Screening and Characterization of Two Extracellular Polysaccharide-Producing Bacteria from the Biocrust of the Mu Us Desert

The extracellular polysaccharide (EPS) matrix embedding microbial cells and soil particles plays an important role in the development of biological soil crusts (BSCs), which is widely recognized as beneficial to soil fertility in dryland worldwide. This study examined the EPS-producing bacterial strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 isolated from sandy soil in the Mu Us Desert in Yulin, Shaanxi province, China. The strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 were able to efficiently produce EPS; the levels of EPS were determined to be 257.22 μg/mL and 83.41 μg/mL in cultures grown for 72 h and were identified as Sinorhizobium meliloti and Pedobacter sp., respectively. When the strain YL24-3 was compared to Pedobacter yulinensis YL28-9T using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the resemblance was 98.6% and the strain was classified as Pedobacter sp. using physiological and biochemical analysis. Furthermore, strain YL24-3 was also identified as a subspecies of Pedobacter yulinensis YL28-9T on the basis of DNA–DNA hybridization and polar lipid analysis compared with YL28-9T. On the basis of the EPS-related genes of relevant strains in the GenBank, several EPS-related genes were cloned and sequenced in the strain YL24-1, including those potentially involved in EPS synthesis, assembly, transport, and secretion. Given the differences of the strains in EPS production, it is possible that the differences in gene sequences result in variations in the enzyme/protein activities for EPS biosynthesis, assembly, transport, and secretion. The results provide preliminary evidence of various contributions of bacterial strains to the formation of EPS matrix in the Mu Us Desert.


Introduction
Biocrusts are a profitable and functional soil-focused structure that is crucial to the promotion of soil succession, improvement of surface soil moisture, and prevention of soil erosion. Biocrusts may have an effect on soil properties such as nutrient composition, organic matter content, and material circulation in degraded soil [1]. Microbes are essential components of biogeochemical systems, and they also contribute to soil diversity [2]. According to sampling methods used in other studies involving soil microorganisms, the majority of the soil bacterial community is dormant; however, few microorganisms in the soil need soil available substances to convert it into energy for their own growth, even the results of the 16S rRNA gene sequence alignments, the strain YL24-1 was detected as a species that produces a high yield of exopolysaccharides, whereas the exopolysaccharide yield of strain YL24-3 was relatively lower than that of strain YL24-1. The associated extracellular polysaccharide-producing genes were identified preliminarily following the design of primers to amplify the genes and TA cloning verification.

Results and Discussion
2.1. The Screening of Two Strains and the Characteristics of Strain YL24-3 Two bacteria, designated as strain YL24-1 and YL24-3, were isolated from a sandy soil in the district of Yulin, Shaanxi province, China. After morphological observation and 16S rRNA gene sequence alignment analysis, strain YL24-1 was identified as Sinorhizobium meliloti (99.9% sequence similarity). This result showed that strain YL24-1 was not a potential novel bacterial species according to the 97% sequence similarity criterion.
The strain YL24-3 was characterized as negative in Gram staining, aerobic, nonmotile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped, and pink in color using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. It grew in a pH ranging from 6.9 to 9.0 (optimized at pH 7.0) and at 15-45 • C (optimized at 30 • C). According to the phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence, the lengths of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the strain YL24-3 and the strain YL28-9 were 1484 bp and 1520 bp, respectively, and strain YL24-3 was found to be affiliated with the genus Pedobacter, showing the highest sequence similarity to Pedobacter yulinensis YL28-9 T (98.6% sequence similarity) [19]. In our previous study, strain YL28-9 was identified as a new species and was regarded as the reference model strain to conduct the further studies. The nucleotide composition (GC content) of genomic DNA, polar lipid analysis, and DNA hybridization were analyzed in order to determine the homology of both strains. The GC contents of the strains YL24-3 and YL28-9 were designated as 48.7% and 50.4%, respectively. The only respiratory quinone detected in YL24-3 was menaquinone-7 (MK-7). The predominant cellular fatty acids were identified as Iso-C 15:0 , summed feature 3 (C 16:1 ω7c and/or C 16:1 ω6c), and Iso-C 17:0 3-OH. The major polar lipid was phosphatidylethanolamine, confirming YL24-3 as one of the subspecies of the genus Pedobacter. In the classification study of the genus Pedobacter, Steyn et al. [20] suggested four species: Pedobacter heparinus, Pedobacter piscium, Pedobacter africanus and Pedobacter saltans. The classification was emended by adding species named Pedobacter caeni, Pedobacter roseus, Pedobacter aquatilis sp., and Pedobacter namyangjuensis into the genus Pedobacter [21][22][23][24]. The characteristics of the genus Pedobacter are generally Gram-negative, strictly aerobic, oxidase-positive and catalase-positive, and rod-shaped bacteria with menaquinone-7 (MK-7) as the major or only respiratory quinone [25,26]. In this study, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis suggested with the results of morphological, biochemical, and chemotaxonomic characteristics that strain YL24-3 belonged to the genus of Pedobacter. The phylogenetic relationship between strain YL24-3 and other recognized Pedobacter spp. is represented in the neighbor-joining cladogram shown in Figure 1. The nearest relatives of strain YL24-3 were Pedobacter yulinensis YL28-9 T [19], Pedobacter kyungheensis KACC 16221 T [27], and Pedobacter soli KACC 14939 T [28]. These types of strains among all other species in the genus Pedobacter showed sequence similarities (less than 97%) with respect to strain YL24-3.

