Bacillus iranensis sp. nov., a moderate halophile from a hypersaline lake

Microbial diversity in polyextreme salt flats and their potential applications

Recent geological, hydrochemical, and mineralogical studies performed on hypersaline salt flats have given insights into similar geo-morphologic features on Mars. These salt-encrusted depressions are widely spread across the Earth, where they are characterized by high salt concentrations, intense UV radiation, high evaporation, and low precipitation. Their surfaces are completely dry in summer; intermittent flooding occurs in winter turning them into transitory hypersaline lakes. Thanks to new approaches such as culture-dependent, culture-independent, and metagenomic-based methods, it is important to study microbial life under polyextreme conditions and understand what lives in these dynamic ecosystems and how they function. Regarding these particular features, new halophilic microorganisms have been isolated from some salt flats and identified as excellent producers of primary and secondary metabolites and granules such as halocins, enzymes, carotenoids, polyhydroxyalkanoates, and exopolysaccharides. Additionally, halophilic microorganisms are implemented in heavy metal bioremediation and hypersaline wastewater treatment. As a result, there is a growing interest in the distribution of halophilic microorganisms around the world that can be looked upon as good models to develop sustainable biotechnological processes for all fields. This review provides insights into diversity, ecology, metabolism, and genomics of halophiles in hypersaline salt flats worldwide as well as their potential uses in biotechnology.

A comparative GC-MS analysis of bioactive secondary metabolites produced by halotolerant Bacillus spp. isolated from the Great Sebkha of Oran

The reemergence of infectious diseases and resistant pathogens represents a serious problem for human life. Hence, the screening for new or alternative antimicrobial compounds is still urgent. Unusual ecosystems such as saline habitats are considered promising environments for the purposes of isolating bacterial strains able to produce potent natural products. The aim of this study is the identification of bioactive compounds biosynthesized by three halotolerant strains isolated from the Sebkha of Oran (Algeria) using gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry. Primary screening investigation of antimicrobial activities were performed against reference bacterial and fungal strains and revealed a broad-spectrum activity. Secondary metabolite extraction was carried out using ethyl acetate and chloroform. Crude extracts were tested for bioactivity using the disc diffusion method and subjected to GC-MS analysis. The extracts showed an important inhibitory effect against all tested strains. Fifty-six compounds were identified; they include tert-butyl phenol compounds, fatty acid methyl esters due to the methylation procedure, hydrocarbons, aldehydes, benzoquinones, pyrrols, and terpenes. Literature reports such compounds to have wide biological and pharmaceutical applications. The molecular identification of the three isolates was achieved using the 16S-23S rRNA gene intergenic spacer region (ITS) and 16S rRNA sequencing. Partial 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed very high similarity with many species of Bacillus. This study provided insights on the potential of halotolerant Bacillus as drug research target for bioactive metabolites. The findings suggest that the Great Sebkha of Oran is a valuable source of strains exhibiting variety of beneficial attributes that can be utilized in the development of biological antibiotics.

Insights Into the Microbiology of the Chaotropic Brines of Salar de Atacama, Chile

Microbial life inhabiting hypersaline environments belong to a limited group of extremophile or extremotolerant taxa. Natural or artificial hypersaline environments are not limited to high concentrations of NaCl, and under such conditions, specific adaptation mechanisms are necessary to permit microbial survival and growth. Argentina, Bolivia, and Chile include three large salars (salt flats) which globally, represent the largest lithium reserves, and are commonly referred to as the Lithium Triangle Zone. To date, a large amount of information has been generated regarding chemical, geological, meteorological and economical perspectives of these salars. However, there is a remarkable lack of information regarding the biology of these unique environments. Here, we report the presence of two bacterial strains (isolates LIBR002 and LIBR003) from one of the most hypersaline lithium-dominated man-made environments (total salinity 556 g/L; 11.7 M LiCl) reported to date. Both isolates were classified to the Bacillus genera, but displayed differences in 16S rRNA gene and fatty acid profiles. Our results also revealed that the isolates are lithium-tolerant and that they are phylogenetically differentiated from those Bacillus associated with high NaCl concentration environments, and form a new clade from the Lithium Triangle Zone. To determine osmoadaptation strategies in these microorganisms, both isolates were characterized using morphological, metabolic and physiological attributes. We suggest that our characterization of bacterial isolates from a highly lithium-enriched environment has revealed that even at such extreme salinities with high concentrations of chaotropic solutes, scope for microbial life exists. These conditions have previously been considered to limit the development of life, and our work extends the window of life beyond high concentrations of MgCl2, as previously reported, to LiCl. Our results can be used to further the understanding of salt tolerance, most especially for LiCl-dominated brines, and likely have value as models for the understanding of putative extra-terrestrial (e.g., Martian) life.

