Halomonas lutea sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a salt lake

A Gram-negative, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated YIM 91125(T), was isolated from a salt lake in Xinjiang province, north-west China. The isolate grew at salinities in the range 1-20% (w/v) and at 4-45 degrees C. Optimal growth occurred at 37 degrees C, pH 7.5 and 5-10% (w/v) NaCl. Cells were short rods motile by means of single polar flagella. The major fatty acids were C(18:1)omega7c, C(16:0), C(19:0) cyclo omega8c and C(12:0) 3-OH. The DNA G+C content was 60.8 mol%. The predominant respiratory quinone was Q-9. A comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed its relationship to Halomonas species, its closest neighbours being Halomonas pantelleriensis (95.9% similarity to the type strain) and Halomonas muralis (95.4 % similarity). On the basis of chemotaxonomic, phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, strain YIM 91125(T) represents a novel member of the genus Halomonas, for which the name Halomonas lutea sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is YIM 91125(T) (=KCTC 12847(T) =CCTCC AB 206093(T)).