Occurrence and characterization of actinobacteria and thermoactinomycetes isolated from pulp and board samples containing recycled fibres

The aim of this study was to characterize the actinobacterial population present in pulps and boards containing recycled fibres. A total of 107 isolates was identified on the basis of their pigmentation, morphological properties, fatty acid profiles and growth temperature. Of the wet pulp and water sample isolates (n=87), 74.7% belonged to the genus Streptomyces, 17.2% to Nocardiopsis and 8.0% to thermoactinomycetes, whereas all the board sample isolates (n=20) were thermoactinomycetes. The identification of 53 isolates was continued by molecular methods. Partial 16S rDNA sequencing and automated ribotyping divided the Streptomyces isolates (n=31) into 14 different taxa. The most common streptomycetes were the mesophilic S. albidoflavus and moderately thermophilic S. thermocarboxydus. The Nocardiopsis isolates (n=11) belonged to six different taxa, whereas the thermoactinomycetes were mainly members of the species Laceyella sacchari (formerly Thermoactinomyces sacchari). The results indicated the probable presence of one or more new species within each of these genera. Obviously, the drying stage used in the board making processes had eliminated all members of the species Streptomyces and Nocardiopsis present in the wet recycled fibre pulp samples. Only the thermotolerant endospores of L. sacchari were still present in the final products. The potential of automated ribotyping for identifying actinobacteria was indicated, as soon as comprehensive identification libraries became available.