Salinimonas chungwhensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium from a solar saltern in Korea.

A halophilic non-spore-forming bacterium of the gamma-Proteobacteria, designated strain BH030046T, was isolated from a solar saltern in Korea. Cells were Gram-negative, chemoheterotrophic, short rod-shaped and motile with a polar flagellum. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that strain BH030046T formed a distinct lineage in the family Alteromonadaceae and was distinguished from its closest related genera Alteromonas (91.4-94.8 %), Aestuariibacter (92.1-93.5 %) and Glaciecola (92.1-93.5 %) on the basis of low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities. Physiological and biochemical data also showed that the isolate was different from members of these three genera. The predominant cellular fatty acids were C(16 : 0) and C(18 : 1)omega7c. DNA G+C content was 48 mol% and the major isoprenoid quinone was Q-8. The strain grew optimally at 30-35 degrees C, pH 7.0-8.0 and 2-5 % NaCl. On the basis of physiological and molecular properties, strain BH030046T (=KCTC 12239T=DSM 16280T) represents a novel genus and species in the family Alteromonadaceae, for which the name Salinimonas chungwhensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed.