Ensifer sp. M14 Genome sequencing and assembly. Ensifer sp. M14

Ensifer sp. M14 is psychrotolerant, arsenic oxidizing bacterium with resistance to numerous heavy metals. The phenotypes of this strain give it high potential to be used in the bioremediation of arsenic contaminated waters. In this study, we generated a draft genome sequence of E. sp. M14 for use in genome-guided characterizations of this bacterium and for comparative genomics analyses with other arsenic oxidizing bacteria. In particular, we wished to identify: i) genetic determinants related to heavy metal resistance and arsenic metabolism, ii) metabolic processes relevant to growth in the gold mine environment from which the strain was isolated, iii) investigate the biosafety of this strain for use in bioremediation processes, and iv) identify conserved features of arsenic oxidizing bacteria.