title: Microbial diversity of hypersaline environments: a metagenomic approach.
abstract: Recent studies based on metagenomics and other molecular techniques have permitted a detailed knowledge of the microbial diversity and metabolic activities of microorganisms in hypersaline environments. The current accepted model of community structure in hypersaline environments is that the square archaeon Haloquadratum waslbyi, the bacteroidete Salinibacter ruber and nanohaloarchaea are predominant members at higher salt concentrations, while more diverse archaeal and bacterial taxa are observed in habitats with intermediate salinities. Additionally, metagenomic studies may provide insight into the isolation and characterization of the principal microbes in these habitats, such as the recently described gammaproteobacterium Spiribacter salinus.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain. Electronic address: ventosa@us.es.
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ventosa
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Rafael R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: de la Haba
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology and Parasitology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Sevilla, 41012 Sevilla, Spain.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Porro
authors.affiliation: Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Connecticut, 06269 Storrs, CT, USA.
authors.forename: R Thane
authors.initials: RT
authors.lastname: Papke
mesh_terms: D001105:Archaea / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D001419:Bacteria / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism; D018407:Bacterial Physiological Phenomena; D044822:Biodiversity; D017753:Ecosystem; D054892:Metagenome; D056186:Metagenomics; D064307:Microbiota / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D054712:Salinity; D055049:Salt Tolerance; D012965:Sodium Chloride / Q000378:metabolism; D014871:Water Microbiology
chemical_list: D012965:Sodium Chloride