HALOCOCCUS SALIFODINAE SP-NOV, AN ARCHAEAL ISOLATE FROM AN AUSTRIAN SALT MINE

A novel extremely halophilic archaeon (archaebacterium) was isolated f rom rock salt obtained from an Austrian salt mine. The deposition of t he salt is thought to have occurred during the Permian period (225 x 1 0(6) to 280 x 10(6) years ago). This organism grew over a pH range of 6.8 to 9.5. Electron microscopy revealed cocci in tetrads or larger cl usters. The partial 16S rRNA sequences, polar lipid composition, and m enaquinone content suggested that this organism was related to members of the genus Halococcus, while the whole-cell protein patterns, the p resence of several unknown lipids, and the presence of pink pigmentati on indicated that it was different from previously described coccoid h alophiles. We propose that this isolate should be recognized as a new species and should be named Halococcus salifodinae. The type strain is Blp (= ATCC 51437 = DSM 8989). A chemotaxonomically similar microorga nism was isolated from a British salt mine.