Salinicoccus iranensis sp. nov., a novel moderate halophile

A novel moderately halophilic, Gram-positive bacterium, designated strain QW6(T), was isolated from textile industry wastewater in Qom, Iran. Strain QW6(T) was strictly aerobic, non-motile, non-sporulating and oxidase- and catalase-positive. It grew at salinities of 1-25% (w/v) NaCl, showing optimal growth at 7.5-10.0% (w/v). Growth occurred at 5.0-45.0 degrees C and over the pH range 6.5-10.0; growth was optimal at 35 degrees C and pH 7.5. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons indicated that strain QW6(T) is a member of the genus Salinicoccus. The organism possessed Lys- and Gly-containing peptidoglycan. Strain QW6(T) had iso-C(15:0) and anteiso-C(15:0) as the predominant fatty acids and MK-6 as the major respiratory lipoquinone. The chemotaxonomic profile of this organism was consistent with its classification in the genus Salinicoccus. The DNA G+C content of strain QW6(T) was 54.4 mol%. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and DNA-DNA relatedness of less than 50% to species of the genus Salinicoccus, it is proposed that strain QW6(T) (=DSM 18903(T)=CCM 7448(T)) should be placed in the genus Salinicoccus as the type strain of a novel species, Salinicoccus iranensis sp. nov.