Halobacillus profundi sp. nov. and Halobacillus kuroshimensis sp. nov., moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from a deep-sea methane cold seep

Halobacillus fulvus sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from shrimp paste (Ka-pi) in Thailand

An aerobic, Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped and moderately halophilic strain SKP4-6^T, was isolated from shrimp paste (Ka-pi) collected from Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain SKP4-6^T belonged to the genus Halobacillus and was most closely related to Halobacillus salinus JCM 11546^T (98.6 %), Halobacillus locisalis KCTC 3788^T (98.6 %) and Halobacillus yeomjeoni KCTC 3957^T (98.6 %) based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. The digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values between strain SKP4-6^T and its related species were 18.2-19.3 % and 69.84-84.51 %, respectively, which were lower than the threshold recommended for species delineation. The strain grew optimally at 30-40 °C, at pH 7.0 and with 10-15 % (w/v) NaCl. It contained l-Orn-d-Asp in the cell wall peptidoglycan. The DNA G+C content was 44.8 mol%. The major fatty acids were iso-C_15 : 0, anteiso-C_15 : 0 and anteiso-C_17 : 0. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7. Phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol were present as major polar lipids. Based on this polyphasic approach, digital DNA-DNA relatedness and ANI values, strain SKP4-6^T represents a novel species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus fulvus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SKP4-6^T (=JCM 32624^T=TISTR 2595^T).

Abiotic stress resistance, plant growth promotion and antifungal potential of halotolerant bacteria from a Tunisian solar saltern

The uses of halotolerant bacteria isolated from naturally saline habitats have the potential to be useful crop protection agents for plants in stressful conditions. These beneficial microbes generate several plant growth regulators and bioactive molecules, which enhance plant protection from adversities, such as plant pathogens, salts and metals stresses. In this study, 15 halotolerant bacterial strains endowed with important antimicrobial activities were isolated from Sfax solar saltern (Tunisia). All of these strains were characterized by biochemical and molecular tools aiming to investigate their in-vitro and in-vivo antifungal potentialities, plant growth promotion capabilities and metal tolerance abilities under saline stress condition. The 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the isolated strains were affiliated to different phylum and three species were described for the first time as plant growth promoting strains (Idiomarina zobelli FMH6v, Nesterenkonia halotolerans FMH10 and Halomonas janggokensis FMH54). The tested strains exhibited several potentialities: to tolerate high salt and heavy metal concentrations, to produce biosurfactants, exopolysaccharides and extracellular hydrolytic enzymes, to form biofilms and to liberate plant promoting substances. Eight strains were able to protect tomatoes fruits from the proliferation of the fungal disease caused by Botrytis cinerea and six strains improved plant vigor indexes. Principal component analysis showed an important correlation between in-vitro and in-vivo potentialities and two strains Bacillus velezensis FMH2 and Bacillus subtilis subsp. spizizenii FMH45 were statistically considered as the most effective strains in protecting plants from fungal pathogens attack and promoting the growth of tomatoes seedlings under saline and multi heavy-metals stress conditions.

Taxonomic diversity of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria and genes in the Red Sea coast

Despite development of a record number of recreational sites and industrial zones on the Red Sea coast in the last decade, antibiotic-resistant bacteria in this environment remain largely unexplored. In this study, 16S rDNA sequencing was used to identify bacteria isolated from 12 sediment samples collected from the Red Sea coastal, offshore, and mangroves sites. Quantitative PCR was used to estimate the quantity of antimicrobial resistance genes (ARGs) in genomic DNA in the samples. A total of 470 bacteria were isolated and classified into 137 distinct species, including 10 candidate novel species. Site-specific bacterial communities inhabiting the Red Sea were apparent. Relatively, more resistant isolates were recovered from the coast, and samples from offshore locations contained the most multidrug-resistant bacteria. Eighteen ARGs were detected in this study encoding resistance to aminoglycoside, beta-lactam, sulfonamide, macrolide, quinolone, and tetracycline antibiotics. The qnrS, aacC2, ermC, and bla_TEM-1 genes were commonly found in coastal and offshore sites. Relatively higher abundance of ARGs, including aacC2 and aacC3, were found in the apparently anthropogenically contaminated (beach) samples from coast compared to other collected samples. In conclusion, a relative increase in antimicrobial-resistant isolates was found in sediment samples from the Red Sea, compared to other studies. Anthropogenic activities likely contribute to this increase in bacterial diversity and ARGs.

