Isolation and Characterization of Salt-Tolerant Bacterial Strains in Salt-Affected Soils of Erzurum,Turkey

In the current study, 18 salt-tolerant bacteria were isolated from salt-affected soil of Erzurum, Turkey. Forty-five bacterial isolates were identified and characterized by conventional and molecular techniques. These 45 sequenced isolates were identified as 16 different genus including Bacillus (19 isolates), Staphylococcus (3 isolates), Halobacillus (4 isolates), Zhihengliuella (2 isolates), Oceanobacillus (2 isolates), Halomonas (1 isolate), Nesterenkonia (2 isolates), Promicromonospora (2 isolates), Jeotgalibacillus (2 isolates), Planococcus (2 isolates), Virgibacillus (1 isolate), Terribacillus (1 isolate), Thalassobacillus (1 isolate), Marinibacillus (1 isolate), Gracilibacillus (1 isolate) and Microbacterium (1 isolate). According to the results obtained, investigated bacterial strains have high salt tolerance and significant enzyme activities that can improve soil nutrient cycling and soil fertility. The current article provides the evaluation and diversity of the potential halotolerant and halophilic bacterial strains in salt-affected soils of Erzurum, Turkey.     

Bacilli community of saline–alkaline soils from the Ararat Plain (Armenia) assessed by molecular and culture-based methods

The bacterial community composition in the A horizon of a natural saline–alkaline soil located in Ararat Plain (Armenia) was studied using molecular and culture-based methods The sequence analysis of a 16S rRNA gene clone library and denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) profiles indicated dominance of Firmicutes populations. The majority of the sequences of the bacterial 16S rRNA gene library were close relatives of representatives belonging to the genera Halobacillus (41.2%), Piscibacillus (23.5%), Bacillus (23.5%) and Virgibacillus (11.8%). Eight novel moderately halophilic bacilli isolates were successfully obtained from the enriched cultures of the saline–alkaline soil samples. 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses of isolates revealed their affiliation (97.7–99.7% similarity) to representatives of the genera Bacillus, Piscibacillus and Halobacillus. All isolates were able to tolerate high concentrations of NaCl and highly alkaline conditions. This is the first study combining cultivation-independent and -dependent approaches to reveal the bacterial diversity of the saline–alkaline soils of Ararat Plain and it suggested an important role of bacilli as key microbes in biogeochemical cycles of these environments.     

四川大公古盐井中可培养中度嗜盐菌的初步分析

以四川自贡大公古盐井盐卤为研究对象,分离获得112株中度嗜盐菌.经形态特征、生理生化特征和16S rRNA同源序列分析表明:112菌株分属于细菌域的Planococcus、Halomonas、Halobacillus、Oceanobacillus和Virgibacillus 属,与P. rifitiensis和H.venusta、H.trueperi、H.blutaparonensis、V. picturae在16S rRNA基因水平分别有100%和99%的高相似性.但菌株QW06、QW12、QW15和QW18分别与O.profundus、H. trueperi和H. blutaparonensis在菌落形态、革兰氏染色、产酸、明胶水解和淀粉水解等表型特征上有明显的差异.同时,16S-23S rRNA ISR-PCR基因指纹图谱也表明QW06、QW12、QW15和QW18不同于参考菌株O.profundus KCCM 42318和H. trueperi DSM 1040T、H.blutaparonensis ATCC BAA 1217T,说明QW06、QW12、QW15和QW18分类地位有待进一步确定.实验结果不仅揭示了大公古盐井中可培养中度嗜盐菌的多样性和系统发育关系,而且也表明了16S rRNA高度相似菌的16S-23S rRNA ISR在进化的过程中发生了某些突变.     