Aliibacillus thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov.: a thermophilic and heterotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterium from compost

A novel moderately thermophilic and heterotrophic ammonia-oxidizing bacterium, designated strain BM62^T, was isolated from compost in the thermophilic stage in Harbin, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain BM62^T belongs to the family Bacillaceae within the class Bacilli and was most closely related to Alteribacillus iranensis X5B^T (only 94.6% sequence similarity). Cells of strain BM62^T were Gram-positive, rod-shaped, motile by periflagella, catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. Growth of strain BM62^T was observed at salinities of 0-4% (optimum 2-3%), temperatures of 35-65 °C (optimum 50 °C) and pH values of 5-9 (optimum pH 7). The major cellular fatty acid was iso-C_16:0, and the predominant ubiquinone was MK-7. The peptidoglycan type is A1γ, and meso-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic diamino acid. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phospholipid and phosphatidylglycerol. The G + C content of its genomic DNA was 36.5 mol%. Data from this polyphasic taxonomy study suggested that strain BM62^T should be classified as the type strain of the type species of a new genus within the family Bacillaceae for which the name Aliibacillus thermotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the species Aliibacillus thermotolerans sp. nov. is BM62^T (= DSM 101851^T = CGMCC 1.15790^T). The respective DPD Taxon Number is GA00057.

Desertibacillus haloalkaliphilus gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from a saline desert

Two Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped and endospore-forming bacteria that represent a single species, designated strains KJ1-10-99^T and KJ1-10-93, were isolated from a saline desert of Little Rann of Kutch, Gujarat, India. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolates belonged to the family Bacillaceae and were closely related to each other with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 99.9 %. However, these two isolates formed a novel phylogenetic branch within this family. Both strains were aerobic, catalase and oxidase positive, and could grow optimally at 37 °C and pH 9. Further, strains KJ1-10-99^T and KJ1-10-93 grew optimally at a NaCl concentration of 7.5 and 15 % (w/v), respectively. Both strains shared highest sequence similarity with Fermentibacillus polygoni IEB3^T (96.90 %) followed by Bacillus nanhaiisediminis NH3^T (96.3 %) and Bacillus alkalinitrilicus ANL-iso4^T (96.3 %). The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17:0, C16 : 0, and iso-C15 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol in both strains. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-7 in both the strains. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid (meso-DAP) as the diagnostic diamino acid. The DNA G+C content of strains KJ1-10-99^T and KJ1-10-93 were 48.7 and 48.9 mol% respectively. Both strains could be distinguished from closest phylogenetic neighbours based on a number of phenotypic properties. On the basis of polyphasic taxonomic analysis and phylogenetic data, we conclude that the strains KJ1-10-99^T (=LMG 29918^T=KCTC 33878^T) and KJ1-10-93 (=LMG 29919=KCTC 33877) represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Bacillaceae, order Bacillales, for which the name Desertibacillus haloalkaliphilus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.

