Halomonas organivorans sp. nov., a moderate halophile able to degrade aromatic compounds

Abstract

A group of moderately halophilic bacteria able to degrade aromatic organic compounds contaminating hypersaline habitats in southern Spain have been isolated and characterized. The taxonomic position of these strains was determined using phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic methods. The G+C content of their DNA ranged from 61?0 to 62?9 mol%. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed that they constitute a genospecies, having DNA-DNA hybridization values of 90-100 %. Analysis of the complete 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed a high level of similarity with members of the genus Halomonas, sharing 98 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with the type strains of Halomonas salina and Halomonas halophila. However, phenotypic differences and the low level of DNA-DNA hybridization suggest the placement of these strains as a novel species within the genus Halomonas. The name Halomonas organivorans sp. nov. is proposed, with strain G-16.1 T (=CECT 5995 T =CCM 7142 T ) as the type strain. This novel species of Halomonas is characterized by its ability to use a wide range of organic compounds (benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, phenylacetic acid, phenylpropionic acid, phenol, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid and p-aminosalicylic acid), and it could be useful for the decontamination of polluted saline habitats.

Aerobic Degradation of Petroleum Components by Microbial Consortia

“…Recently, Bonfá et al [124] halodurans (re-classified as Halomonas halodurans) degrades benzoic acid [125]. Garcia et al [126,127] have isolated several strains of Halomonas spp. including the Halomonas organivorans from water and sediment of salterns and hypersalines oils collected in different part of the Southern Spain.…”

Progress in decontamination by halophilic microorganisms in saline wastewater and soil

“…Though physiologically similar organisms such as Haloferax volcanii, Haloferax mediterrani, Haloarcula vallismortis, and Haloarcula hispanica could not utilize aromatic compounds as sole carbon and energy sources for growth (Emerson et al, 1994;Ventosa et al, 2008), other halophilic bacteria like H. organivorans which were isolated from saline soils utilize a wide range of organic compounds such as benzoic acid, p-hydroxybenzoic acid, cinnamic acid, salicylic acid, phenylacetic acid, phenylpropionic acid, phenol, p-coumaric acid, ferulic acid, and p-aminosalicylic acid (Garcia et al, 2004).…”

“…The two main groups of microorganisms adapted to hypersaline environments are halophilic archaea and halophilic bacteria (Garcia et al, 2004). Many works (Asker and Ohta, 1999;Joo and Kim, 2005;Mevarech et al, 2000;Oren, 1986;Trü per and Galinski, 1990) have been done on ecology, taxonomy, biosynthesis, production of compatible solutes (such as amino acids, sugars, and betaines), canthaxanthin, halophilic enzymes using halophilic bacteria, and proteomics of halophilic archaea.…”

Halomonas koreensis sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from a solar saltern in Korea

“…Moderately halophilic bacteria are abundant in saline habitats, and a number of Halomonas species have been isolated from different terrestrial and aquatic saline environments, mainly salterns, estuarine water, salt lakes, salty foods, sea ice and deep-sea hydrothermal vent environments, in the last few years (Baumann et al, 1983;Mellado et al, 1995;Romanenko et al, 2002;Vreeland et al, 1980;Yoon et al, 2002;Reddy et al, 2003;Kaye et al, 2004). Furthermore, this group of bacteria has great biotechnological potential for the production of compatible solutes or hydrolytic enzymes (Margesin & Schinner, 2001;García et al, 2004).…”