Halotolerant Aerobic Heterotrophic Bacteria from the Great Salt Plains of Oklahoma

The Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge (SPNWR) near Cherokee, Oklahoma, contains a barren salt flat where Permian brine rises to the surface and evaporates under dry conditions to leave a crust of white salt. Rainfall events dissolve the salt crust and create ephemeral streams and ponds. The rapidly changing salinity and high surface temperatures, salinity, and UV exposure make this an extreme environment. The Salt Plains Microbial Observatory (SPMO) examined the soil microbial community of this habitat using classic enrichment and isolation techniques and phylogenetic rDNA studies. Rich growth media have been emphasized that differ in total salt concentration and composition. Aerobic heterotrophic enrichments were performed under a variety of conditions. Heterotrophic enrichments and dilution plates have generated 105 bacterial isolates, representing 46 phylotypes. The bacterial isolates have been characterized phenotypically and subjected to rDNA sequencing and phylogenetic analyses. Fast-growing isolates obtained from enrichments with 10% salt are predominantly from the gamma subgroup of the Proteobacteria and from the low GC Gram-positive cluster. Several different areas on the salt flats have yielded a variety of isolates from the Gram-negative genera Halomonas, Idiomarina, Salinivibrio, and Bacteroidetes. Gram-positive bacteria are well represented in the culture collection including members of the Bacillus, Salibacillus, Oceanobacillus, and Halobacillus.     

Salt Stress Mitigating Potential of Halotolerant/Halophilic Plant Growth Promoting

Abstract

In the current study, the PGP (production of siderophore and IAA, fixation of nitrogen and solubilization of phosphate) potential of forty-five bacterial isolates comprising sixteen genera (Marinibacillus, Zhihengliuella, Bacillus, Nesterenkonia, Halobacillus, Promicromonospora, Terribacillus, Jeotgalibacillus, Staphylococcus, Oceanobacillus, Virgibacillus, Halomonas, Gracilibacillus, Planococcus, Thalassobacillus and Microbacterium) was investigated. Among these forty-five bacterial isolates, most of the isolates (40 isolates) possess plant growth promoting potential. Four bacterial isolates [Marinibacillus sp. (EM1), Zhihengliuella salsuginis (EM30), Planococcus sp. (EK9), and Promicromonospora sp. (EK12)] possessing PGP traits were applied on the barley grown under salt (NaCl) stress in a hydroponic system. Comparing to the un-inoculated group, all the four bacterial isolates significantly improved plant growth that inhibited with NaCl (200?mM) stress. The growth rate of the plants inoculated with Zhihengliuella salsuginis (EM30), Promicromonospora sp. (EK12), Planococcus sp. (EK9), and Marinibacillus sp. (EM1) was 81.86, 80.51, 70.62 and 69.22, respectively. As far as we know, this is the first report showing the PGP potential of Marinibacillus sp. (EM1), Bacillus horikoshii (EM9), Bacillus patagoniensis (EM12), Bacillus agaradhaerens (EK13), Oceanobacillus profundus (EM26) Thalassobacillus devorans (EM34) and Promicromonospora sp. (EK12).     

Phylogenetic analysis and screening of antimicrobial and cytotoxic activities of moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from the Weihai Solar Saltern (China)

A total of 45 moderately halophilic bacteria was isolated from sediment and saline water collected from the Weihai Solar Saltern (China). The phylogenetic position of all the isolated strains was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. The halophilic strains were tested for their antimicrobial activity. Cytotoxicity assay was performed to determine which of the halophilic strains could inhibit proliferation of human hepatocellular carcinoma Bel 7402 cells. Our results showed that all of the isolated 45 strains displayed moderately halophilic characteristics. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that 17 of the isolated strains were related to the phylum Firmicutes and belonged to four genera, Bacillus, Halobacillus, Planococcus and Salinicoccus. The other strains identified as genus of Halomonas belonged to phylum γ-Proteobacteria. Most of the halophilic bacterial strains showed potent activities against Gram-positive bacteria, human pathogenic fungi and plant pathogenic fungi. In addition, the crude extracts from 14 halophilic bacterial strains showed cytotoxic activity against tumor cells Bel 7402, and five of them showed remarkable activities with IC₅₀ less than 40 μg ml⁻¹. Our results suggest that the moderately halophilic bacteria may be developed as promising sources for the discovery of novel bioactive substances.     

