Halopiger aswanensis sp. nov., a polymer-producing and extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from hypersaline soil

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Abstract
Strain 56Twas isolated from a hypersaline soil in Aswan (Egypt). Cells were pleomorphic rods. The organism was neutrophilic, motile and required at least 1.7 M (10 % w/v) NaCl, but not MgCl2, for growth; optimal growth occurred at ≥3.8 M (≥22.5 %) NaCl. The strain was thermotolerant with an optimum temperature for growth of 40 °C, although growth was possible up to 55 °C. The G+C content of the DNA of the novel strain was 67.1 mol%.16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain 56Twas a member of the phyletic group defined by the familyHalobacteriaceae, showing the highest similarity toHalopiger xanaduensisSH-6T(99 %) and the next highest similarity of 94 % to other members of the familyHalobacteriaceae. DNA–DNA hybridization revealed 27 % relatedness between strain 56TandHpg. xanaduensisSH-6T. Polar lipid analysis revealed the presence of the bis-sulfated glycolipid S2-DGD-1 as the sole glycolipid and the absence of the glycerol diether analogue phosphatidylglycerosulfate. Both C20 . 20and C20 . 25core lipids were present. Strain 56Taccumulated large amounts of polyhydroxybutyrate and also secreted an exopolymer. Physiological and biochemical differences suggested thatHpg. xanaduanesisand strain 56Twere sufficiently different to be separated into two distinct species. It is suggested that strain 56Trepresents a novel species of the genusHalopiger, for which the nameHalopiger aswanensissp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain 56T(=DSM 13151T=JCM 11628T).

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