Genome sequence of the polysaccharide-degrading, thermophilic anaerobe Spirochaeta thermophila DSM 6192

Spirochaeta thermophila is a thermophilic, free-living anaerobe that is able to degrade various [alpha]- and [beta]-1inked sugar polymers, including cellulose. We report here the complete genome sequence of S. thermophila DSM 6192, which is the first genome sequence of a thermophilic, free-living member of the Spirochaetes phylum. The genome data reveal a high density of genes encoding enzymes from more than 30 glycoside hydrolase families, a noncellulosomal enzyme system for (hemi)cellulose degradation, and indicate the presence of a novel carbohydrate-binding module. doi: 10.1128/JB.01023-10