The genus Natronolimnobius, currently including four species, is a member of the order Natrialbales, class Halobacteria, and consists of obligately alkaliphilic and extremely halophilic members found exclusively in highly alkaline hypersaline soda lakes. The species were classified into this genus mostly based on phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. However, a more advanced phylogenomic reconstruction based on 122 conserved single-copy archaeal protein markers clearly indicates a polyphyletic origin of the species included into this genus, thus warranting its reclassification into three separate genera. We therefore propose to transfer Nlb. innermongolicus (type strain N-1311) to a new genus Natronolimnohabitans as Nlh. innermongolicus comb. nov. and to transfer Nlb. aegyptiacus (type strain JW/NM-HA 15) and Nlb. sulfurireducens (type strain AArc1) to a new genus Natrarchaeobaculum as Nbl. aegyptiacum comb. nov. and Nbl. sulfurireducens comb. nov. The phylogenomic differentiation of these four species is also supported by the ANI/AAI distances and unique phenotypes. The most important physiological differences includes a previously unreported ability for cellulose and xylan utilization in Nlb. baerhuensis, thermophily in Nbl. aegyptiacus and anaerobic sulfur respiration in Nbl. sulfurireducens. We further present an emended description of Natronolimnobius baerhuensis.@en

Natr. ar. chae. o. ba' cu. lum. N.L. neut. n. natron, soda, sodium carbonate (arbitrarily derived from Arabic n. natrun or natron) ; N.L. pref. natro- pertaining to soda; Gr. masc. adj. archaîos ancient; L. neut. n. baculum, small stick, rod; N.L. neut. n. Natrarchaeobaculum soda-loving archaeal rod. The genus Natrarchaeobaculum is classified as a member of the family Natrialbaceae, order Natrialbales, class Halobacteria according to phylogenomic analyses. It includes extremely halophilic heterotrophic natronoarchaea, some of which can grow anaerobically by sulfur respiration utilizing organic acids, H2 and formate as the electron donors. The genus currently includes two species: the facultatively anaerobic type species Natrarchaeobaculum sulfurireducens and the aerobic species Natrarchaeobaculum aegyptiacus. Inhabits hypersaline soda lakes. The DNA G + C content is 62.8-64.1 % (genome sequence). Three letter abbreviation is Nab. @en

Anaerobic enrichments with acetate as electron donor and carbon source, and elemental sulfur as electron acceptor at 4 M NaCl using anaerobic sediments and brines from several hypersaline lakes in Kulunda Steppe (Altai, Russia) resulted in isolation in pure culture of four strains of obligately anaerobic haloarchae growing exclusively by sulfur respiration. Such metabolism has not yet been demonstrated in any known species of Halobacteria, and in the whole archaeal kingdom, acetate oxidation with sulfur as acceptor was not previously demonstrated. The four isolates had nearly identical 16S rRNA gene sequences and formed a novel genus-level branch within the family Halobacteriaceae. The strains had a restricted substrate range limited to acetate and pyruvate as electron donors and elemental sulfur as electron acceptor. In contrast to aerobic haloarchaea, the biomass of anaerobic isolates completely lacked the typical red pigments. Growth with acetate+sulfur was observed between 3–5 M NaCl and at a pH range from 6.7 to 8.0. The membrane core lipids were dominated by archaeols. On the basis of distinct physiological and phylogenetic data, the sulfur-respiring isolates represent a novel species of a new genus in the family Halobacteriaceae, for which the name Halanaeroarchaeaum sulfurireducens gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of the type species is HSR2T (=JCM 30661T=UNIQEM U935T).@en

A pure culture of alkaliphilic haloarchaeon strain AArc-ST capable of anaerobic growth by carbohydrate-dependent sulfur respiration was obtained from hypersaline lakes in southwestern Siberia. According to phylogenetic analysis, AArc-ST formed a new genus level branch most related to the genus Natronoarchaeum in the order Halobacteriales. The strain is facultatively anaerobic with strictly respiratory metabolism growing either by anaerobic respiration with elemental sulfur and thiosulfate as the electron acceptors or by aerobic respiration at microoxic conditions. Thiosulfate is reduced partially to sulfide and sulfite. It is a first sulfur-reducing alkaliphilic haloarchaeon utilizing sugars, starch and glycerol as substrates for anaerobic growth. It is extremely halophilic (optimum at 3.5 M total Na+) and obligately alkaliphilic (optimum at pH 9.5). The dominant polar lipids include PG and PGP-Me with the archaeol (C20-C20) or extended archaeol (C20-C25) cores. The dominant respiratory lipoquinone is MK-8:8. On the basis of unique physiological properties and results of phylogenetic analysis, the soda lake isolate is suggested to be classified into a novel genus and species Natranaeroarchaeum sulfidigenes gen. nov., sp. nov. (=JCM 34033T = UNIQEM U1000T). Furthermore, on the bases of phylogenomic reconstruction, a new family Natronoarchaeaceae fam. nov. is proposed within the order Halobacteriales incorporating Natranaeroarchaeum and three related genera: Natronoarchaeum, Salinarchaeum and Halostella.@en

Eight pure cultures of alkaliphilic haloaloarchaea capable of growth by dissimilatory sulfur reduction (previously only shown for neutrophilic haloarchaea) were isolated from hypersaline alkaline lakes in different geographic locations. These anaerobic enrichments, inoculated with sediments and brines, used formate, butyrate and peptone as electron donors and elemental sulfur as an electron acceptor 4 M total Na+ and at pH 9-10. According to 16S rRNA gene sequencing, the isolates fell into two distinct groups. A major group, comprising seven obligate alkaliphilic isolates from highly alkaline soda lakes, represents a new species-level branch within the genus Natronolimnobius (order Natrialbales), while a single moderately alkaliphilic isolate from the less alkaline Searles Lake forms a novel genus-level lineage within the order Haloferacales. The cells of the isolates are either flat rods or coccoid. They are facultative anaerobes using formate or H2 (in the presence of acetate or yeast extract as carbon source), C4-C9 fatty acids or peptone (the major group) as electron donors and either sulfur or DMSO (the major group) as electron acceptors. Aerobic growth is only possible with organic acids and peptone-yeast extract. All isolates are extreme halophiles, growing optimally at 4 M total Na+. On the basis of their unique physiological properties and distinct phylogeny, we propose that the seven isolates from the soda lakes are placed into a novel species, Natronolimnobiussulfurireducens sp. nov. (type strain AArc1T=JCM 30663T=UNIQEM U932T), and the Searles Lake isolate, AArc-SlT, into a new genus and species Halalkaliarchaeum desulfuricum (=JCM 30664T=UNIQEM U999T).@en