Geomicrobium halophilum gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic and alkaliphilic bacterium isolated from soil.

Two moderately halophilic and alkaliphilic bacteria, designated strains BH1(T) and HN5, were isolated from forest soil and garden soil, respectively, in Japan. Cells of strains BH1(T) and HN5 were non-motile, aerobic, bean-shaped, formed irregular clusters with 2-20 cells, Gram-positive and contained A1gamma, meso-diaminopimelic acid-type murein. Spore formation was not detected. Growth occurred in 5-25 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum, 10-15 %, w/v), at pH 6.0-10.0 (optimum, pH 8.5-9.0) and at 20-40 degrees C (optimum, 30 degrees C). The predominant isoprenoid quinones were menaquinone-7 and menaquinone-6. The phospholipids were diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol. The major cellular fatty acids were i-C(15 : 0), i-C(17 : 0) and i-C(18 : 0). The DNA G+C content of strains BH1(T) and HN5 was 45 and 46 mol%, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequences of the two strains were 99.9 % similar. DNA-DNA hybridization results indicated high levels of relatedness (88 and 85 % reciprocally). Similarities with recognized species were less than 90.2 %. The phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics indicated that strains BH1(T) and HN5 represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Geomicrobium halophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is BH1(T) (=JCM 15647(T)=DSM 21769(T)).