Bacillus ectoiniformans sp. nov., a halotolerant bacterium isolated from deep-sea sediments

A halotolerant, Gram-positive bacterium (strain NE-14^T), which was isolated from sediment samples of the South China Sea, was subjected to a taxonomic study. Strain NE-14^T grew well at wide temperature and pH ranges, 10.0-45.0 °C and pH 6-10, with an optimum at 30 °C and pH 8.0, respectively. Growth of strain NE-14^T was observed at total salt concentrations of 0-10 % (w/v) with optimum at 2 % (w/v). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Bacillus. Strain NE-14^T was related most closely to Bacillus shackletonii LMG 18435^T, Bacillus bataviensis LMG 21833^T, Bacillus idriensis SMC 4352-2^T and Bacillus drentensis LMG 21831^T with 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 96.2, 95.9, 95.8 and 95.7 %, respectively. DNA-DNA hybridization between strain NE-14^T and B. shackletonii LMG 18435^T, B. bataviensis LMG 21833^T, B. idriensis SMC 4352-2^T and B. drentensis LMG 21831^T gave reassociation values of about 27.4, 22.4, 16.4 and 15.9 %, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain NE-14^T was 39.2 mol%. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The cell-wall peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. The predominant cellular fatty acids of strain NE-14^T were iso-C_15 : 0 and anteiso-C_15 : 0. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylglycerol and phospholipid. Based on the phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is proposed that strain NE-14^T be classified as representing a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus ectoiniformans sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NE-14^T ( = DSM 28970^T = JCM 30397^T).

Bacillus endolithicus sp. nov., isolated from pebbles

Strain JC267T was isolated from pebbles collected from Pingleshwar beach, Gujarat, India. Cells are Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile rods forming sub-terminal endospores in swollen ellipsoidal to oval sporangia. Strain JC267T contains anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C14 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 as major (>5 %) cellular fatty acids. Polar lipids include phosphatidylglycerol, phospholipids (PL1-3), glycolipids (GL1-2) and an unidentified lipid. Cell-wall amino acids are composed of diagnostic meso-diaminopimelic acid, dl-alanine and a small amount of d-glutamic acid. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain JC267T is 45.5 mol%. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JC267T showed highest sequence similarities of < 98.41 % with all species of the genus Bacillus when subjected to EzTaxon-e blast analysis. The reassociation values based on DNA-DNA hybridization of strain JC267T with Bacillus halosaccharovorans IBRC-M 10095T and Bacillus niabensis JCM 16399T were 26 ± 1 % and 34 ± 3 %, respectively. Based on taxonomic data obtained using a polyphasic approach, strain JC267T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus endolithicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is JC267T ( = IBRC-M 10914T = KCTC 33579T).

A heavy metal tolerant novel bacterium, Bacillus malikii sp. nov., isolated from tannery effluent wastewater

The taxonomic position of a Gram-stain positive and heavy metal tolerant bacterium, designated strain NCCP-662(T), was investigated by polyphasic characterisation. Cells of strain NCCP-662(T) were observed to be rod to filamentous shaped, motile and strictly aerobic, and to grow at 10-50 °C (optimum 30-37 °C) and at pH range of 6-10 (optimum pH 7-8). The strain was found to be able to tolerate 0-12 % NaCl (w/v) and heavy metals (Cr 1200 ppm, Pb 1800 ppm and Cu 1200 ppm) in tryptic soya agar medium. The phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain NCCP-662(T) showed that it belongs to the genus Bacillus and showed high sequence similarity (98.2 and 98.0 %, respectively) with the type strains of Bacillus niabensis 4T19(T) and Bacillus halosaccharovorans E33(T). The chemotaxonomic data showed that the major quinone is MK-7; the predominant cellular fatty acids are anteiso-C15 :0, iso-C14:0, iso-C16:0 and C16:0 and iso-C15:0; the major polar lipids are diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol along with several unidentified glycolipids, phospholipids and polar lipids. The DNA G+C content was determined to be 36.9 mol%. These data also support the affiliation of strain NCCP-662(T) with the genus Bacillus. The level of DNA-DNA relatedness between strain NCCP-662(T) and B. niabensis JCM 16399(T) was 20.5 ± 0.5 %. On the basis of physiological and biochemical characteristics, phylogenetic analyses and DNA-DNA hybridization data, strain NCCP-662(T) can be clearly differentiated from the validly named Bacillus species and thus represents a new species, for which the name Bacillus malikii sp. nov. is proposed with the type strain NCCP-662(T) (= LMG 28369(T) = DSM 29005(T) = JCM 30192(T)).

