Salinilacihabitans rarus gen. nov., sp. nov., Natrononativus amylolyticus gen. nov., sp. nov., Natronobeatus ordinarius gen. nov., sp. nov., and Halovivax gelatinilyticus sp. nov., halophilic archaea, isolated from a salt lake and soda lakes

Four halophilic archaea strains, AD-4(T), CGA30(T), CGA73(T), and WLHSJ27(T), were isolated from a salt lake and two soda lakes located in different regions of China. The 16S rRNA and rpoB & PRIME; gene sequence similarities among strains AD-4(T), CGA30(T), CGA73(T), WLHSJ27(T), and the current species of the family Natrialbaceae were 90.9-97.5% and 83.1-91.8%, respectively. The phylogenetic and phylogenomic analyses revealed that these four strains separated from existing genera in the family Natrialbaceae and formed distant branches. The ANI, isDDH, and AAI values among these four strains and the current members of the family Natrialbaceae were 72-79%, 20-25%, and 63-73%, respectively, much lower than the threshold values for species demarcation. Strains AD-4(T), CGA73(T), and WLHSJ27(T) may represent three novel genera of the family Natrialbaceae according to the cutoff value of AAI (& LE; 76%) proposed to differentiate genera within the family Natrialbaceae. These four strains could be distinguished from the related genera according to differential phenotypic characteristics. The major phospholipids of these four strains were identical while their glycolipid profiles were diverse. DGD-1 is a major glycolipid found in strain AD-4(T), trace glycolipids, DGD-1, and S-DGD-1, and (or) S-TGD-1 was found in the other three strains. The major respiratory quinones detected in the four strains were menaquinone MK-8 and MK-8(H-2). This polyphasic classification indicated that strains AD-4(T), CGA73(T), and WLHSJ27(T) represent three novel species of three new genera with the family Natrialbaceae, and strain CGA30(T) represents a novel species of Halovivax.

Automated summary

Four halophilic archaea strains were isolated from salt and soda lakes in China. These strains were genetically distinct from existing genera and may represent new species and genera within the family Natrialbaceae. Phenotypic characteristics and lipid profiles also differentiated these strains from related genera.