Draft genome sequence of the moderately halophilic bacterium Halobacillus sp. BBL2006

We present the draft genome sequence of Halobacillus sp. BBL2006, a moderately halophilic, gram positive bacterium isolated from a sulfidic salt spring in Big Bone Lick State Park, Boone County, Kentucky. The genome of Halobacillus sp. BBL2006 was 3,988,138 bp in length with a GC content of 41.6%. Genome analysis identified 4331 open reading frames including genes for antibiotic resistance and tolerance to heavy metals. The draft genome was deposited at DDBJ/EMBL/GenBank (DNA Databank of Japan/European Molecular Biology Laboratory/Genbank) (JRNX00000000).

Taxonomic description and genome sequence of Halobacillus marinus sp. nov., a novel strain isolated from Chilika Lake, India

moderately halophilic spore forming, motile, Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacterial strain designated as KGW1^T was isolated from water sample of Chilika Lake and characterized taxonomically using polyphasic approach. The strain grew in the presence of 0-25% (w/v) NaCl in marine salt agar media, hydrolyzes casein, and gelatin and shows presence of alkaline proteases. The major cell wall menaquinone was MK7 and major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C_15:0 (44.89%), anteiso-C_17:0 (6.18%), isoC_15:0 (19.38%), and iso-C_16:0 (7.39%). Several chemotaxonomic features conform the isolate be a member of genus Halobacillus. The isolate KGW1^T contained A1γ meso-Dpm-direct type of peptidoglycan which is different from its phylogenetically closest neighbours. The 16S rRNA gene sequence based phylogenetic analysis also revealed the strain KGW1^T was affiliated to the genus Halobacillus and sequence similarity between the isolated strain and the type strains of Halobacillus species were found closest to, H. dabanensis D-8 DSM 18199^T (99.08%) and H. faecis IGA7-4 DSM 21559^T (99.01%), H. trueperi SL-5 DSM 10404^T (98.94%). The in silico DDH showed that the values in a range of 14.2-17.5% with the most closest strain H. dabanensis D-8 DSM 18199^T and other type strains of the genus Halobacillus for which whole genome sequence is reported. DNA-DNA relatedness between strain KGW1^T and the closest type strain Halobacillus trueperi DSM 10404^T was 11.75% (± 1.15). The draft genome sequence includes 3,683,819 bases and comprises of 3898 predicted coding sequences with a G + C content of 46.98%. Thus, the significant distinctiveness supported by phenotypic and genotypic data with its closest neighbors and other closely related species confirm the strain KGW1^T to be classified as a novel species within the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus marinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is KGW1^T (= DSM 29522 = JCM 30443).

Microbial Diversity in Extreme Marine Habitats and Their Biomolecules

Extreme marine environments have been the subject of many studies and scientific publications. For many years, these environmental niches, which are characterized by high or low temperatures, high-pressure, low pH, high salt concentrations and also two or more extreme parameters in combination, have been thought to be incompatible to any life forms. Thanks to new technologies such as metagenomics, it is now possible to detect life in most extreme environments. Starting from the discovery of deep sea hydrothermal vents up to the study of marine biodiversity, new microorganisms have been identified, and their potential uses in several applied fields have been outlined. Thermophile, halophile, alkalophile, psychrophile, piezophile and polyextremophile microorganisms have been isolated from these marine environments; they proliferate thanks to adaptation strategies involving diverse cellular metabolic mechanisms. Therefore, a vast number of new biomolecules such as enzymes, polymers and osmolytes from the inhabitant microbial community of the sea have been studied, and there is a growing interest in the potential returns of several industrial production processes concerning the pharmaceutical, medical, environmental and food fields.

