Natronococcus pandeyae sp. nov., a Novel Haloarchaeon from Sambhar Salt Lake

A halophilic archaeon, designated strain LS1_42(T), was isolated from Sambhar Salt Lake, Rajasthan, India. Cells were nonmotile, coccoid, Gram-stain-variable and present in irregular clusters with light pink pigmented colonies. The strain was strictly aerobic and able to grow without Mg-2(+). Growth of the strain LS1_42(T) was observed at 25-45 degrees C, pH 7.0-11.0 and NaCl concentrations of 10-35% (w/v). The nearest phylogenetic neighbor of strain LS1_42(T) was Natronococcus amylolyticus Ah-36(T) based on 16S rRNA and rpoB' genes with similarity of 95.4% and 91.9%, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene, rpoB' gene and whole-genome sequences indicate that the strain LS1_42(T) belongs to the genus Natronococcus and is closely related to N. amylolyticus. The genome size was 5.38 Mb with 98.9% completeness. The DNA G+C content of the strain LS1_42(T) was 63.0 mol%. The average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and DNA-DNA hybridization values between LS1_42(T) and N. amylolyticus Ah-36(T) were 81.3%, 77.7% and 24.8%, respectively. The major polar lipids detected were phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester. On the basis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genome-based analysis, strain LS1_42(T) represents a novel species within the genus Natronococcus, for which the name Natronococcus pandeyae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LS1_42(T) (MCC 3654(T) =JCM 33003(T) =KCTC 4280(T) =CGMCC 1.16738(T)).

Automated summary

A new species of halophilic archaeon, Natronococcus pandeyae, was isolated from Sambhar Salt Lake in India. The strain LS1_42(T) showed unique characteristics in its morphology, growth conditions, phylogenetic relationship, and genome properties.