermotogae.