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

A novel moderately halophilic bacterial strain, designated YIM 93176^T, was isolated from a saltern in Korea and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. This isolate YIM 93176^T 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^T (96.5% similarity), followed by Virgibacillus carmonensis LMG 20964^T (96.0%) and the other type strains of the family Bacillaceae, but phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain YIM 93176^T belonged to the cluster comprising type species of the genus Lentibacillus. Genome sequencing of strain YIM 93176^T 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_15:0 (40.7%) and iso-C_15:0 (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^T to the genus Lentibacillus. In addition, phenotypic characteristics could distinguish strain YIM 93176^T from its closely related species in genus Lentibacillus. Based on the cumulative evidences from the polyphasic taxonomic study, strain YIM 93176^T represents a novel species of the genus Lentibacillus, for which name Lentibacillus saliphilus sp. nov. (type strain YIM 93176^T = CCTCC AB 208139^T = DSM 21375^T) is proposed.