Hydrolysis of
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed morphological features and confirmed typical bacilliform cells with a rough surface due to irregular granules (see Figure 2; scale bar A = 1.0 µm; B = 500 nm, respectively).  [19]. All data were from this study except where otherwise indicated. +, positive; W, weakly positive; −, negative.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) revealed morphological features and con firmed typical bacilliform cells with a rough surface due to irregular granules (see was more resistant to Apr and Spe than YL28-9 T , and strain YL28-9 T was more resistant to Str and Kan than YL24-3. The two strains were consistently resistant to Amp, Gen, Ery, Pen, Hyg, and Nyt, which were higher than the normal working concentrations (Table 2). The tolerance to heavy metal ions in strains YL24-3 and YL28-9 T was analyzed as a function of the inhibition zone diameter, which demonstrated varying degrees of tolerance to heavy metal ions as shown in Table 3. With the increase in ion concentration, the tolerance of the same strain to the same metal ion was manifested by the inhibition zone diameter, in which the circle became gradually bigger, indicating tolerance decrease. On the other hand, the strains showed different tolerance to the different metal ions, in which both strains were more resistant to Mn 2+ and Fe 3+ but showed poor tolerance to Cd 2+ and Cr 6+ . Additionally, the tolerance of the strains to Zn 2+ , Pb 2+ , Fe 3+ , and Cd 2+ was similar, showing a decrease with the increase in ion concentration. Comparing the tolerable difference between these two strains, strain YL24-3 was more tolerant to Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ than YL28-9 T , whereas it was less tolerant to Cr 6+ . This conspicuously illustrated the differences in physiological characteristics between the two strains.

The Results of Polar Lipid and Respiratory Quinone Analyses
The polar lipids of YL24-3 contained unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified lipids, an unknown glycolipid, and two unknown amino phospholipids, which were detected as polar lipids ( Figure 3), with phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid.
tolerance of the same strain to the same metal ion was manifested by the inhibition zone diameter, in which the circle became gradually bigger, indicating tolerance decrease. On the other hand, the strains showed different tolerance to the different metal ions, in which both strains were more resistant to Mn 2+ and Fe 3+ but showed poor tolerance to Cd 2+ and Cr 6+ . Additionally, the tolerance of the strains to Zn 2+ , Pb 2+ , Fe 3+ , and Cd 2+ was similar, showing a decrease with the increase in ion concentration. Comparing the tolerable difference between these two strains, strain YL24-3 was more tolerant to Cu 2+ and Mn 2+ than YL28-9 T , whereas it was less tolerant to Cr 6+ . This conspicuously illustrated the differences in physiological characteristics between the two strains.

The Results of Polar Lipid and Respiratory Quinone Analyses
The polar lipids of YL24-3 contained unidentified phospholipids, two unidentified lipids, an unknown glycolipid, and two unknown amino phospholipids, which were detected as polar lipids ( Figure 3), with phosphatidylethanolamine as the major polar lipid.   Table 4, showing that the major fatty acids of the YL24-3 were iso-C 15:0 , summed feature 3 (C 16:1 ω7c and/orC 16:1 ω6c), and iso-C 17:0 3-OH, which were also found in the reference strains, while the proportions and composition of fatty acids components changed in terms of the different strains.  [19]. Values are percentages of the total fatty acids.
Fatty acids that account for less than 1% of the total fatty acids are not shown. TR, trace amount (<1.0%); ND, not detected. *Summed features represent groups of two or more fatty acids that could not be separated by gas chromatography with the MIDI system.

