Haloarcula mannanilytica sp. nov., a galactomannan-degrading haloarchaeon isolated from commercial salt.

A mannan-degrading halophilic archaeal strain, MD130-1T, was isolated from a commercial salt sample. Cells were motile, rod-shaped, and stained Gram-negative. Colonies were pink pigmented. Strain MD130-1T was able to grow at 1.5-4.6 M NaCl (optimum, 3.6 M) at pH 6.0-8.0 (optimum, pH 7.0) and at 25-50 °C (optimum, 40 °C). The DNA G+C content was 62.1 mol% (genome). The orthologous 16S rRNA gene sequence showed the highest similarity (99.4 %) to those of Haloarcula japonica JCM 7785T and Haloarcula hispanica JCM 8911T. The values of genome relatedness between strain MD130-1T and Haloarcula species were 84.33-85.96 % in ANIb and 30.4-32.9 % using GGDC formula 2. The polar lipids of strain MD130-1T were phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and triglycosyl diether-2. Based on the results of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses, the strain represents a new species of the genus Haloarcula, for which the name Haloarcula mannanilytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is MD130-1T (=JCM 33835T=KCTC 4287T) isolated from commercial salt made in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan.

Haloarcula sebkhae sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon from Algerian hypersaline environment.

A halophilic organism, SWO25T, was isolated from water sampled in Algeria at the salt lake (sebkha) of Ouargla. The novel strain stained Gram-negative, and cells were pleomorphic with a red pigmentation. Strain SWO25T grew optimally at 35-45 °C, at pH 6.0-8.0 and 0.05-0.25 M MgCl2 concentrations. Cells were extremely halophilic, with optimal growth at 4.3-5.1 M NaCl. The predominant membrane polar lipids were C20C20 glycerol diether derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate, triglycosyl diether and diglycosyl diether. The major respiratory menaquinone component was MK-8. Cells were highly tolerant to the presence of decane and isooctane in the growth medium. Chemotaxonomic properties supported the assignment of strain SWO25T to the genus Haloarcula. The DNA G+C content was 61.1mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization and phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA and rpoB' genes showed that strain SWO25T is distinct from known Haloarcula species. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic data, we describe a novel species of the genus Haloarcula, for which the name Haloarculasebkhae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SWO25T (=CIP 110583T=JCM 19018T).

Discovery of bacteriorhodopsins in Haloarchaeal species isolated from Indian solar salterns: deciphering the role of the N-terminal residues in protein folding and functional expression.

Interesting optical and photochemical properties make microbial rhodopsin a promising biological material suitable for various applications, but the cost-prohibitive nature of production has limited its commercialization. The aim of this study was to explore the natural biodiversity of Indian solar salterns to isolate natural bacteriorhodopsin (BR) variants that can be functionally expressed in Escherichia coli. In this study, we report the isolation, functional expression and purification of BRs from three pigmented haloarchaea, wsp3 (water sample Pondicherry), wsp5 and K1T isolated from two Indian solar salterns. The results of the 16S rRNA data analysis suggest that wsp3, wsp5 and K1T are novel strains belonging to the genera Halogeometricum, Haloferax and Haloarcula respectively. Overall, the results of our study suggest that 17 N-terminal residues, that were not included in the gene annotation of the close sequence homologues, are essential for functional expression of BRs. The primary sequence, secondary structural content, thermal stability and absorbance spectral properties of these recombinant BRs are similar to those of the previously reported Haloarcula marismortui HmBRI. This study demonstrates the cost-effective, functional expression of BRs isolated from haloarchaeal species using E. coli as an expression host and paves the way for feasibility studies for future applications.

Temperature-dependent expression of different guanine-plus-cytosine content 16S rRNA genes in Haloarcula strains of the class Halobacteria.

Haloarcula strains, which are halophilic archaea, harbour two to three copies of 16S rRNA genes (rrsA, rrsB and rrsC) in their genomes. While rrsB and rrsC (rrsBC) show almost identical sequences, rrsA shows 4-6% sequence difference and 1-3% guanine-plus-cytosine content (PGC) difference compared to rrsBC. Based on the strong correlation between the PGC of 16S rRNA genes and the growth temperatures of the prokaryotes, we hypothesised that high-PGCrrsA and low-PGCrrsBC are expressed at high and low temperatures, respectively. To verify the hypothesis, we performed sequence analyses and expression surveys of each 16S rRNA gene in eight Haloarcula strains. The secondary structure prediction of the 16S rRNA via computer simulation showed that the structural stability of 16S rRNAs transcribed from rrsA was higher than that of 16S rRNAs transcribed from rrsBC. We measured expression levels of rrsA and rrsBC under various temperature conditions by reverse-transcriptase quantitative PCR. The expression ratio of high-PGCrrsA to low-PGCrrsBC increased with cultivation temperatures in seven of eight Haloarcula strains. Our results suggest that the transcription of high-PGCrrsA and low-PGCrrsBC may be regulated in response to environmental temperature, and that 16S rRNAs transcribed from high-PGCrrsA function under high temperature conditions close to the maximum growth temperature.

Exploring the multiple biotechnological potential of halophilic microorganisms isolated from two Argentinean salterns.

The biodiversity and biotechnological potential of microbes from central Argentinean halophilic environments have been poorly explored. Salitral Negro and Colorada Grande salterns are neutral hypersaline basins exploded for NaCl extraction. As part of an ecological analysis of these environments, two bacterial and seven archaeal representatives were isolated, identified and examined for their biotechnological potential. The presence of hydrolases (proteases, amylases, lipases, cellulases and nucleases) and bioactive molecules (surfactants and antimicrobial compounds) was screened. While all the isolates exhibited at least one of the tested activities or biocompounds, the species belonging to Haloarcula genus were the most active, also producing antimicrobial compounds against their counterparts. In general, the biosurfactants were more effective against olive oil and aromatic compounds than detergents (SDS or Triton X-100). Our results demonstrate the broad spectrum of activities with biotechnological potential exhibited by the microorganisms inhabiting the Argentinean salterns and reinforce the importance of screening pristine extreme environments to discover interesting/novel bioactive molecules.

Characterization of an organic solvent-tolerant lipase from Haloarcula sp. G41 and its application for biodiesel production.

A haloarchaeal strain G41 showing lipolytic activity was isolated from the saline soil of Yuncheng Salt Lake, China. Biochemical and physiological characterizations along with 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed the isolate in the genus Haloarcula. Lipase production was strongly influenced by the salinity of growth medium with maximum in the presence of 20% NaCl or 15% Na2SO4. The lipase was purified to homogeneity with a molecular mass of 45 kDa. Substrate specificity test revealed that it preferred long-chain p-nitrophenyl esters. The lipase was highly active and stable over broad ranges of temperature (30-80 °C), pH (6.0-11.0), and NaCl concentration (10-25%), with an optimum at 70 °C, pH 8.0, and 15% NaCl, showing thermostable, alkali-stable, and halostable properties. Enzyme inhibition studies indicated that the lipase was a metalloenzyme, with serine and cysteine residues essential for enzyme function. Moreover, it displayed high stability and activation in the presence of hydrophobic organic solvents with log Pow ≥ 2.73. The free and immobilized lipases from strain G41 were applied for biodiesel production, and 80.5 and 89.2% of yields were achieved, respectively. This study demonstrated the feasibility of using lipases from halophilic archaea for biodiesel production.

PH1: an archaeovirus of Haloarcula hispanica related to SH1 and HHIV-2.

Halovirus PH1 infects Haloarcula hispanica and was isolated from an Australian salt lake. The burst size in single-step growth conditions was 50-100 PFU/cell, but cell density did not decrease until well after the rise (4-6 hr p.i.), indicating that the virus could exit without cell lysis. Virions were round, 51 nm in diameter, displayed a layered capsid structure, and were sensitive to chloroform and lowered salt concentration. The genome is linear dsDNA, 28,064 bp in length, with 337 bp terminal repeats and terminal proteins, and could transfect haloarchaeal species belonging to five different genera. The genome is predicted to carry 49 ORFs, including those for structural proteins, several of which were identified by mass spectroscopy. The close similarity of PH1 to SH1 (74% nucleotide identity) allowed a detailed description and analysis of the differences (divergent regions) between the two genomes, including the detection of repeat-mediated deletions. The relationship of SH1-like and pleolipoviruses to previously described genomic loci of virus and plasmid-related elements (ViPREs) of haloarchaea revealed an extensive level of recombination between the known haloviruses. PH1 is a member of the same virus group as SH1 and HHIV-2, and we propose the name halosphaerovirus to accommodate these viruses.

Production of cellulase by immobilized whole cells of Haloarcula.

Halophilic Archaea are adapted to a life in the extreme conditions and some of them are capable of growth on cellulosic waste as carbon and energy source by producing cellulase enzyme. The production of cellulase using free and immobilized cells of halophilic archaeal strain Haloarcula 2TK2 isolated from Tuzkoy Salt Mine and capable of producing cellulose was studied. The cells were cultured in a liquid medium containing 2.5 M NaCl to obtain the maximum cellulase activity and immobilized on agarose or polyacrylamide or alginate. Optimal salt dependence of free and immobilized cells of Haloarcula 2TK2 was established and the effects of pH and temperature were investigated. Immobilization to Na-alginate enhanced the enzymatic activity of the haloarchaeal cells when compared to free cells and other polymeric supports. From the results obtained it is reasonable to infer that decomposition of plant polymers into simpler end products does occur at high salinities and cellulase producing haloarchael cells may be potentially utilized for the treatment of hypersaline waste water to remove cellulose.

[Diversity and enzyme-producing activity of culturable halophilic bacteria in Daishan Saltern of East China].

Soil and saline water samples were collected from the Daishan Saltern of East China, and the halophilic bacteria were isolated and cultured by using selective media, aimed to investigate the diversity and enzyme-producing activity of culturable halophilic bacteria in saltern environment. A total of 181 strains were isolated by culture-dependent method. Specific primers were used to amplify the 16S rRNA gene of bacteria and archaea. The operation taxonomy units (OTUs) were determined by ARDRA method, and the representative strain of each OTU was sequenced. The phylogenetic position of all the isolated strains was determined by 16S rRNA sequencing. The results showed that the isolated 181 strains displayed 21 operational taxonomic units (OTUs), of which, 12 OTUs belonged to halophilic bacteria, and the others belonged to halophilic archaea. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that there were 7 genera presented among the halophilic bacteria group, and 4 genera presented among the halophilic archaea group. The dominant halophilic strains were of Halomonas and Haloarcula, with 46.8% in halophilic bacteria and 49.1% in halophilic archaea group, respectively. Enzyme-producing analysis indicated that most strains displayed enzyme-producing activity, including the activities of producing amylase, proteinase and lipase, and the dominant strains capable of enzyme-producing were of Haloarcula. Our results showed that in the environment of Daishan Saltern, there existed a higher diversity of halophilic bacteria, being a source sink for screening enzyme-producing bacterial strains.

Production of a novel biomacromolecule for nanodevices from glycerol as carbon source in different conditions.

The aim of this study was the investigation of producing cruxrhodopsin as a biomacromolecule with nanofunction from glycerol as carbon source using several process parameters. The optimum medium composition for cruxrhodopsin production was found to contain glycerol 1%, yeast extract 0.05% and K(2)HPO(4) 0.001%. The production of cruxrhodopsin in optimal conditions was 139.86 mg/l. In conclusion, halophilic microorganism Haloarcula sp. IRU1 could be a potential microorganism for production of cruxrhodopsin from glycerol in different conditions.

Haloarcula salaria sp. nov. and Haloarcula tradensis sp. nov., isolated from salt in Thai fish sauce.

Two red-pigmented, strictly aerobic, pleomorphic rod-shaped and extremely halophilic archaea, designated strains HST01-2R(T) and HST03(T), were isolated from salt in a fish sauce sample from Thailand. The novel strains grew optimally at 37 °C, pH 7.0, and in the presence of 20-25 % (w/v) NaCl. The DNA G+C contents of the isolates were 61.6-62.2 mol%. Phylogenetic analysis based on a comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strains HST01-2R(T) and HST03(T) were placed in the radiation of species of the genus Haloarcula. The chemotaxonomic properties of the two strains, i.e. the presence of MK-8 and MK-8(H(2)) as the major menaquinone components and C(20)C(20) derivatives of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, phosphatidylglycerol sulfate and a triglycosyl diether as major polar lipids, supported the assignment of the two strains to the genus Haloarcula. Nevertheless, several phenotypic features and the low DNA-DNA relatedness between the two strains and related species of the genus Haloarcula (13.4-46.9 %) enabled the strains to be distinguished from each other and from recognized species. Therefore, strains HST01-2R(T) and HST03(T) represent two novel species in the genus Haloarcula, for which the names Haloarcula salaria sp. nov. and Haloarcula tradensis sp. nov. are proposed, respectively. The type strains are HST01-2R(T) (=BCC 40029(T)=JCM 15759(T)=PCU 313(T)) and HST03(T) (=BCC 40030(T)=JCM 15760(T)=PCU 314(T)).

Isolation of hydrocarbon-degrading extremely halophilic archaea from an uncontaminated hypersaline pond (Camargue, France).

Little information exists about the ability of halophilic archaea present in hypersaline environments to degrade hydrocarbons. In order to identify the potential actors of hydrocarbon degradation in these environments, enrichment cultures were prepared using samples collected from a shallow crystallizer pond with no known contamination history in Camargue, France, with n-alkanes provided as source of carbon and energy. Five alkane-degrading halophilic archaeal strains were isolated: one (strain MSNC 2) was closely related to Haloarcula and three (strains MSNC 4, MSNC 14, and MSNC 16) to Haloferax. Biodegradation assays showed that depending on the strain, 32 to 95% (0.5 g/l) of heptadecane was degraded after 30 days of incubation at 40 degrees C in 225 g/l NaCl artificial medium. One of the strains (MSNC 14) was also able to degrade phenanthrene. This work clearly shows for the first time the potential role of halophilic archaea belonging to the genera Haloarcula and Haloferax in the degradation of hydrocarbons in both pristine and hydrocarbon-contaminated hypersaline environments.

delta-Aminolevulinic acid dehydratase of Haloarcula argentinensis isolated from Tuz Lake in Turkey.

The delta-aminolevulinic acid dehydratase (ALAD) enzyme of a novel record for Turkish microbial flora was studied. The isolate I-113 was obtained from Tuz Lake in Turkey and identified as Haloarcula argentinensis. The ALAD enzyme of the isolate was assayed in order to determine its requirements and to be used as biomarker for lead pollution in it's ambient. In enzymic studies, the effects of various metals (Cd, Co, Mg, Mn, Ni, Pb, and Zn), pH (3-11), temperatures (25-55 degrees C), and salinity (15-25%) conditions have been examined. The data obtained from the studies were analyzed statistically by using Kruskal-Wallis, Mann-Whitney, correlation, regression, variance analysis, and significance tests were performed by using SPSS 10.0 for Windows. Although its optimum pH was determined as 7, it was still active at pH 3-11. The optimal temperature for the enzyme was observed to be 30 degrees C. Mn and Pb inhibited its activity significantly (p < 0.05) while Zn increased it slightly. The ALAD enzyme in H. argentinensis could be used as a biomarker for Pb contamination.

Haloarchaeal diversity in 23, 121 and 419 MYA salts.

DNA was extracted from surface-sterilized salt of different geological ages (23, 121, 419 million years of age, MYA) to investigate haloarchaeal diversity. Only Haloarcula and Halorubrum DNA was found in 23 MYA salt. Older crystals contained unclassified groups and Halobacterium. The older crystals yielded a unique 55-bp insert within the 16S rRNA V2 region. The secondary structure of the V2 region completely differed from that in haloarchaea of modern environments. The DNA demonstrates that unknown haloarchaea and the Halobacterium were key components in ancient hypersaline environments. Halorubrum and Haloarcula appear to be a dominant group in relatively modern hypersaline habitats.

Haloarcula amylolytica sp. nov., an extremely halophilic archaeon isolated from Aibi salt lake in Xin-Jiang, China.

A starch-hydrolysing and extremely halophilic archaeon (strain BD-3(T)), isolated from Aibi salt lake in Xin-Jiang, China, was characterized phenotypically and genotypically in order to determine its taxonomic status. On the basis of its polar lipid composition, nucleotide sequences of its 16S rRNA genes, genomic DNA G+C content (62.4 mol%) and growth characteristics, the organism could be assigned to the genus Haloarcula. Phenotypic differences and low DNA-DNA hybridization values to related Haloarcula species distinguished strain BD-3(T) from recognized Haloarcula species. It is therefore concluded that strain BD-3(T) represents a novel species, for which the name Haloarcula amylolytica sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BD-3(T) (=CGMCC 1.5335(T)=JCM 13557(T)).

Microorganismos halófitos: potencial biotecnológico e interés farmacéutico / Biotechnological potential and pharmaceutical interest of Halophilic Microorganisms

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Haloarcula quadrata sp. nov., a square, motile archaeon isolated from a brine pool in Sinai (Egypt).

The motile, predominantly square-shaped, red archaeon strain 801030/1T, isolated from a brine pool in the Sinai peninsula (Egypt), was characterized taxonomically. On the basis of its polar lipid composition, the nucleotide sequences of its two 16S rRNA genes, the DNA G+C content (60.1 mol%) and its growth characteristics, the isolate could be assigned to the genus Haloarcula. However, phylogenetic analysis of the two 16S rRNA genes detected in this organism and low DNA-DNA hybridization values with related Haloarcula species showed that strain 801030/1T is sufficiently different from the recognized Haloarcula species to warrant its designation as a new species. A new species, Haloarcula quadrata, is therefore proposed, with strain 801030/1T (= DSM 11927T) as the type strain.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis of the prokaryotic community inhabiting crystallizer ponds.

A fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) protocol suitable for the identification of prokaryotes inhabiting hypersaline environments was developed and applied to several crystallizer ponds with salinities above 36% from a multipond solar saltern in Alicante, Spain. Two morphotypes were abundant in these environments: rods and square or square-like prokaryotes that could be affiliated to Bacteria and Archaea, respectively, by FISH with domain-specific probes. FISH with a newly designed probe proved that the archaeal 16S rDNA sequence most frequently recovered from the crystallizers, SPhT, originated from the dominant square-like prokaryotes. These uncultured prokaryotes have the morphology of Walsby's square bacteria. Additionally, FISH with a probe targeted to the genus Haloarcula, members of which are frequently isolated from this environment, indicated that this genus accounts for less than 0.1% of the total prokaryotic community.