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Isolation and characterization of halophilic bacteria and archaea from salt ponds in Hangu Saltworks, Tianjin, China

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Abstract

A total of 26 isolates were obtained from solar salt ponds of different salinities (100, 150, 200, and 250) in Hangu Saltworks Co. Ltd., Tianjin, China. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that five bacteria genera Halomonas, Salinicoccus, Oceanobacillus, Gracibacillus, and Salimicrobium and one archaea genera Halorubrum were present. The genus Halomonas was predominant with eight strains distributed in a salinity range of 100–200, followed by Halorubrum with six strains in salinity 250. Based on the genus and original sampling salinity, eight bacterial and two archaeal isolates were selected for further morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization. All of the bacterial strains were moderately halophilic with the optimal salinity for growth being either 50 or 100, while two archaeal strains were extremely halophilic with an optimal growth salinity of 200. Additionally, we put forth strain SM.200-5 as a new candidate Salimicrobium species based on the phylogenic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence and its biochemical characteristics when compared with known related species.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources & Chemistry, Tianjin University of Science & Technology, TEDA, Tianjin, 300457, China

    Yuangao Deng  (邓元告), Gaochao Xu  (许高超) & Liying Sui  (隋丽英)

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  1. Yuangao Deng  (邓元告)
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  2. Gaochao Xu  (许高超)
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  3. Liying Sui  (隋丽英)
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Liying Sui  (隋丽英).

Additional information

Supported by the International Cooperation Research Program of the Ministry of Science & Technology of China (No. 2010DFA32300), the Natural Science Foundation of Tianjin (No. 13JCZDJC28700), and the Foundation of Tianjin Key Laboratory of Marine Resources and Chemistry (No. 201105)

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Deng, Y., Xu, G. & Sui, L. Isolation and characterization of halophilic bacteria and archaea from salt ponds in Hangu Saltworks, Tianjin, China. Chin. J. Ocean. Limnol. 33, 862–868 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00343-015-4159-x

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