Halobacillus salicampi sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a solar saltern sediment

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain TGS-15(T), was isolated from the sediment of a solar saltern pond located in Shinan, Korea. Strain TGS-15(T) was found to be a strictly aerobic, non-motile rod which can grow at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 9.0), at 20-35 °C (optimum, 28 °C) and at salinities of 1-20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 9 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain TGS-15(T) belongs to the genus Halobacillus, with sequence similarity of 98.5-96.0 % to known type strains, showing high sequence similarity to Halobacillus locisalis MSS-155(T) (98.5 %), Halobacillus faecis IGA7-4(T) (98.2 %) and Halobacillus alkaliphilus FP5(T) (98.0 %), and less than 98.0 % sequence similarity to other currently recognised type strains of the genus. The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified lipid. The cell wall peptidoglycan was found to be based on L-Orn-D-Asp, the predominant isoprenoid quinone was identified as menaquinone-7 (MK-7) and the major fatty acids were identified as anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and C16:1 ω7c alcohol. The DNA G+C content of this novel isolate was determined to be 45.3 mol %. Levels of DNA:DNA relatedness between strain TGS-15(T) and the type strains of 13 other species of the genus ranged from 52 to 9 %. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis conducted in this study, strain TGS-15(T) is concluded to represent a novel species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus salicampi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TGS-15(T) (=KACC 18264(T) = NBRC 110640(T)).

Halobacillus sediminis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a solar saltern sediment

A Gram-staining-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain NGS-2T, was isolated from sediment of a solar saltern pond located in Shinan, Korea. Strain NGS-2T was a strictly aerobic, non-motile rod that grew at pH 5.0–10.0 (optimum, pH 8.0), at 10–30 °C (optimum, 28 °C) and in the presence of 1–20 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10 % NaCl). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain NGS-2T belonged to the genus Halobacillus, with sequence similarity of 98.4–95.8 % to existing type strains, showing the highest sequence similarity to Halobacillus dabanensis D-8T (98.4 %), H. litoralis SL-4T (98.4 %), H. trueperi SL-5T (98.2 %), H. faecis IGA7-4T (98.2 %), H. profundi IS-Hb4T (98.1 %) and H. mangrovi MS10T (98.0 %). The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidyl-N-methylethanolamine and an unknown glycolipid. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on l-Orn–d-Asp, the predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7) and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15: 0 and anteiso-C17: 0. The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was 45.0 mol%. Levels of DNA–DNA relatedness between strain NGS-2T and the type strains of 12 other species of the genus ranged from 32 to 3 %. On the basis of the polyphasic analysis conducted in this study, strain NGS-2T represents a novel species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus sediminis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NGS-2T ( = KACC 18263T = NBRC 110639T).

Aureibacillus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment

A Gram-staining-positive, strictly aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped motile bacterium with peritrichous flagellae, designated strain S1203T, was isolated from the sediment of the northern Okinawa Trough. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S1203T formed a lineage within the family Bacillaceae that was distinct from the most closely related genera Bacillus, Bhargavaea, Planomicrobium and Virgibacillus with gene sequence similarities ranging from 86.2 to 93.76 %. Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 4-8 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0-8.0 and 25-32 °C. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and unsaturated menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7) as the predominant respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0.The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain S1203T was 47.7 mol%. On the basis of polyphasic analysis, strainS1203T was considered to represent a novel species in a new genus of the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Aureibacillus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of Aureibacillus halotolerans is S1203T ( = DSM 28697T = JCM 30067T = MCCC 1K00259T).

Halobacillus andaensis sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from saline and alkaline soil

A Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, moderately halophilic bacterial strain, NEAU-ST10-40T, was isolated from a saline and alkaline soil in Anda City, China. It was strictly aerobic, rod-shaped and motile by peritrichous flagella. It formed light yellow colonies and grew at NaCl concentrations of 3–15 % (w/v) (optimum, 8 %, w/v), at pH 7.0–9.0 (optimum, pH 8.0) and at 4–60 °C (optimum, 30 °C). It contained meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that it belonged to the genus Halobacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain NEAU-ST10-40T and the type strains of related species of the genus Halobacillus ranged from 98.8 % (Halobacillus alkaliphilus FP5T) to 97.1 % (Halobacillus kuroshimensis IS-Hb7T). DNA–DNA hybridization relatedness values between strain NEAU-ST10-40T and H. alkaliphilus DSM 18525T, Halobacillus campisalis KCTC 13144T, Halobacillus yeomjeoni DSM 17110T, Halobacillus halophilus DSM 2266T, Halobacillus litoralis DSM 10405T, Halobacillus dabanensis DSM 18199T, Halobacillus salinus DSM 18897T, Halobacillus naozhouensis DSM 21183T, Halobacillus trueperi DSM 10404T and Halobacillus salsuginis DSM 21185T were from 43 ± 1 to 19 ± 1 % (mean ± sd). The DNA G+C content was 39.3 mol%. The major fatty acids (>10 %) were anteiso-C15:0, anteiso-C17:0 and iso-C16:0, the only respiratory quinone detected was MK-7, and polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown phospholipids and three unknown lipids. On the basis of the data presented, strain NEAU-ST10-40T is considered to represent a novel species, for which the name Halobacillus andaensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NEAU-ST10-40T ( = CGMCC 1.12153T = DSM 25866T).

Evolution in the Bacillaceae

The family Bacillaceae constitutes a phenotypically diverse and globally ubiquitous assemblage of bacteria. Investigation into how evolution has shaped, and continues to shape, this family has relied on several widely ranging approaches from classical taxonomy, ecological field studies, and evolution in soil microcosms to genomic-scale phylogenetics, laboratory, and directed evolution experiments. One unifying characteristic of the Bacillaceae , the endospore, poses unique challenges to answering questions regarding both the calculation of evolutionary rates and claims of extreme longevity in ancient environmental samples.

Draft Genome Sequence of the Halophilic Bacterium Halobacillus sp. Strain BAB-2008

The Halobacillus sp. strain BAB-2008 is a moderately halophilic, rod-shaped, Gram-positive, orange-pigmented, carotenoid-producing bacterium isolated from saline soil near Zazam-Solar Park Road, Gujarat, India. Here we present the 3.7-Mb genome sequence to provide insights into its functional genomics and potential applications for carotenoid and enzyme production.

Lutibaculum baratangense gen. nov., sp. nov., a proteobacterium isolated from a mud volcano

A novel Gram-negative, oval to rod-shaped, motile bacterium, strain AMV1T, was isolated from a soil sample collected from a mud volcano of Baratang Island, Andamans, India. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0 (5.7 %), C18 : 1ω7c (78.6 %) and C19 : 0 cyclo ω8c (6.3 %). Strain AMV1T contained ubiquinone 10 (Q-10) as the major respiratory quinone and minor quantities of ubiquinone 9 (Q-9). The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unidentified lipids, one unidentified phospholipid and one unidentified aminolipid. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain AMV1T was related most closely to the type strains of Tepidamorphus gemmatus , Bauldia consociata , Afifella pfennigii and Amorphus coralli , four members of the order Rhizobiales (class Alphaproteobacteria ), with pairwise sequence similarities of 95.0, 94.5, 94.4 and 94.0 %, respectively; it shared <94 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with all the other members of the order Rhizobiales . Phylogenetic analyses indicated that strain AMV1T clustered with Tepidamorphus gemmatus and with species of the genera Amorphus , Rhodobium and Afifella . Phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics thus suggest that strain AMV1T is a representative of a novel species of a new genus, for which the name Lutibaculum baratangense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Lutibaculum baratangense is AMV1T ( = KCTC 22669T = NBRC 105799T = CCUG 58046T).

Phenotypic characterization and 16S rDNA identification of culturable non-obligate halophilic bacterial communities from a hypersaline lake, La Sal del Rey, in extreme South Texas (USA)

BACKGROUND

La Sal del Rey ("the King's Salt") is one of several naturally-occurring salt lakes in Hidalgo County, Texas and is part of the Lower Rio Grande Valley National Wildlife Refuge. The research objective was to isolate and characterize halophilic microorganisms from La Sal del Rey. Water samples were collected from the lake and a small creek that feeds into the lake. Soil samples were collected from land adjacent to the water sample locations. Sample salinity was determined using a refractometer. Samples were diluted and cultured on a synthetic saline medium to grow halophilic bacteria. The density of halophiles was estimated by viable plate counts. A collection of isolates was selected, gram-stained, tested for catalase, and characterized using API 20E® test strips. Isolates were putatively identified by sequencing the 16S rDNA. Carbon source utilization by the microbial community from each sample site was examined using EcoPlate™ assays and the carbon utilization total activity of the community was determined.

