Chromohalobacter nigrandesensis sp nov., a moderately halophilic, Gram-negative bacterium isolated from Lake Tebenquiche on the Atacama Saltern, Chile

A total of 52 strains of moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from hypersaline sediment of Lake Tebenquiche on the Atacama Saltern, Chile, were subjected to a taxonomic study. The morphological, physiological, biochemical and nutritional characteristics of the strains matched those described for the genus Chromohalobacter. Cells were Gram-negative, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped and motile. A black pigmentation was produced. One strain, designated LTS-4N(T), grew optimally at 32 degrees C. Growth occurred in media containing 0.5-25% (w/v) total salts; the optimum was 7.5 % (w/v) total salts. The pH range for growth was 5-10. The G+C content of the DNA of strain LTS-4N(T) was 59.8 mol%. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity revealed that strain LTS-4N(T) was closely related to Chromohalobacter species; however, DNA-DNA hybridization of representative strain LTS-4N(T) failed to associate the strain with any species of the genus Chromohalobacter with validly published names. Therefore, the name Chromohalobacter nigrandesensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LTS-4N(T) (=CECT 5315(T) = DSM 14323(T)).