The Contents of Extracellular Polysaccharides Produced by the Strains
The sugar productions were determined from the selected extracellular polysaccharideproducing bacteria YL24-3 and YL24-1. The contents of the exopolysaccharides were calculated using the glucose standard curve. The results are shown in Figure 4. After 72 h, the exopolysaccharide production became quite low. Too much substance in the late state or during the bacterium splitting period was released by the bacteria, which affected the exopolysaccharide extraction. Therefore, the result of exopolysaccharide production is shown for the first 72 h. The results show that strain YL24-1 had the highest extracellular polysaccharide production at 72 h, with the highest extracellular polysaccharide production reaching 257.22 µg/mL. Under the same fermentation time, the highest exopolysaccharide production of strain YL24-3 was 83.41 µg/mL.

Exopolysaccharide-Related Genes of the Bacteria
Considering the contents of extracellular polysaccharides of the strains above, strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 were selected to analyze their genes related to extracellular polysaccharide production. After analysis, the EPS-producing genes in the genus of Pedobacter from the GenBank were screened. The specific primers were designed and synthesized to amplify the target genes of EPSs in strain YL24-3. Unfortunately, no polysaccharide-producing genes were detected in YL24-3. This result suggests that there may be some other functional genes which were not collected in GenBank involved in producing EPSs and regulating the pathway of production. On the other hand, various functional genes were designated in strain YL24-1, Sinorhizobium meliloti. So far, the extracellular polysaccharide synthesis protein, transcription activators, and inhibitors for synthesis are known the Rhizobium meliloti. Specific primers were used for PCR amplification.
According to the specific primers mentioned above, the target fragments were amplified, and the PCR products were detected by gel electrophoresis (Figure 5).

Exopolysaccharide-Related Genes of the Bacteria
Considering the contents of extracellular polysaccharides of the strains above, strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 were selected to analyze their genes related to extracellular polysaccharide production. After analysis, the EPS-producing genes in the genus of Pedobacter from the GenBank were screened. The specific primers were designed and synthesized to amplify the target genes of EPSs in strain YL24-3. Unfortunately, no polysaccharideproducing genes were detected in YL24-3. This result suggests that there may be some other functional genes which were not collected in GenBank involved in producing EPSs and regulating the pathway of production. On the other hand, various functional genes were designated in strain YL24-1, Sinorhizobium meliloti. So far, the extracellular polysaccharide synthesis protein, transcription activators, and inhibitors for synthesis are known the Rhizobium meliloti. Specific primers were used for PCR amplification.
According to the specific primers mentioned above, the target fragments were amplified, and the PCR products were detected by gel electrophoresis ( Figure 5).