RESULTS

Results showed that salinity ranged from 4 parts per thousand (ppt) at the lake water source to 420 ppt in water samples taken just along the lake shore. The density of halophilic bacteria in water samples ranged from 1.2 × 102 - 5.2 × 103 colony forming units per ml (cfu ml-1) whereas the density in soil samples ranged from 4.0 × 105 - 2.5 × 106 colony forming units per gram (cfu g-1). In general, as salinity increased the density of the bacterial community decreased. Microbial communities from water and soil samples were able to utilize 12 - 31 carbon substrates. The greatest number of substrates utilized was by water-borne communities compared to soil-based communities, especially at lower salinities. The majority of bacteria isolated were gram-negative, catalase-positive, rods. Biochemical profiles constructed from API 20E® test strips showed that bacterial isolates from low-salinity water samples (4 ppt) showed the greatest phenotypic diversity with regards to the types and number of positive tests from the strip. Isolates taken from water samples at the highest salinity (420 ppt) tended to be less diverse and have only a limited number of positive tests. Sequencing of 16S DNA displayed the presence of members of bacterial genera Bacillus, Halomonas, Pseudomonas, Exiguobacterium and others. The genus Bacillus was most commonly identified. None of the isolates were members of the Archaea probably due to dilution of salts in the samples.

CONCLUSIONS

The La Sal del Rey ecosystem supports a robust and diverse bacterial community despite the high salinity of the lake and soil. However, salinity does appear to a limiting factor with regards to the density and diversity of the bacterial communities that inhabit the lake and surrounding area.

Thalassobacillus hwangdonensis sp. nov., isolated from a tidal flat sediment

A Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, motile, rod-shaped bacterium, strain AD-1(T), was isolated from a tidal flat sediment of the coast of Hwangdo on the Yellow Sea, Korea. Strain AD-1(T) grew optimally at pH 7.0-7.5 and 40 degrees C and in the presence of 5-10 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain AD-1(T) was most closely related to Thalassobacillus devorans G-19.1(T) (98.0 % sequence similarity) and Thalassobacillus cyri HS286(T) (97.8 %). The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and MK-7 was the predominant menaquinone. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and two unidentified lipids. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) were iso-C(15 : 0), iso-C(17 : 0) and anteiso-C(15 : 0). The DNA G+C content of strain AD-1(T) was 45.2 mol%. It appears reasonable to classify strain AD-1(T) as a member of the genus Thalassobacillus. There were differences in fatty acid profiles and phenotypic and genetic characteristics between strain AD-1(T) and the type strains of the two Thalassobacillus species. On the basis of the data presented, strain AD-1(T) represents a novel species within the genus Thalassobacillus, for which the name Thalassobacillus hwangdonensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is AD-1(T) (=KCTC 13254(T) =CCUG 56607(T)).

Jeotgalibacillus salarius sp. nov., isolated from a marine saltern, and reclassification of Marinibacillus marinus and Marinibacillus campisalis as Jeotgalibacillus marinus comb. nov. and Jeotgalibacillus campisalis comb. nov., respectively

