The phylogenetic relationship among Ectothiorhodospiraceae: a reevaluation of their taxonomy on the basis of 16S rDNA analyses

Sequences of the 16S rRNA gene were determined from all type strains of the recognized Ectothiorhodospira species and from a number of additional strains. For the first time, these data resolve the phylogenetic relationships of the Ectothiorhodospiraceae in detail, confirm the established species, and improve the classification of strains of uncertain affiliation. Two major groups that are recognized as separate genera were clearly established. The extremely halophilic species were removed from the genus Ectothiorhodospira and reassigned to the new genus Halorhodospira gen. nov., to recognize that the most halophilic eubacteria are species of this genus. These species are Halorhodospira halophila comb. nov., Halorhodospira halochloris comb. nov., and Halorhodospira abdelmalekii comb. nov. Among the slightly halophilic Ectothiorhodospira species, the classification of strains belonging to Ectothiorhodospira mobilis and Ectothiorhodospira shaposhnikovii was improved. Several strains that were tentatively identified as Ectothiorhodospira mobilis form a separate cluster on the basis of their 16S rDNA sequences and are recognized as two new species: Ectothiorhodospira haloalkaliphila sp. nov., which includes the most alkaliphilic strains originating from strongly alkaline soda lakes, and Ectothiorhodospira marina, describing isolates from the marine environment. Received: 12 October 1995 / Accepted: 1 December 1995