Lentibacillus saliphilus. sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a saltern in Korea.

A novel moderately halophilic bacterial strain, designated YIM 93176, was isolated from a saltern in Korea and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. This isolate YIM 93176 was observed to grow in the presence of 0-22% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 6.0-10.0 and 10-45 °C; optimum growth was observed with 5-10% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.0-9.0 and 28-37 °C. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis, the nearest relatives were Lentibacillus alimentarius M2024 (96.5% similarity), followed by Virgibacillus carmonensis LMG 20964 (96.0%) and the other type strains of the family Bacillaceae, but phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain YIM 93176 belonged to the cluster comprising type species of the genus Lentibacillus. Genome sequencing of strain YIM 93176 revealed a genome size of 3.2 Mb and a DNA G + C content of 40.5 mol%. The major fatty acids were anteiso-C (40.7%) and iso-C (26.4%), while the predominant respiratory quinone was menaquinone 7. The polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. These genotypic and chemotaxonomic characteristics supported affiliation of strain YIM 93176 to the genus Lentibacillus. In addition, phenotypic characteristics could distinguish strain YIM 93176 from its closely related species in genus Lentibacillus. Based on the cumulative evidences from the polyphasic taxonomic study, strain YIM 93176 represents a novel species of the genus Lentibacillus, for which name Lentibacillus saliphilus sp. nov. (type strain YIM 93176 = CCTCC AB 208139 = DSM 21375) is proposed.