Bacillus rigiliprofundi sp. nov., an endospore-forming, Mn-oxidizing, moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from deep subseafloor basaltic crust

A facultatively anaerobic bacterium, designated strain 1MBB1T, was isolated from basaltic breccia collected from 341 m below the seafloor by seafloor drilling of Rigil Guyot during Integrated Ocean Drilling Program Expedition 330. The cells were straight rods, 0.5 μm wide and 1-3 μm long, that occurred singly and in chains. Strain 1MBB1T stained Gram-positive. Catalase and oxidase were produced. The isolate grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7.5, and could grow with up to 12 % (w/v) NaCl. The DNA G+C content was 40.5 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids were C16:1ω11c (26.5 %), anteiso-C15:0 (19.5 %), C16:0 (18.7 %) and iso-C15:0 (10.4 %), and the cell-wall diamino acid was meso-diaminopimelic acid. Endospores of strain 1MBB1T oxidized Mn(II) to Mn(IV), and siderophore production by vegetative cells was positive. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain 1MBB1T was a member of the family Bacillaceae, with Bacillus foraminis CV53T and Bacillus novalis LMG 21837T being the closest phylogenetic neighbours (96.5 and 96.2 % similarity, respectively). This is the first novel species described from deep subseafloor basaltic crust. On the basis of our polyphasic analysis, we conclude that strain 1MBB1T represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which we propose the name Bacillus rigiliprofundi sp. nov. The type strain is 1MBB1T ( = NCMA B78T = LMG 28275T).

Aquibacillus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from a hypersaline lake, and reclassification of Virgibacillus koreensis as Aquibacillus koreensis comb. nov. and Virgibacillus albus as Aquibacillus albus comb. nov

A novel Gram-stain-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain B6BT, was isolated from the water of an Iranian hypersaline lake, Aran-Bidgol, and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain B6BT were rod-shaped, motile and produced ellipsoidal endospores in terminal positions in non-swollen sporangia. Strain B6BT was a strictly aerobic bacterium and catalase- and oxidase-positive. The strain was able to grow at NaCl concentrations of 0.5–20.0 % (w/v), with optimum growth occurring at 10.0 % (w/v) NaCl. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 35 °C and pH 7.0. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain B6BT was shown to belong to the phylum Firmicutes and its closest phylogenetic similarities were with the species Virgibacillus koreensis BH30097T (97.5 %), Virgibacillus albus YIM 93624T (97.4 %), Sediminibacillus halophilus EN8dT (96.8 %), Sediminibacillus albus NHBX5T (96.6 %), Virgibacillus carmonensis LMG 20964T (96.3 %) and Paraliobacillus quinghaiensis YIM-C158T (96.0 %), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that strain B6BT, along with V. koreensis BH30097T and V. albus YIM 93624T, clustered in a separate clade in the family Bacillaceae . The DNA G+C content of the novel isolate was 35.8 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments revealed low levels of relatedness between strain B6BTand V. koreensis BH30097T (13 %) and V. albus YIM 93624T (33 %). The major cellular fatty acid of strain B6BT was anteiso-C15 : 0 (75.1 %) and its polar lipid pattern consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unknown phospholipid and an unknown glycolipid. The isoprenoid quinones were MK-7 (90 %) and MK-6 (3 %). The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. All of these features support the placement of isolate B6BT within the phylum Firmicutes . It is closely related to V. koreensis and V. albus , but with features that clearly distinguish it from species of the genus Virgibacillus or of other related genera. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence derived in this study, we propose that strain B6BT be placed within a new genus, as Aquibacillus halophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., with B6BT as the type strain ( = IBRC-M 10775T = KCTC 13828T). We also propose that V. koreensis and V. albus should be transferred to this new genus and be named Aquibacillus koreensis comb. nov. and Aquibacillus albus comb. nov., respectively. The type strain of Aquibacillus koreensis comb. nov. is BH30097T ( = KCTC 3823T = IBRC-M 10657T = JCM 12387T) and the type strain of Aquibacillus albus comb. nov. is YIM 93624T ( = DSM 23711T = IBRC-M 10798T = JCM 17364T).

