Radio-resistance in psychrotrophic Kocuria sp. ASB 107 isolated from Ab-e-Siah radioactive spring

A new isolate, Kocuria sp. ASB 107 from the Ab-e-Siah mineral radioactive spring (Ramsar, Mazandaran Province, Iran) was characterized on the basis of morphological and biochemical characteristics plus 16S rRNA gene sequencing. The isolate is most closely related to Kocuria rosea DSM 20447T (99.7% sequence similarity) and Kocuria polaris DSM 14382T (99.5%). This strain has some resistance to various genotoxic stresses, such as ionizing radiation, ultraviolet (256 nm- UV) and corona discharge. The 90% lethal doses (D10) for gamma-rays and 256 nm-UV are 2 kGy and 400 J m−2, respectively, in definite cell concentration. Moreover, the resistance for a definite energy of corona discharge is 10 s, about 10 times greater than that of Escherichia coli. The growth temperature of the strain ASB 107 is 0–37 °C in TSB (tryptic soy broth). This study is the first report on the psychrotrophic radio-resistant bacteria belonging to the Kocuria genus isolated from Ab-e-Siah spring.