Salicola salis sp. nov., an extremely halophilic bacterium isolated from Ezzemoul sabkha in Algeria

A novel, extremely halophilic bacterium was isolated from brine samples collected from Ezzemoul sabkha in north-east Algeria. Cells of this isolate, designated B2T, were Gram-negative, rod-shaped and motile. Growth occurred between 10 and 25% (w/v) NaCl and the isolate grew optimally at 15-20% (w/v) NaCl. The pH range for growth was 6.0-9.0 with an optimum at pH 7.0-7.5. The predominant fatty acids were C16:0 and C18:1omega9c. Other fatty acids present were C16:1omega9c, C18:0 10-methyl, C12:0 3-OH, C10:0 and C12:0. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 56.0 mol%. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strain B2T was closely related to Salicola marasensis in the Gammaproteobacteria. The level of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strain B2T and the type strain of Salicola marasensis was 99%. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments between strain B2T and Salicola marasensis indicated a level of relatedness of 52%. The phenotypic characteristics of strain B2T allowed its differentiation from recognized species of the genus Salicola. Strain B2T was able to hydrolyse starch but not aesculin. It was unable to use carbohydrates and could not use citrate, pyruvate or succinate as sole carbon and energy sources. On the basis of the polyphasic data presented, strain B2T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Salicola, for which the name Salicola salis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is B2T (=CECT 7106T=LMG 23122T).