Bacillus fengqiuensis sp. nov., isolated from a typical sandy loam soil under long-term fertilization

A Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, moderately alkaliphilic bacterium, strain NPK15(T), was isolated from a typical sandy loam soil under long-term NPK fertilization in northern China and was subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The diamino acid of the cell-wall peptidoglycan of strain NPK15(T) was found to be meso-diaminopimelic acid and the cell-wall sugars were xylose, glucose and traces of mannose. The only respiratory quinone found in strain NPK15(T) was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0), anteiso-C(15 : 0), C(16 : 0) and C(16 : 1)ω6c/C(16 : 1)ω7c. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and phosphatidylglycerol. Phylogenetic analysis of the strain based on its 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that it was related most closely to 'Bacillus thaonhiensis' KACC 17216 (99.59%), B. songklensis KCTC 13881(T) (99.52%) and B. abyssalis CCTCC AB 2012074(T) (99.00%). DNA-DNA hybridization results indicated that the strain was distinct from other species of the genus Bacillus, the degree of relatedness being 35.4% with B. abyssalis CCTCC AB 2012074(T), 39.7% with B. songklensis KCTC 13881(T) and 51.2% with 'B. thaonhiensis' KACC 17216. The DNA G+C content of strain NPK15(T) was 45.5 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and molecular analyses identified strain NPK15(T) as a member of a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus fengqiuensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NPK15(T) ( = DSM 26745(T) = CCTCC AB 2013156(T)).

Bacillus salsus sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium from a hypersaline lake

A Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, slightly halophilic bacterium, designated strain A24T, was isolated from the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran. Cells of strain A24T were motile rods and produced oval endospores at a terminal position in swollen sporangia. Strain A24T was catalase and oxidase positive. Growth occurred with between 0.5 and 7.5 % (w/v) NaCl and the isolate grew optimally at 3 % (v/w) NaCl. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 35 °C and pH 8.0, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain A24T belonged to the genus Bacillus within the phylum Firmicutes and showed the closest phylogenetic similarity with the species Bacillus alkalitelluris BA288T (97.2 %), Bacillus herbersteinensis D-1,5aT (96.0 %) and Bacillus litoralis SW-211T (95.6 %). The G+C content of the genomic DNA of this strain was 35.9 mol%. The polar lipid pattern of strain A24T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and two unknown phospholipids. The major cellular fatty acids of strain A24T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0. The respiratory quinones were MK-7 (94 %) and MK-6 (4 %). The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. All these features confirm the placement of isolate A24T within the genus Bacillus . DNA–DNA hybridization experiments revealed a relatedness of 8 % between strain A24T and Bacillus alkalitelluris IBRC-M 10596T, supporting its placement as a novel species. Phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness data suggest that this strain represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus , for which the name Bacillus salsus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain A24T ( = IBRC-M 10078 T = KCTC 13816T).

Bacillus composti sp. nov. and Bacillus thermophilus sp. nov., two thermophilic, Fe(III)-reducing bacteria isolated from compost

