MOLECULAR TAXONOMY OF GRAM-POSITIVE MODERATELY HALOPHILIC COCCI

The Gram-positive moderately halophilic cocci validly described up to date are Micrococcus halobius, Sporosarcina halophila, Marinococcus halophilus, Marinococcus albus, Marinococcus hispanicus, and the recently proposed Salinicoccus roseus. Our chemotaxonomic studies on these bacteria have revealed that Marinococcus hispanicus should be placed in the genus Salinicoccus. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed that this species should be considered as a separate species of S. roseus. Thus, we have proposed transferring it to the genus Salinicoccus, as S. hispanicus. Besides, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic features of the culture collection moderate halophiles Micrococcus sp. strains CCM 168 and CCM 1405 indicate that they should be included in the species Salinicoccus roseus. The description of this species was based only on one strain.