Abstract

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-4NT, grew optimally at 32°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-4NT was 59.8 mol%. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity revealed that strain LTS-4NT was closely related to Chromohalobacter species; however, DNA-DNA hybridization of representative strain LTS-4NT 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-4NT (=CECT 5315T=DSM 14323T). © 2006 IUMS.