Two novel thermophilic bacteria, designated SgZ-9(T) and SgZ-10(T), were isolated from compost. Cells of the two strains were catalase-positive, endospore-forming and Gram-staining-positive rods. Strain SgZ-9(T) was oxidase-positive and non-motile, and strain SgZ-10(T) was oxidase-negative and motile. The highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity for both strains SgZ-9(T) and SgZ-10(T) was observed with Bacillus fortis (97.5 % and 96.9 %, respectively). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain SgZ-9(T) formed a cluster with B. fortis R-6514(T) and Bacillus fordii R-7190(T), and SgZ-10(T) formed a cluster with Bacillus farraginis R-6540(T). The DNA-DNA pairing studies showed that SgZ-9(T) displayed 41.6 % and 30.7 % relatedness to the type strains of B. fortis and B. fordii, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains SgZ-9(T) and SgZ-10(T) was 97.2 %, and the level of DNA-DNA relatedness between them was 39.2 %. The DNA G+C content of SgZ-9(T) and SgZ-10(T) was 45.3 and 47.9 mol%, respectively. Chemotaxonomic analysis revealed that both strains contained the menaquinone 7 (MK-7) as the predominant respiratory quinone. The major cellular fatty acids (>5 %) were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C17 : 0 in SgZ-9(T) and iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C17 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0 in SgZ-10(T). Based on the phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic features, DNA-DNA hybridization with the nearest phylogenetic neighbours and phylogenetic analysis based on the 16S rRNA gene sequences, the two strains were determined to be two distinct novel species in the genus Bacillus, and the names proposed are Bacillus composti sp. nov. SgZ-9(T) ( = CCTCC AB2012109(T) = KACC 16872(T)) and Bacillus thermophilus sp. nov. SgZ-10(T) (CCTCC AB2012110(T) = KACC 16873(T)).

Fictibacillus phosphorivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. and proposal to reclassify Bacillus arsenicus, Bacillus barbaricus, Bacillus macauensis, Bacillus nanhaiensis, Bacillus rigui, Bacillus solisalsi and Bacillus gelatini in the genus Fictibacillus

A Gram-positive-staining, aerobic, endospore-forming bacterium (Ca7(T)) was isolated from a bioreactor showing extensive phosphorus removal. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity comparisons, strain Ca7(T) was grouped in the genus Bacillus, most closely related to Bacillus nanhaiensis JSM 082006(T) (100 %), Bacillus barbaricus V2-BIII-A2(T) (99.2 %) and Bacillus arsenicus Con a/3(T) (97.7 %). Moderate 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities were found to the type strains of the species Bacillus gelatini and Bacillus rigui (96.4 %), Bacillus macauensis (95.1 %) and Bacillus solisalsi (96.1 %). All these species were grouped into a monophyletic cluster and showed very low sequence similarities (<94 %) to the type species of the genus Bacillus, Bacillus subtilis. The quinone system of strain Ca7(T) consists predominantly of menaquinone MK-7. The polar lipid profile exhibited the major compounds diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. In addition, minor compounds of an unidentified phospholipid and an aminophospholipid were detected. No glycolipids were found in strain Ca7(T), which was consistent with the lipid profiles of B. nanhaiensis, B. barbaricus, B. arsenicus, B. rigui, B. solisalsi, B. macauensis and B. gelatini, but in contrast to B. subtilis. The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan was meso-diaminopimelic acid and the polyamine pattern contained predominantly spermidine and spermine. The major fatty acids, which were iso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0, supported the grouping of strain Ca7(T) in the family Bacillaceae. The strain showed DNA-DNA similarities of 48 % (reciprocal 47 %) to B. nanhaiensis DSM 23009(T), 31 % (reciprocal 36 %) to B. barbaricus V2-BIII-A2(T) and 29 % (reciprocal 39 %) to B. arsenicus DSM 15822(T), respectively. These results clearly demonstrate that strain Ca7(T) is a representative of a novel species, which can be differentiated from its closest relatives by physiological and biochemical tests. Because of the low sequence similarity of strain Ca7(T) to B. subtilis, which was shared by B. nanhaiensis, B. barbaricus, B. arsenicus, B. gelatini, B. rigui, B. solisalsi and B. macauensis, and their unique lipid patterns, we propose that strain Ca7(T) represents a novel species in a novel genus for which the name Fictibacillus phosphorivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Ca7(T) (= CCM 8426(T) = LMG 27063(T)). In addition we propose the reclassification of B. nanhaiensis, B. barbaricus, B. arsenicus, B. rigui, B. macauensis, B. solisalsi and B. gelatini as Fictibacillus nanhaiensis comb. nov., Fictibacillus barbaricus comb. nov., Fictibacillus arsenicus comb. nov., Fictibacillus rigui comb. nov., Fictibacillus macauensis comb. nov., Fictibacillus solisalsi comb. nov. and Fictibacillus gelatini comb. nov., respectively [type strains JSM 082006(T) (= DSM 23009(T) = KCTC 13712(T)), V2-BIII-A2(T) ( = CCM 4982(T) = DSM 14730(T)), Con a/3(T) ( = MTCC 4380(T) = DSM 15822(T) = JCM 12167(T)), WPCB074(T) ( = KCTC 13278(T) = JCM 16348(T)), ZFHKF-1(T) ( = JCM 13285(T) = DSM 17262(T)), YC1(T) ( = KCTC 13181(T) = CGMCC 1.6854(T)) and LMG 21881(T) ( = DSM 15866(T)), respectively].

