Metagenomic investigation of bacterial diversity of hot spring soil from Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh, India

Sequencing and analysis of 16S rRNA genes holds immense potential in identifying novel and uncharacterized bacterial phyla from any ecological habitats. Present study was designed to delineate and understand the bacterial diversity from hot spring soil of Manikaran, Himachal Pradesh, India (32°02′N, 77°21′E; elevation 1760 m). The average temperatures of thermal springs in Manikaran vary from 50 to 90 °C. PCR amplification of 16S rRNA genes resulted in DNA bands ranging from 500 to 1500 bp. Subsequent molecular manipulations, sequencing and bioinformatics analysis of 16S rRNA genes confirmed that ∼61% of the recovered clones were affiliated to uncultured bacteria. Phylum Actinobacteria represent∼8% of the total sequences. Other minor groups that constituted 1-2% of the total sequences showed sequence similarity with the uncultured Acidobacteria (Gram-positive), Cyanobacteria (Gram-negative) Alpha Proteobacterium (Gram negative), Uncultured Sphingomonas, Uncultured Arthrobacter sp. Ucultured Rihizobiales and other uncultured sp., uncultured Aliihoeflea sp. Along with the uncultured Marmoricola Sp. Paracoccus Mersussis strain. Nocardiolles, alpha proteobacterium, uncultured acidobacteria, uncultured Bdellovibrio sp. Nitriliruptor Alakaliphilus strain, Streptomyces, uncultured cynobacteria, Amylolaptosis Kentuckyensis. Construction and analysis of a phylogeny tree demonstrates that the recovered clones of 16S rRNA can be clustered into nine major groups.