Natronorubrum halalkaliphilum sp. nov., a haloalkaliphilic archaeon isolated from soda lake in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China

A haloalkaliphilic strain JWXQ-INN-674(T) was isolated from the water sample of a soda lake in Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, China. Cells of the strain were coccoid, motile, and strictly aerobic. The strain was able to grow in presence of 2.6-5.4 M NaCl (optimum concentration is 3.4 M) at 30-50 degrees C (optimum temperature is 42 degrees C) and pH 7-9.5 (optimum pH is 9.0). The 16S rRNA gene sequence of strain JWXQ-INN-674(T) showed 95.3-96.6% similarity to members of the genus Natronorubrum of the family Natrialbaceae. The whole genome sequencing of strain JWXQ-INN-674(T) revealed a genome size of 4.56 M bp and a DNA G + C content of 62.5 mol%. Genome relatedness of strain JWXQ-INN-674(T) and other species in the genus Natronorubrum was analyzed by average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization with the values of 76.8-90.6 and 23.1-39.3%, respectively. The strain possessed the polar lipids phosphatidylglycerol and methylated phosphatidylglycerol phosphate lipid. No glycolipids were detected. Based on phylogenetic analysis, phenotypic characteristics, chemotaxonomic properties and genome relatedness, the isolate was proposed as the type strain of a novel species of genus Natronorubrum, Natronorubrum halalkaliphilum sp. nov. (type strain JWXQ-INN-674(T) = CGMCC 1.17283(T) = JCM 34245(T)).

Automated summary

The haloalkaliphilic strain JWXQ-INN-674(T) isolated from a soda lake in Inner Mongolia, China, is characterized by its ability to grow under specific salt, alkaline, and temperature conditions. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence and whole genome sequencing reveals its classification within the genus Natronorubrum, leading to the proposal of a new species, Natronorubrum halalkaliphilum.