Alkaliphilic and halophilic hydrocarbon-utilizing bacteria from Kuwaiti coasts of the Arabian Gulf

Green animate materials from the intertidal zone of the Arabian Gulf coast accommodated more alkaliphilic and halophilic bacteria than inanimate materials. The alkaliphilic oil-utilizing bacteria, as identified by their 16S ribonucleic acid sequences, belonged to the following genera arranged in decreasing frequences: Marinobacter, Micrococcus, Dietzia, Bacillus, Oceanobacillus, and Citricoccus. The halophilic oil-utilizing bacteria belonged to the genera: Marinobacter, Georgenia, Microbacterium, Stappia, Bacillus, Isoptericola, and Cellulomonas. Most isolates could grow on a wide range of pure n-alkanes and aromatic compounds, as sole sources of carbon and energy. Quantitative gas liquid chromatographic analysis showed that individual isolates attenuated crude oil and representative pure hydrocarbons in culture. The optimum pH for most of the alkaliphilic genera was pH 10, and the optimum salinity for the halophiles ranged between 2.5 and 5% NaCl (w/v). It was concluded that as far as their microbial makeup is concerned, oily alkaline and saline intertidal areas of the Kuwaiti coasts have a self-cleaning potential.     

Halophilic bacteria are colonizing the exhibition areas of the Capuchin Catacombs in Palermo,Italy

The Capuchin Catacombs of Palermo, Italy, contain over 1800 mummies dating from the 16th to 20th centuries AD. Their environment is not conducive to the conservation of the remains due to, among other factors, water infiltration, which is producing salt efflorescences on the walls. A multiphasic approach was applied to investigate the halophilic microbiota present in the Catacombs. Enrichment cultures were conducted on media containing different NaCl concentrations, ranging from 3 to 20 %. For screening of the strains, the following two PCR-based methods were used and compared: fluorescence internal transcribed spacer PCR (f-ITS) and random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analyses. Results derived from RAPD profiles were shown to be slightly more discriminative than those derived from f-ITS. In addition, the proteolytic and cellulolytic abilities were screened through the use of plate assays, gelatin agar and Ostazin Brilliant Red H-3B (OBR-HEC), respectively. Many of the strains isolated from the wall samples displayed proteolytic activities, such as all strains belonging to the genera Bacillus, Virgibacillus and Arthrobacter, as well as some strains related to the genera Oceanobacillus, Halobacillus and Idiomarina. In addition, many of the strains isolated from materials employed to stuff the mummies showed cellulolytic activities, such as those related to species of the genera Chromohalobacter and Nesterenkonia, as well as those identified as Staphylococcus equorum and Halomonas sp. Furthermore, many of the strains were pigmented ranging from yellow to a strong pink color, being directly related to the discoloration displayed by the materials.     

Screening and isolation of halophilic bacteria producing extracellular hydrolyses from Howz Soltan Lake,Iran

Screening of bacteria from different areas of Howz Soltan playa, a hypersaline lake in the central desert zone of Iran, led to the isolation of 231 moderately halophilic bacteria, which were able to grow optimally in media with 5–15% of salt, and 49 extremely halophilic microorganisms that required 20–25% of salt for optimal growth. These isolates produced a great variety of extracellular hydrolytic enzymes. A total of 195, 177, 100, 95, 92, 68, 65, 33, and 28 strains produced lipases, amylases, proteases, inulinases, xylanases, cellulases, pullulanases, DNases, and pectinases, respectively. In comparison with gram-negative bacteria, the gram-positive halophilic rods, showed more hydrolytic activities. Several combined activities were showed by some of these isolates. One strain presented 9 hydrolytic activities, 4 strains presented 8 hydrolytic activities, 10 strains presented 7 hydrolytic activities and 29 strains presented 6 hydrolytic activities. No halophilic isolate without hydrolytic activity has been found in this study. According to their phenotypic characteristics and comparative partial 16S rRNA sequence analysis, the halophilic strains were identified as members of the genera: Salicola, Halovibrio, Halomonas, Oceanobacillus, Thalassobacillus, Halobacillus, Virgibacillus, Gracilibacillus, Salinicoccus, and Piscibacillus. Most lipase and DNase producers were members of the genera Gracilibacillus and Halomonas, respectively, whereas most of the isolates able to produce hydrolytic enzymes such as amylase, protease, cellulose (CMCase) and inulinase, belonged to gram-positive genera, like Gracilibacillus, Thalassobacillus, Virgibacillus, and Halobacillus.     

