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Thiocapsa halophila sp. nov., a new halophilic phototrophic purple sulfur bacterium

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Abstract

A new phototrophic sulfur bacterium has been isolated from a red layer in a laminated mat occurring underneath a gypsum crust in the mediterranean salterns of Salin-de-Giraud (Camargue, France). Single cells were coccus-shaped, non motile, without gas vacuoles and contained sulfur globules. Bacteriochlorophyll a and okenone were present as major photosynthetic pigments. These properties and the G+C content of DNA (65.9–66.6 mol% G+C) are typical characteristics of the genus Thiocapsa. However, the new isolate differs from known species in the genus, particularly in NaCl requirement (optimum, 7% NaCl; range, 3–20% NaCl) and some physiological characteristics. Therefore, a new species is proposed, Thiocapsa halophila, sp. nov.

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Dedicated to Prof. Dr. Norbert Pfennig in occasion of his 65th birthday

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Caumette, P., Baulaigue, R. & Matheron, R. Thiocapsa halophila sp. nov., a new halophilic phototrophic purple sulfur bacterium. Arch. Microbiol. 155, 170–176 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00248613

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