VOLCANIELLA-EURIHALINA GEN-NOV, SP-NOV, A MODERATELY HALOPHILIC NONMOTILE GRAM-NEGATIVE ROD

A comparison of 16 gram-negative moderately halophilic aerobic rod-shaped bacteria with other halophilic and nonhalophilic gram-negative bacteria supported the establishment of Volcaniella eurihalina gen. nov., sp. nov. This comparison included phenotypic properties, salt requirements, and guanine-plus-cytosine contents of the DNAs, as well as DNA-DNA homology studies. The distinguishing features of this new bacterial genus are as follows: the organisms are nonmotile short rods that are oxidase negative; they are aerobic with a strictly respiratory type of metabolism; they are moderate halophiles, optimal growth occurs at a total salt concentration of 7.5% (wt/vol), and they exhibit a strongly euryhaline character; and they have a specific requirement for Na+ ions (sodium can be supplied as NaCl, Na2SO4, or NaBr). The minimum NaCl concentration required is 1.5% (wt/vol). The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA is 59.1 to 65.7 mol%. This organism was isolated from hypersaline habitats, including saline soils and salt ponds, and from seawater. The type strain is strain F9-6 (= ATCC 49336).