Exopolysaccharide-Related Genes of the Bacteria
Considering the contents of extracellular polysaccharides of the strains above, strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 were selected to analyze their genes related to extracellular polysaccharide production. After analysis, the EPS-producing genes in the genus of Pedobacter from the GenBank were screened. The specific primers were designed and synthesized to amplify the target genes of EPSs in strain YL24-3. Unfortunately, no polysaccharide-producing genes were detected in YL24-3. This result suggests that there may be some other functional genes which were not collected in GenBank involved in producing EPSs and regulating the pathway of production. On the other hand, various functional genes were designated in strain YL24-1, Sinorhizobium meliloti. So far, the extracellular polysaccharide synthesis protein, transcription activators, and inhibitors for synthesis are known the Rhizobium meliloti. Specific primers were used for PCR amplification.
According to the specific primers mentioned above, the target fragments were amplified, and the PCR products were detected by gel electrophoresis ( Figure 5).  After TA cloning and verification (Figure 6), the sequencing results were obtained and compared with the gene sequences of the extracellular polysaccharide-producing gene bank. The genes numbered 1802, 4312, 1371, 2164, 3901, 152, 7310, and 2936 were similar to the genes of Rhizobium meliloti. The similarity of the extracellular polysaccharide genes was higher and accounted for 98.93%, 99.01%, 98.90%, 99.00%, 99.80%, 99.16%, 99.74%, and 99.65%, respectively. These genes are certainly responsible for the process of extracellular polysaccharide synthesis. Among these genes, genes 1802 and 1371 are transcriptional regulators (TRs), which affect gene expression at the transcription level.
Gene 2164 is a glycosyltransferase (GTFs), which catalyzes the transfer of sugar groups from nucleotide sugar or lipid phosphorus sugar donors to a wide range of acceptor substrates in cells that convert oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Gene 3901 is an EPS synthesis transcription activator, and gene 4312 is a post-transcriptional regulation inhibitor. These two genes are involved in upstream or downstream regulations of the expression of extracellular polysaccharides at the transcription level. Gene 7310 encodes an extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis regulatory protein. Gene 152 is an extracellular polysaccharide synthesis protein Exo Y. Moreover, gene 2936 is a cell surface polysaccharide transporter, which is responsible for transporting polysaccharides to designated sites after polysynthesis. These genes play an important role in the processes of polysaccharide synthesis, assembly, transport, and secretion. Gene clusters regulate the production of polysaccharides and the secretion of extracellular polysaccharides at various levels.
Molecules 2021, 26, x FOR PEER REVIEW 10 of 15 extracellular polysaccharide synthesis. Among these genes, genes 1802 and 1371 are transcriptional regulators (TRs), which affect gene expression at the transcription level. Gene 2164 is a glycosyltransferase (GTFs), which catalyzes the transfer of sugar groups from nucleotide sugar or lipid phosphorus sugar donors to a wide range of acceptor substrates in cells that convert oligosaccharides and polysaccharides. Gene 3901 is an EPS synthesis transcription activator, and gene 4312 is a post-transcriptional regulation inhibitor. These two genes are involved in upstream or downstream regulations of the expression of extracellular polysaccharides at the transcription level. Gene 7310 encodes an extracellular polysaccharide biosynthesis regulatory protein. Gene 152 is an extracellular polysaccharide synthesis protein Exo Y. Moreover, gene 2936 is a cell surface polysaccharide transporter, which is responsible for transporting polysaccharides to designated sites after polysynthesis. These genes play an important role in the processes of polysaccharide synthesis, assembly, transport, and secretion. Gene clusters regulate the production of polysaccharides and the secretion of extracellular polysaccharides at various levels.

Bacterial Strain Screening
Soil bacterial strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 were isolated from sandy soil in the Mu Us Desert in Yulin (34° N, 108° E), Shaanxi province, P.R. China. Using a standard dilution plating technique, serially diluted soil samples were spread on nutrient agar (NA; beef extract, 3 g/L; tryptone, 10 g/L; NaCl, 5 g/L; agar 18 g/L; pH 7.0-7.2) and incubated at 30 °C for 4 days. A single colony of the strain was transferred onto a new plate for purification. The novel strain was routinely cultivated on the fresh NA agar plates. The cultivated YL24-3 was cryopreserved at −80 °C in 50% (v/v) glycerol. The four reference strains of the Pedobacter species were obtained from the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) in order to compare their phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. These strains included P. ureilyticus JCM 19461 T obtained from the Japan Collection of Micro-organisms (JCM), P. xixiisoli CGMCC 1.12803 T obtained from the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC), 'P. zeaxanthinifaciens' NBRC 102579 obtained from the NITE Biological Resource Center (NBRC), and P. yulinensis YL28-9 T isolated by our research group.

Determination of 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and Phylogenetic Analysis
Genomic DNA extraction of strain YL24-3 was performed using a DNA extraction kit (TIAN-gen). The 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR using the universal primers 27F and 1492R [29], carried out as described by Rainey et al. [30] and then dou-