CaCO3 and MgCO3 Dissolving Halophilic Bacteria

In the current study, fifteen halophilic and halotolerant bacteria were isolated from salt-affected soil of ?anl?urfa, Turkey. The isolates were characterized by conventional and molecular techniques (16S rDNA sequence analyses) as belonging to seven different genus including Bacillus (5 isolates), Halobacillus (1 isolate), Oceanobacillus (2 isolates), Halomonas (3 isolate), Nesterenkonia (1 isolate), Chromohalobacter (2 isolates) and Jeotgalibacillus (2 isolates). According to the results obtained, the investigated bacterial strains have high salt tolerance and significant enzyme activities which can improve soil nutrient cycling and fertility. Furthermore, these bacterial strains have been investigated for their ability to dissolve common salts available in salt-affected soils. Salt dissolving experiments showed that two Chromohalobacter isolates were able to dissolve CaCO₃ and one of the Halomonas isolate was able to dissolve both CaCO₃ and MgCO₃. As these bacterial isolates can dissolve CaCO₃ and MgCO₃, the availability of Ca²⁺ and Mg²⁺ ions may increase which can enhance the removal of the excess Na⁺ in soil profile.     

新疆艾丁湖中度嗜盐苯酚降解菌多样性研究

高盐含酚废水属于极难处理的废水之一,筛选具有生物学降解能力的嗜盐菌有助于解决这一难题。从新疆艾丁湖盐湖中分离筛选能够降解苯酚的中度嗜盐菌,了解盐湖中度嗜盐苯酚降解菌的多样性组成和降解能力。研究结果表明,10%(质量分数)的盐浓度条件下,分离得到166株嗜盐菌,通过以苯酚为唯一碳源的培养基进行降解活性筛选后得到45株阳性菌,根据细菌16S rRNA基因序列系统进化分析,这45株菌分别归类到3个门,5个科,9个属。其中拟诺卡氏菌属(Nocardiopsis)是优势菌,占总量的68.8%,其余菌分布于Bacillus、Gracilibacillus、Pontibacillus、Halobacillus、Marinococcus和Halomonas属。在含100 mg/L苯酚的液体培养基,经过10 d培养后,这45株菌降解效率为1%~17%。本研究为工业应用提供了嗜盐微生物种质资源,极具进一步发掘和研究价值。     

Phylogenetic and metabolic bacterial diversity of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Phragmites australis</Emphasis> periphyton communities in two Hungarian soda ponds

Bacterial diversity of reed (Phragmites australis) periphyton communities of Kelemen-szék and Nagy-Vadas (two Hungarian soda ponds) was investigated using molecular cloning and cultivation-based techniques. The majority of the 80 Kelemen-szék and 72 Nagy-Vadas bacterial isolates proved to be moderately halophilic and alkaliphilic. A great proportion of the isolates showed phosphatase and urease activity, utilized aesculin, citrate and certain biopolymers (e.g., gelatine and tween 80). Partial 16S rDNA sequence analysis of 33 Kelemen-szék and 20 Nagy-Vadas ARDRA group representatives showed Gram-positive (Nesterenkonia, Cellulomonas, Dietzia, Bacillus and Planococcus) dominance at both sampling sites. Species of the genera Acidovorax, Hydrogenophaga (β-Proteobacteria) and Flavobacterium, Sphingobacterium (Bacteroidetes) were represented only from Kelemen-szék. Altogether 16 isolates showed low sequence similarity with yet described bacteria and may represent novel taxa. Screening of the 16S rRNA gene libraries of 129 Kelemen-szék and 158 Nagy-Vadas clones resulted in 30 and 28 different ARDRA groups, respectively. Sequence analysis revealed a Gram-negative (Rheinheimera, Aquimonas, Cellvibrio, Flavobacterium and Sphingobacterium) dominated phylogenetic diversity. A high number of the clones were affiliated with uncultured bacterial clones described from diverse environmental samples.     

