Ancient mtDNA from the extinct Indian cheetah supports unexpectedly deep divergence from African cheetahs.

The Indian cheetah was hunted to extinction by the mid-20th century. While analysis of 139 bp of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) has confirmed that the Indian cheetah was part of the Asiatic subspecies (Acinonyx jubatus venaticus), the detailed relationships between cheetah populations remains unclear due to limited genetic data. We clarify these relationships by studying larger fragments of cheetah mtDNA, both from an Indian cheetah museum specimen and two African cheetah, one modern and one historic, imported into India at different times. Our results suggest that the most recent common ancestor of cheetah mtDNA is approximately twice as ancient as currently recognised. The Indian and Southeast African (Acinonyx jubatus jubatus) cheetah mtDNA diverged approximately 72 kya, while the Southeast and Northeast African (Acinonyx jubatus soemmeringii) cheetah mtDNA diverged around 139 kya. Additionally, the historic African cheetah sampled from India proved to have an A. j. jubatus haplotype, suggesting a hitherto unrecognised South African route of cheetah importation into India in the 19th century. Together, our results provide a deeper understanding of the relationships between cheetah subspecies, and have important implications for the conservation of A. j. venaticus and potential reintroduction of cheetahs into India.

Complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica).

The complete mitochondrial genome sequence 17,059 bp of Asiatic lion (Panthera leo persica) has been sequenced with the use of next generation sequencing technology using Ion Torrent PGM platform. The complete mitochondrial genome sequence of Asiatic lion consists of 13 protein-coding, 22 tRNA, and two rRNA genes, and 1 control region (CR). The mitochondrial genome is relatively similar to other felid mitochondrial genomes with respect to gene arrangement, composition, tRNA structures and skews of AT/GC bases to be typical of those reported for other mammals. The nucleotide composition of Asiatic lion mitogenome shows that there is more A-T% than G-C% on the positive strand as revealed by positive AT and CG skews. The overall base composition is 31.9% of A, 27.2% of C, 14.5% of G, and 26.2% of T. Most of the genes have ATA start codons, except ND1, COX2, ATP8, ATP6, ND4, and ND5 have ATG start codons.

Draft Genome Sequence of Psychrobacter aquaticus Strain CMS 56T, Isolated from a Cyanobacterial Mat Sample Collected from Water Bodies in the McMurdo Dry Valley Region of Antarctica.

We report the 3.2-Mb draft genome sequence of Psychrobacter aquaticus strain CMS 56(T), isolated from a cyanobacterial mat sample collected from a water body in the McMurdo Dry Valley region of Antarctica.

Draft Genome Sequence of Winogradskyella psychrotolerans RS-3T, Isolated from the Marine Transect of Kongsfjorden, Ny-Alesund, Svalbard, Arctic Ocean.

The 4.3-Mb genome of Winogradskyella psychrotolerans strain RS-3(T), isolated from a sediment sample of a marine transect of Kongsfjorden, Ny-Ålesund, Svalbard, Arctic Ocean, is reported.

Draft Genome Sequence of Leifsonia rubra Strain CMS 76RT, Isolated from a Cyanobacterial Mat Sample from a Pond in Wright Valley, McMurdo, Antarctica.

The 2.7-Mb draft genome sequence of Leifsonia rubra strain CMS 76R(T), isolated from a cyanobacterial mat sample from a pond in Wright Valley, McMurdo, Antarctica, is reported.

Draft Genome Sequence of Cyclobacterium qasimii Strain M12-11BT, Isolated from Arctic Marine Sediment.

A 6.29-Mb genome sequence of Cyclobacterium qasimii strain M12-11B(T), isolated from an Arctic marine sediment sample, is reported.

Draft Genome Sequence of Arcticibacter svalbardensis Strain MN12-7T, a Member of the Family Sphingobacteriaceae Isolated from an Arctic Soil Sample.

The 4.69-Mb genome sequence of Arcticibacter svalbardensis strain MN12-7(T), isolated from an Arctic soil sample, is reported.

Draft Genome Sequence of Bhargavaea cecembensis Strain DSE10T, Isolated from a Deep-Sea Sediment Sample Collected at a Depth of 5,904 m from the Chagos-Laccadive Ridge System in the Indian Ocean.

Here, we report the 3.2-Mbp draft genome sequence of Bhargavaea cecembensis strain DSE10(T), isolated from a sediment sample collected from the Chagos-Laccadive ridge system in the Indian Ocean at a depth of 5,904 m.

Draft Genome Sequence of Arthrobacter gangotriensis Strain Lz1yT, Isolated from a Penguin Rookery Soil Sample Collected in Antarctica, near the Indian Station Dakshin Gangotri.

We report here the 4.3-Mb genome of Arthrobacter gangotriensis strain Lz1y(T), isolated from a penguin rookery soil sample collected in Antarctica, near the Indian station Dakshin Gangotri.

Draft Genome Sequence of Cesiribacter andamanensis Strain AMV16T, Isolated from a Soil Sample from a Mud Volcano in the Andaman Islands, India.

Here we report the 4.75-Mb genome of Cesiribacter andamanensis strain AMV16(T), isolated from a soil sample from a mud volcano in the Andaman Islands, India.

Draft genome sequence of Bacillus isronensis strain B3W22, isolated from the upper atmosphere.

We report the 4.0-Mb genome sequence of Bacillus isronensis strain B3W22 isolated from air collected at an altitude ranging from 27 to 30 km above the city of Hyderabad, in India. This genome sequence will contribute to the objective of determining the microbial diversity of the upper atmosphere.

Draft genome sequence of Cecembia lonarensis strain LW9T, isolated from Lonar Lake, a haloalkaline lake in India.

The draft genome sequence (4.84 Mb) of Cecembia lonarensis strain LW9(T), isolated from a water sample (4.5-m depth) from Lonar Lake, a meteorite-created haloalkaline lake in India, is reported. The enzymes produced by these microorganisms need to be stable under alkaline conditions prevailing in its habitat. Such enzymes would be of immense importance for enzymatic processes operating at high pH.