Bacterial Strain Screening
Soil bacterial strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 were isolated from sandy soil in the Mu Us Desert in Yulin (34 • N, 108 • E), Shaanxi province, P.R. China. Using a standard dilution plating technique, serially diluted soil samples were spread on nutrient agar (NA; beef extract, 3 g/L; tryptone, 10 g/L; NaCl, 5 g/L; agar 18 g/L; pH 7.0-7.2) and incubated at 30 • C for 4 days. A single colony of the strain was transferred onto a new plate for purification. The novel strain was routinely cultivated on the fresh NA agar plates. The cultivated YL24-3 was cryopreserved at −80 • C in 50% (v/v) glycerol. The four reference strains of the Pedobacter species were obtained from the Korean Agricultural Culture Collection (KACC) in order to compare their phenotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics. These strains included P. ureilyticus JCM 19461 T obtained from the Japan Collection of Micro-organisms (JCM), P. xixiisoli CGMCC 1.12803 T obtained from the China General Microbiological Culture Collection Center (CGMCC), 'P. zeaxanthinifaciens' NBRC 102579 obtained from the NITE Biological Resource Center (NBRC), and P. yulinensis YL28-9 T isolated by our research group. Genomic DNA extraction of strain YL24-3 was performed using a DNA extraction kit (TIAN-gen). The 16S rRNA gene was amplified by PCR using the universal primers 27F and 1492R [29], carried out as described by Rainey et al. [30] and then double-checked by sequencing both strands. The pairwise sequence alignment similarity was calculated using the EzBiocloud server (https://www.ezbiocloud.net/ (accessed on 19 September 2018)) [31]. The phylogenetic analysis was carried out using MEGA version X with the neighbor-joining (NJ), maximum-likelihood (ML), and maximum-pariony (MP) models after using the multiple sequence alignment program Clustal_W [32]. Statistical support for the branches of the phylogenetic trees were determined using bootstrap analysis based on 1000 replications [33].

Determination of G + C Content
The genomic DNA of the strain YL24-3 was extracted using the bacterial total DNA extraction kit [34], and the quality of DNA was detected by spectrophotometer to assure the amount of total DNA (up to 20 mg). The DNA was sent to a company called Beijing Novogene Technology to determine the whole genome sequence of the bacteria, and the G + C content was calculated for the obtained sequence.

Morphological and Physiological Characteristics
Cell morphology was examined using a transmission scanning electron microscope (SEM). The growth of strain YL24-3 was tested at 30 • C for 2 days on NA, LB agar, R2A agar, nutrient agar, and tryptic soy agar. The growth of strain YL24-3 was assessed on NA and NB media (NaCl free) at different temperatures (10,15,20,25,28,30,35,37,42, and 45 • C). The tolerance to NaCl concentration was determined with 0-7.0% (w/v) NaCl (with increments of 0.5%) using 20% (w/v) NaCl to adjust NaCl concentrations. Growth at different pH values (pH 3.0-11.0 at 1.0 pH unit intervals) was evaluated in NB medium for 3 days. NB media below pH 6.0, at pH 6.0-8.0, and at pH 9.0-11.0 were prepared using the following buffer systems: pH 3.0-6.0, 0.1 M H 3 PO 4 /Na 2 HPO 4 ; pH 6.0-8.0, 0.1 M KH 2 PO 4 /0.1 M NaOH; pH 9.0-10.0, 0.1 M NaHCO 3 /0.1 M Na 2 CO 3 ; pH 11.0, 0.05 M Na 2 HPO 4 /0.1 M NaOH [35]. After sterilization at 121 • C for 20 min, the pH values were readjusted when necessary. Cell motility was tested by stab culture in semi-solid medium. The activities of catalase and oxidase were evaluated by bubble production in 3% (v/v) H 2 O 2 solution and 1% (w/v) N,N-dimethyl-p-phenylenediaminedihydrochloride solution with a fresh colony grown for 2 days in NA [19]. The bacteria were incubated on DNase agar (tryptone, 15.0 g/L; peptone, 5.0 g/L; NaCl, 5.0 g/L; DNA, 2.0 g/L; CaCl 2 , 0.02 g/L; agar 12 g/L) in order to examine the hydrolysis activity of DNA, as well as for further incubation of the bacterial colonies, which were then covered with 1 mol/L HCl for 1 h on the agar plate. After removing the excess acid with a pipette, a clear area around bacterial colonies showed DNase activity. Hydrolysis of starch (0.2%, w/v), casein (5%, w/v), L-tyrosine (0.5%, w/v), Tween-80/20 (1%, w/v), and CM-cellulose (0.5%, w/v) was evaluated according to previously described methods [36]. Cells were cultivated at 30 • C for 48 h using API50CH and API20NE kit (BioMerieux, Paris, France) to determine the characteristics of cell metabolism according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Polar Lipid and Respiratory Quinone Analysis
Polar lipids of YL24-3 were extracted and analyzed as described by Minnikin [38]. Strain YL24-3 was cultured in LB medium at 30 • C to the exponential growth phase. Cells were collected by centrifuge at 12,000 rpm at 4 • C, and the cell mass was dried using a vacuum freeze-drying apparatus [39]. Cell masses of the different strains were harvested from cultures grown on LB for 2-3 days at 30 • C. Polar lipids were separated by two-dimensional TLC with Silica 60 F254 plates (10 × 10 cm). Plates were activated at 110 • C for 30 min and cooled at room temperature. The following solvent systems were used to examine polar lipids: (A) chloroform/methanol/water (65:25:4, by volume); (B) chloroform/methanol/acetic acid/water (80:12:15:4, by volume). The total lipids were detected by spraying with 10% (w/v) molybdophosphoric acid and heating at 120 • C for 10 min. The amino lipids, glycolipids, and phospholipids were detected by spraying with 0.2% (w/v) ninhydrin, with heating at 120 • C for 5 min, α-naphthol/sulfuric acid, with heating at 120 • C for 5 min, and molybdenum blue reagent (at room temperature), respectively [40].
The respiratory quinones of YL24-3 and reference strains were extracted with methanol and analyzed by HPLC as described by Collins and Xin [41,42].

