Isolation and Characterization of Desulfovibrio halophilus sp. nov., a Halophilic Sulfate-reducing Bacterium Isolated from Solar Lake (Sinai)

From samples collected in the anoxic part of the photosynthetic microbial mat of Solar Lake, sulfate-reducing bacteria were enriched with lactate and sulfate in basal medium supplemented with 10% NaCl and 1% MgCl₂.6H₂O. A few strains were isolated and maintained in pure culture. Strain SL 8903 which showed the highest NaCl tolerance (up to 18%) consisted of motile non-sporulating vibrioid cells and resembled the genus Desulfovibrio. However, on the basis of physiological differences to all described species of this genus, strain SL 8903 was described as a new species and named Desulfovibrio halophilus, sp. nov.