CHARACTERIZATION OF A HALOALKALOPHILIC STRICTLY AEROBIC BACTERIUM, ISOLATED FROM PANTELLERIA ISLAND

The morphological, physiological and genetic characteristics of an iso late (AAP) from hard sand of the lake of Venere in the Pantelleria isl and (Italy) were described. The isolate, growing optimally at pH 9.0 i n the presence of 10% of NaCl at 33-35 degrees C, was a Gram-negative pleomorphic rod, strictly aerobic, capable of accumulating polyhydroxy butyrate. The isolate was able to grow on different carbon sources in presence of thiamine or biotin. The G + C content of DNA was 65.02% an d its phylogenetic position was elucidated by 16S rRNA cataloguing. Th e isolate AAP clustered phylogenetically within the gamma subclass of the Proteobacteria and is closely related to the other species on the Halomonas-Deleya branch. The haloalkalophilic strain should be placed in a new species of the genus Halomonas for which the name ''Halomonas pantelleriense'' is proposed.