Determination of the Contents of Extracellular Polysaccharides Produced by Bacteria YL24-1 and YL24-3
The selected extracellular polysaccharide-producing strains YL24-3 and YL24-1 were taken out of the refrigerator at −80 • C for activation and culture. The solution mentioned above was cultured in 100 mL of liquid medium LB in triplicate [43]. The cultured strains in the shaking conditions mentioned above were sampled after fermentation for 48 h and 72 h; then, the contents of extracellular polysaccharides were determined. The extracellular polysaccharides of the two strains were extracted by ethanol precipitation, and the contents of polysaccharides were weighed on a dry weight basis [44].
The exopolysaccharides were fully dissolved in distilled water and then dried to attain a solid state. Then, the phenol-sulfuric acid method was used to determine the contents of the exopolysaccharides. The absorbance value at 490 nm wavelength was measured using a microplate reader, and then the extracellular polysaccharide content was calculated according to the glucose standard curve.
The phenol-sulfuric acid method was used to prepare a glucose as a standard substance to determine the content of extracellular polysaccharides as described above.

Amplification of the Extracellular Polysaccharide-Producing Genes of the Strains
Strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 stored in glycerol were taken out from −80 • C refrigerators, inoculated in sterile LB liquid medium, and cultivated for 24 h. After the strains grew to the logarithmic phase, they were continuously transferred into new media twice. Then, the bacterial DNA was extracted using the DNA extraction kit. The EPS-producing genes in Rhizobium and Pedobacter were screened from GenBank, and related different specific primers were designed and synthesized on the basis of the gene databank to amplify the target genes related to EPS in strains YL24-1 and YL24-3 [45].

The Structural Genes of Extracellular Polysaccharide-Producing Bacteria YL24-1
A. The exopolysaccharide-producing related genes of Rhizobium meliloti were searched in GenBank, along with some other studies that identified genes regarding exopolysaccharide synthesis [46]. Accordingly, corresponding specific primers were designed for verification, and each cell was detected. The presence of exopolysaccharides genes in strain YL24-1 was analyzed to predict the structural genes without biological information from whole-genome sequencing. B. A plasmid was constructed using TA cloning, and target genes were sequenced. C. The functional genes in Rhizobium meliloti for producing extracellular polysaccharides were compared to obtain the possible genes of the bacteria. According to the identified extracellular polysaccharide gene of strain YL24-1, the target gene was verified.

Conclusions
The strains tested in this study were YL24-1 and YL24-3 isolated from sandy soil in the Mu Us Desert in Yulin. They were able to efficiently produce EPSs at levels of 257.22 µg/mL and 83.41 µg/mL, respectively, in cultures grown for 72 h, and they were identified as Sinorhizobium meliloti and Pedobacter sp., respectively. The EPS-related genes of these two strains were predicted using the NCBI prokaryotic GenBank rather than high-throughput sequencing. A study of the characteristics of extracellular polysaccharide-producing oligotrophic bacteria can be a reasonable predictor of the survival and preliminary interpretation of ESP gene clusters of such bacteria.

Data Availability Statement:
The data presented in this study are available on request from the corresponding author.