Isolation and performance evaluation of halotolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria from the rhizospheric soils of historic Dagong Brine Well in China

The use of halotolerant phosphate solubilizing bacteria as inoculants to convert insoluble phosphorus of salt-affected soils to an accessible form is a promising strategy to improve the phosphorus ingestion of plants in salt-affected agriculture. A total of four aerobic isolates with biggest clear halos on the 10% NaCl NBRIP medium plate containing tricalcium phosphate were isolated from the rhizospheric soils of native plants growing on the wall of Dagong Ancinet Brine Well, located in Sichuan of China. And these four isolates were classified to the same strain, named QW10-11, and closely related to Bacillus megatherium var. phosphaticum DSM 3228 and B. megaterium ATCC 14581 according to their phenotype and 16S rRNA. However, the Molecular evolutionary evidences of 16S-23S rRNA ISR further suggested that QW10-11, DSM 3228 and ATCC 14581 have respectively fall into the different sub-divisions in intra specific phylogeny. Strain QW10-11 has significantly better ability of tricalcium phosphate solubilization than that of lecithin solubilization. When it grows under pH 4.8–8.0, 24–33°C and 5–10% NaCl, it can exhibit the higher values of solubilized tricalcium phosphate between 59.3 and 71.4 μg ml⁻¹. Furthermore, its tricalcium phosphate solubilizing activity was associated with the release of organic acids. Taken together, our results indicted that QW10-11 from the rhizospheric soils of halobiot of Dagong Ancinet Brine Well is attractive as efficient phosphate solubilizing candidates in the salt-affected agriculture.     

Isolation and Characterization of Salt-Tolerant Bacterial Strains in Salt-Affected Soils of East Anatolian Region

In the current study, 18 salt-tolerant bacteria were isolated from salt-affected soil in the east Anatolian region. The obtained isolates were identified and characterized by conventional (morphology, physiology, and biochemical tests) and molecular techniques 16 rDNA. Among 18 sequenced isolates, 6 Bacillus, 1 Halomonas, 2 Halobacillus, 2 Zhihengliuella, 2 Oceanobacillus, 1 Virgibacillus, 1 Staphylococcus, 1 Thalassobacillus, 1 Exiguobacterium were identified with high similarity to previously identified strains in the literature. According to the results obtained, investigated bacterial strains have high salt tolerance and significant enzyme activities that can improve soil nutrient cycling and fertility. To the best of our knowledge, the current article is the first study in evaluation and diversity of potential halophlic/halotolerant bacterial strains in salt-affected soils of the east Anatolian region.     

Diversity and activity of cultivable aerobic planktonic bacteria of a saline Lake located in Sovata,Romania

Aerobic bacterial strains from the salt water of Lake Red (Sovata, Romania) were cultivated. More than half of the 80 strains were G⁻ and formed motile straight rods. Only a few strains produced acid from d-glucose and reduced nitrate to nitrite. Optimum NaCl concentration for growth varied between 5 and 15 % in the majority of the strains, so the isolates were regarded moderately halophilic. On the basis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity almost half of the strains were identified as members of genus Halomonas. Other strains belonged to genera Marinobacter, Psychrobacter, Serratia, Morganella (γ-Proteobacteria), Bacillus, Exiguobacterium, Planococcus (Firmicutes), and Arthrobacter, Micrococcus, Microbacterium, and Nesterenkonia (Actinobacteria).     

新疆塔里木盆地可培养嗜盐放线菌系统发育多样性

应用纯培养手段和基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育分析,对从塔里木盆地高盐环境土壤样品中分离的18株可培养嗜盐放线菌多样性进行了研究.实验结果表明,18株嗜盐放线菌可3个(GlycomycetaceaePseudonocardineae和Nocardiopsaceae),在有效发表的5个属的嗜盐放线菌中有4个属的嗜盐放线菌被分离到.多数菌株属于Actinopolyspora属(38.9%),Nocardiopsis属(27.8%)和Streptomonospora属(22.2%),是塔里木盆地高盐环境中嗜盐放线菌的优势类群.这些分离菌株中,菌株YIM 92370与最近种的相似性为92%,在Glycomycetaceae科内形成一个独立的分支,极有可能代表Glycomycetaceae科的一个新属.研究结果表明塔里木盆地高盐环境中存在有较为丰富的嗜盐放线菌系统发育多样性,并且潜藏着新类型的放线菌资源.     

