Natronomonas salsuginis sp. nov., a New Inhabitant of a Marine Solar Saltern

A halophilic archaeon, strain F20-122(T), was isolated from a marine saltern of Isla Bacuta (Huelva, Spain). Cells were Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, and coccoid in morphology. It grew at 25–50 °C (optimum 37 °C), pH 6.5–9.0 (optimum pH 8.0), and 10–30% (w/v) total salts (optimum 25% salts). The phylogenetic analyses based on the 16S rRNA and rpoB’ genes showed its affiliation with the genus Natronomonas and suggested its placement as a new species within this genus. The in silico DNA–DNA hybridization (DDH) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) analyses of this strain against closely related species supported its placement in a new taxon. The DNA G + C content of this isolate was 63.0 mol%. The polar lipids of strain F20-122(T) were phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester (PGP-Me), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), and phosphatidylglycerol sulfate (PGS). Traces of biphosphatidylglycerol (BPG) and other minor phospholipids and unidentified glycolipids were also present. Based on the phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic characterization, we propose strain F20-122(T) (= CCM 8891(T) = CECT 9564(T) = JCM 33320(T)) as the type strain of a new species within the genus Natronomonas, with the name Natronomonas salsuginis sp. nov. Rhodopsin-like sequence analysis of strain F20-122(T) revealed the presence of haloarchaeal proton pumps, suggesting a light-mediated ATP synthesis for this strain and a maximum wavelength absorption in the green spectrum.