A Gram-variable, motile and rod-shaped bacterial strain, ASL-1(T), was isolated from a marine saltern located on the coast of the Yellow Sea, Korea. A neighbour-joining phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain ASL-1(T) clustered with Jeotgalibacillus alimentarius YKJ-13(T) and that this cluster joined the clade comprising the type strains of two Marinibacillus species. Strain ASL-1(T) exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity values of 97.3 % to J. alimentarius YKJ-13(T) and 96.5 % to the type strains of Marinibacillus marinus and Marinibacillus campisalis. The chemotaxonomic properties of strain ASL-1(T) were similar to those of one or two of the genera Jeotgalibacillus and Marinibacillus. The peptidoglycan type was A1alpha linked directly through L-lysine as the diamino acid. Strain ASL-1(T) contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone with the presence of a significant amount of MK-8. The predominant fatty acid was anteiso-C(15 : 0). The DNA G+C content was 42.9 mol%. Differential phenotypic properties, together with the phylogenetic and genetic distinctiveness, revealed that strain ASL-1(T) could be differentiated from J. alimentarius and the two Marinibacillus species. On the basis of the data presented, strain ASL-1(T) represents a novel species within the genus Jeotgalibacillus, for which the name Jeotgalibacillus salarius sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ASL-1(T) (=KCTC 13257(T)=CCUG 56751(T)). It is also proposed that Marinibacillus marinus and Marinibacillus campisalis be reclassified as Jeotgalibacillus marinus comb. nov. (type strain 581(T)=DSM 1297(T)=ATCC 29841(T)=CCUG 28884(T)=CIP 103308(T)=LMG 6930(T)) and Jeotgalibacillus campisalis comb. nov. (type strain SF-57(T)=KCCM 41644(T)=JCM 11810(T)), respectively.

Thalassobacillus cyri sp. nov., a moderately halophilic Gram-positive bacterium from a hypersaline lake

A Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain HS286(T), was isolated from water of the hypersaline Lake Howz-Soltan in Iran. Cells were strictly aerobic, rod-shaped, motile and able to produce ellipsoidal endospores at a central-subterminal position in swollen sporangia. Isolate HS286(T) grew in a complex medium supplemented with 1-15 % (w/v) NaCl, with optimum growth at 8.0 % (w/v) NaCl. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons showed that strain HS286(T) was closely related to Thalassobacillus devorans G-19.1(T) (99.4 % gene sequence similarity). The other closest species were Halobacillus yeomjeoni MSS-402(T) (96.9 %) and other species of the genus Halobacillus (with 96.7-93.5 % similarity). Strain HS286(T) had cell-wall peptidoglycan based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and MK-7 as the respiratory isoprenoid quinone. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C(15 : 0) (43.8 %), iso-C(16 : 0) (21.4 %), iso-C(14 : 0) (9.4 %), anteiso-C(17 : 0) (8.7 %) and iso-C(15 : 0) (7.0 %) and the polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two phospholipids and a glycolipid. The DNA G+C content was 43.0 mol%. All of these features confirmed the placement of isolate HS286(T) within the genus Thalassobacillus. However DNA-DNA hybridization between strain HS286(T) and the only recognized species of the genus Thalassobacillus, T. devorans G-19.1(T), was 27.3 %, showing unequivocally that the novel isolate constituted a new genospecies. Strain HS286(T) could be clearly differentiated from T. devorans and other phylogenetic neighbours on the basis of several phenotypic, genotypic and chemotaxonomic features. Therefore, strain HS286(T) constitutes a novel species, for which the name Thalassobacillus cyri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is HS286(T) (=CCM 7597(T)=JCM 15722(T)).

Halobacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake in Fuente de Piedra, southern Spain

A Gram-positive, spore-forming, halophilic bacterial strain, FP5T, was isolated from a salt lake in southern Spain and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. Strain FP5T was strictly aerobic. Cells were coccoidal, occurring singly or in clusters. The cell-wall peptidoglycan type of strain FP5T was A4 beta based on l-Orn-d-Asp. Strain FP5T was characterized chemotaxonomically by having MK-7 as the major menaquinone and anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 as the main fatty acids. The isolate grew optimally at 37 degrees C and in presence of 10 % NaCl; no growth was observed in the absence of NaCl. The DNA G+C content was 43.5 mol%. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FP5T falls within the evolutionary radiation of species of the genus Halobacillus. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain FP5T and the type strains of nine recognized Halobacillus species were in the range 97.0-99.0 %. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness indicated that strain FP5T represents a genomic species that is distinct from recognized Halobacillus species. Strain FP5T could be differentiated from recognized Halobacillus species based on several phenotypic characteristics. On the basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic data, strain FP5T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Halobacillus, for which the name Halobacillus alkaliphilus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FP5T (=DSM 18525T =ATCC BAA-1361T).