Isolation and characterization of halophilic bacteria from Urmia Lake in Iran

Urmia Lake is one of the most permanent hypersaline lakes in the world which is threatened by hypersalinity and serious dryness. In spite of its importance no paper has been published regarding bacterial community of this lake. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the halophilic bacteria in the aforementioned lake. In so doing, thirty seven strains were isolated on six different culture media. The isolated strains were characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Growth of the strains occurred at 25–35°C, pH 6–9 and 7 to 20% (w/v) NaCl indicating that most of the isolates were moderately halophiles. Catalase, oxidase and urease activities were found to be positive for the majority of the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolated bacteria belonged to two major taxa: Gammaproteobacteria (92%, including Salicola [46%], Pseudomonas [13.5%], Marinobacter [11%], Idiomarina [11%], and Halomonas [8%]) and Firmicutes (8%, including Bacillus [5%] and Halobacillus [3%]). In addition, a novel bacterium whose 16S rRNA gene sequence showed almost 98% sequence identity with the taxonomically troubled DSM 3050^T, Halovibrio denitrificans HGD 3^T and Halospina denitriflcans HGD 1–3, each, was isolated. 16S rRNA gene similarity levels along with phenotypic characteristics suggest that some of the isolated strains could be regarded as potential type strain for novel species, on which further studies are recommended.     

Ameyamaea chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an Acetic Acid Bacterium in the α-Proteobacteria

Two isolates, AC04^T and AC05, were isolated from the flowers of red ginger collected in Chiang Mai, Thailand. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, the two isolates were included within a lineage comprised of the genera Acidomonas, Gluconacetobacter, Asaia, Kozakia, Swaminathania, Neoasaia, Granulibacter, and Tanticharoenia, and they formed an independent cluster along with the type strain of Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis. The calculated pair-wise sequence similarities of isolate AC04^T were 97.8–92.5% to the type strains of the type species of the 11 genera of acetic acid bacteria. The DNA base composition was 66.0–66.1 mol % G+C with a range of 0.1 mol %. A single-stranded, labeled DNA from isolate AC04^T presented levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 100, 85, 4, and 3% respectively to DNAs from isolates AC04^T and AC05 and the type strains of Tanticharoenia sakaeratensis and Gluconacetobacter liquefaciens. The two isolates were unique morphologically in polar flagellation and physiologically in intense acetate oxidation to carbon dioxide and water and weak lactate oxidation. The intensity in acetate oxidation almost equaled that of the type strain of Acetobacter aceti. The two isolates had Q-10. Isolate AC04^T was discriminated from the type strains of the type species of the 11 genera by 16S rRNA gene restriction analysis using restriction endonucleases TaqI and Hin6I. The unique phylogenetic, genetic, morphological, physiological, and biochemical characteristics obtained indicate that the two isolates can be classified into a separate genus, and Ameyamaea chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is isolate AC04^T (=BCC 15744^T, =NBRC 103196^T), which has a DNA G+C content of 66.0 mol %.     

Phylogenetic analysis of epiphytic marine bacteria on Hole-Rotten diseased sporophytes of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Laminaria japonica</Emphasis>

During an occurrence of Hole-Rotten Disease of Laminaria japonica in a cultivating farm in Ma Shan Shandong province, China, 42 Gram-negative epiphytic marine bacteria were isolated and purified on Zobell 2216E marine agar medium. Morphological and biochemical characteristics of each isolated bacterium were studied, and molecular identification of bacterial strains was conducted with polymerase chain reaction amplification to 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Based on nearly full length of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, the isolated strains were bacteria that belong to genus Pseudoalteromonas, Vibrio, Halomonas and Bacillus. The percentage of each group was 61.9%, 28.6%, 7.1% and 2.4% respectively. The results of pathogenicity assay showed that 12 strains could cause the disease symptoms in sporophytes of L. japonica. They belonged to the genera Pseudoalteromonas, Vibrio and Halomonas with 58.3%, 33.3%, 8.3% respectively. The results suggest that these bacteria are the dominant marine bacteria on diseased sporophytes of L. japonica and may be the potential pathogenic bacteria associated with Hole-Rotten Disease of L. japonica.     

Diversity of extremely halophilic bacteria

In this review, the history of the classification of the family Halobacteriaceae, the extremely halophilic aerobic Archaea, is reviewed with some emphasis on the recently described new genera Halobaculum, Halorubrum, Natrialba, Natronomonas, and "Haloterrigena." Speculation is made about the evolutionary relationship between members of the Halobacteriaceae and the extremely halophilic, anaerobic methanogens of the genera Methanohalobium and Methanohalophilus. Efforts to find missing links between the two groups are also reviewed. Received: January 22, 1998 / Accepted: February 16, 1998