Psychromarinibacter sediminicola sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic, metabolically diverse bacterium isolated from a solar saltern sediment, and comparison between members of family Roseobacteraceae.

Known for its species abundance and evolutionary status complexity, family Roseobacteraceae is an important subject of many studies on the discovery, identification, taxonomic status, and ecological properties of marine bacteria. This study compared and analyzed the phylogenetic, genomic, biochemical, and chemo taxonomical properties of seven species from three genera (Psychromarinibacter, Lutimaribacter, and Maritimibacter) of the family Roseobacteraceae. Moreover, a novel strain, named C21-152 was isolated from solar saltern sediment in Weihai, China. The values of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the average nucleotide identity (ANI), the average amino acid identity (AAI), and the digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) between genomes of the novel strain and Psychromarinibacter halotolerans MCCC 1K03203 were 97.19, 78.49, 73.45, and 21.90%, respectively. Genome sequencing of strain C21-152 revealed a complete Sox enzyme system related to thiosulfate oxidization as well as a complete pathway for the final conversion of hydroxyproline to α-ketoglutarate. In addition, strain C21-152 was resistant to many antibiotics and had the ability to survive below 13% salinity. This strain had versatile survival strategies in saline environments including salt-in, compatible solute production and compatible solute transport. Some of its physiological features enriched and complemented the knowledge of the characteristics of the genus Psychromarinibacter. Optimum growth of strain C21-152 occurred at 37 ℃, with 5-6% (w/v) NaCl and at pH 7.5. According to the results of the phenotypic, chemotaxonomic characterization, phylogenetic properties and genome analysis, strain C21-152 should represent a novel specie of the genus Psychromarinibacter, for which the name Psychromarinibacter sediminicola sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is C21-152 (= MCCC 1H00808 = KCTC 92746 = SDUM1063002).