Genome description of a potentially novel species of Rossellomorea sp. strain H39_3 isolated from the Hindon River, India

In October 2024, a putative novel species, belonging to the genus Rossellomorea , designated as strain H39_3, was isolated using Luria–Bertani medium from surface water representing station H39, located on the Hindon River, in close proximity to Gautam Buddha Nagar in Uttar Pradesh, India. The 16S rRNA sequence of this isolate showed 100% identity to Rossellomorea marisflavi from the International Nucleotide Sequence Database Collaboration (INSDC) DNA databases (GenBank/DDBJ/ENA). Whole-genome sequencing was undertaken using long-read sequencing with Oxford Nanopore Technologies (ONT) chemistry on the MinION platform, followed by genome annotation against the NCBI Reference Sequence Database (RefSeq) and Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) databases. The genome is ~4.46 Mb in size, with a G+C content of 48.64 mol%. The low average nucleotide identity (92.23%) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (46.1%) values showed affiliation with the reference strain R. marisflavi, indicating the isolate as a potential novel species. Functional analysis of the draft genome of this isolate revealed an array of genes, including the presence of ars C (arsenate reductase), the assimilatory nitrate reduction pathway and the ability to degrade polysaccharides. The presence of nitrogen metabolizing genes such as nir B (nitrite reductase subunit B), along with the ability to break down complex forms of carbon, offers the potential of this strain for application in bioremediation of contaminated river ecosystems.