Bacillus halosaccharovorans sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from a hypersaline lake

A novel Gram-stain-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain E33(T), was isolated from water of the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain E33(T) were motile rods and produced ellipsoidal endospores at a central or subterminal position in swollen sporangia. Strain E33(T) was a strictly aerobic bacterium, catalase- and oxidase-positive. The strain was able to grow at NaCl concentrations of 0.5-25 % (w/v), with optimum growth occurring at 5-15 % (w/v) NaCl. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 40 °C and pH 7.5-8.0, respectively. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain E33(T) was shown to belong to the genus Bacillus within the phylum Firmicutes and showed the closest phylogenetic similarity with the species Bacillus niabensis 4T19(T) (99.2 %), Bacillus herbersteinensis D-1-5a(T) (97.3 %) and Bacillus litoralis SW-211(T) (97.2 %). The DNA G+C content of the type strain of the novel species was 42.6 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain E33(T) were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0, and the polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two unknown glycolipids, an unknown lipid and an unknown phospholipid. The isoprenoid quinones were MK-7 (97 %), MK-6 (2 %) and MK-8 (0.5 %). The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. All these features confirm the placement of isolate E33(T) within the genus Bacillus. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments revealed low levels of relatedness between strain E33(T) and Bacillus niabensis IBRC-M 10590(T) (22 %), Bacillus herbersteinensis CCM 7228(T) (38 %) and Bacillus litoralis DSM 16303(T) (19 %). On the basis of polyphasic evidence from this study, a novel species of the genus Bacillus, Bacillus halosaccharovorans sp. nov. is proposed, with strain E33(T) (= IBRC-M 10095(T) = DSM 25387(T)) as the type strain.

Saliterribacillus persicus gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a hypersaline lake

A novel Gram-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain X4BT, was isolated from soil around the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran and characterized taxonomically using a polyphasic approach. Cells of strain X4BT were motile rods and formed ellipsoidal endospores at a terminal or subterminal position in swollen sporangia. Strain X4BT was a strictly aerobic bacterium, catalase- and oxidase-positive. The strain was able to grow at NaCl concentrations of 0.5–22.5 % (w/v), with optimum growth occurring at 7.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The optimum temperature and pH for growth were 35 °C and pH 7.0. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain X4BT is a member of the family Bacillaceae , constituting a novel phyletic lineage within this family. Highest sequence similarities were obtained with the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the type strains of Sediminibacillus albus (96.0 %), Paraliobacillus ryukyuensis (95.9 %), Paraliobacillus quinghaiensis (95.8 %) and Sediminibacillus halophilus (95.7 %), respectively. The DNA G+C content of this novel isolate was 35.2 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain X4BT were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 and its polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, two aminolipids, an aminophospholipid and an unknown phospholipid. The isoprenoid quinones were MK-7 (89 %) and MK-6 (11 %). The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis in combination with chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data, strain X4BT represents a novel species in a new genus in the family Bacillaceae , order Bacillales for which the name Saliterribacillus persicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species (Saliterribacillus persicus) is X4BT ( = IBRC-M 10629T = KCTC 13827T).