title: Isolation and characterization of halophilic bacteria from Urmia Lake in Iran.
abstract: Urmia Lake is one of the most permanent hypersaline lakes in the world which is threatened by hypersalinity and serious dryness. In spite of its importance no paper has been published regarding bacterial community of this lake. Accordingly, the present study aimed to investigate the halophilic bacteria in the aforementioned lake. In so doing, thirty seven strains were isolated on six different culture media. The isolated strains were characterized using phenotypic and genotypic methods. Growth of the strains occurred at 2535 degrees C, pH 6-9 and 7 to 20% (w/v) NaCl indicating that most of the isolates were moderately halophiles. Catalase, oxidase and urease activities were found to be positive for the majority of the isolates. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that the isolated bacteria belonged to two major taxa: Gammaproteobacteria (92%, including Salicola [46%], Pseudomonas [13.5%], Marinobacter [ 11%], Idiomarina [11%], and Halomonas [8%]) and Firmicutes (8%, including Bacillus [5%] and Halobacillus [3%]). In addition, a novel bacterium whose 16S rRNA gene sequence showed almost 98% sequence identity with the taxonomically troubled DSM 3050T, Halovibrio denitrificans HGD 3T and Halospina denitrificans HGD 1-3T, each, was isolated. 16S rRNA gene similarity levels along with phenotypic characteristics suggest that some of the isolated strains could be regarded as potential type strain for novel species, on which further studies are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmaceutical Biotechnology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Tabriz University of Medical Sciences, Tabriz, Iran. msaeidhejazi@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Sepideh Zununi
authors.initials: SZ
authors.lastname: Vahed
authors.forename: Haleh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Forouhandeh
authors.forename: Salar
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hassanzadeh
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Klenk
authors.forename: Mohammad Amin
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Hejazi
authors.forename: Mohammad Saeid
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Hejazi
mesh_terms: D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002374:Catalase / Q000378:metabolism; D003470:Culture Media; D020563:Gammaproteobacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D005838:Genotype; D044129:Halomonadaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D007492:Iran; D060106:Lakes / Q000382:microbiology*; D059013:Microbial Consortia / Q000187:drug effects / Q000235:genetics*; D010088:Oxidoreductases / Q000378:metabolism; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D011548:Pseudomonadaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000235:genetics* / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014510:Urease / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D003470:Culture Media; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D010088:Oxidoreductases; D002374:Catalase; D014510:Urease