Halomonadaceae
Encyclopedia
The Halomonadaceae are a family of halophilic Proteobacteria
.
In 1989, Chromobacterium marismortui was reclassified as Chromohalobacter marismortui forming a third genus in the family Halomonadaceae
Subsequently, in 1990 a species was discovered and was originally proposed to be called Volcaniella eurihalina forming a new genus in the Halomonadaceae, but was later (in 1995) reclassified as a member of the genus Halomonas.
The species Carnimonas nigrificans (sole member of genus) was not placed in the family due to the lack of two out of 15 descriptive 16S rRNA signature sequences, but it has been proposed to reclassify it into the family
In 1996, the family was later reorganised by unifying genera Deleya, Halomonas and Halovibrio and the species Paracoccus halodenitrificans into Halomonas and placing Zymobacter in this family. However, it was later discovered that the strain of Halovibrio variabilis DSM 3051 and DSM 3050 differed and the latter was made type strain of the Halovibrio, which remains still in use. and now comprised two species (the other being Halovibrio denitrificans)
In 2002, Halomonas marina was transferred to its own genus Cobetia and in 2009 Halomonas marisflavi, Halomonas indalinina and Halomonas avicenniae were transferred to a new genus called Kushneria (5 species)
Several singleton genera were created recently: in 2007, Halotalea alkalilenta was described, Aidingimonas halophila in 2009, Halospina denitrificans in 2006, Modicisalibacter tunisiensis in 2009 Salinicola socius in 2009 To the latter genus two species were transferred, Halomonas salaria as Salinicola salarius and Chromohalobacter salarius as Salinicola halophilus.
The family also contain the recently discovered but uncultured bacterium "Candidatus
Portiera aleyrodidarum" (primary endosymbionts of whiteflies).
Note: Species of Deleya and Halovibrio are now now Halomonas
Felisa Wolfe-Simon
with a NASA funded team is researching a particular strain the Halomonadaceae family, named GFAJ-1
, isolated and cultured from sediments collected along the shore of Mono Lake
, near Yosemite National Park in eastern California
. This GFAJ-1 strain of Halomonadaceae can grow in the presence of high concentrations of arsenic
.
Proteobacteria
The Proteobacteria are a major group of bacteria. They include a wide variety of pathogens, such as Escherichia, Salmonella, Vibrio, Helicobacter, and many other notable genera....
.
History
The family was originally created in 1988 to contain the genera Halomonas and Deleya.In 1989, Chromobacterium marismortui was reclassified as Chromohalobacter marismortui forming a third genus in the family Halomonadaceae
Subsequently, in 1990 a species was discovered and was originally proposed to be called Volcaniella eurihalina forming a new genus in the Halomonadaceae, but was later (in 1995) reclassified as a member of the genus Halomonas.
The species Carnimonas nigrificans (sole member of genus) was not placed in the family due to the lack of two out of 15 descriptive 16S rRNA signature sequences, but it has been proposed to reclassify it into the family
In 1996, the family was later reorganised by unifying genera Deleya, Halomonas and Halovibrio and the species Paracoccus halodenitrificans into Halomonas and placing Zymobacter in this family. However, it was later discovered that the strain of Halovibrio variabilis DSM 3051 and DSM 3050 differed and the latter was made type strain of the Halovibrio, which remains still in use. and now comprised two species (the other being Halovibrio denitrificans)
In 2002, Halomonas marina was transferred to its own genus Cobetia and in 2009 Halomonas marisflavi, Halomonas indalinina and Halomonas avicenniae were transferred to a new genus called Kushneria (5 species)
Several singleton genera were created recently: in 2007, Halotalea alkalilenta was described, Aidingimonas halophila in 2009, Halospina denitrificans in 2006, Modicisalibacter tunisiensis in 2009 Salinicola socius in 2009 To the latter genus two species were transferred, Halomonas salaria as Salinicola salarius and Chromohalobacter salarius as Salinicola halophilus.
The family also contain the recently discovered but uncultured bacterium "Candidatus
Candidatus
Candidatus is in scientific classification a component of the taxonomic name for a bacterium that cannot be maintained in a Bacteriology Culture Collection. It is an interim taxonomic status for noncultivable organisms. An example would be "Candidatus Phytoplasma allocasuarinae"...
Portiera aleyrodidarum" (primary endosymbionts of whiteflies).
Genera
- Halomonas, the type genus
- Halomonas elongata, the type species of the genus, however the longest known members of the family are Halomonas halodentrificans (1952), Chromohalobacter marismortui (1940) and Chromohalobacter beijerinckii (originally Pseudomonas beijerinckii).
- Aidingimonas halophila
- Cobetia
- Cobetia marinaCobetia marinaCobetia marina is a Gram-negative marine bacterium....
, originally Pseudomonas marina, then Dalya marina, then Halomonas marina. - Cobetia crustatorum, isolated from fermented Korean seafood
- Cobetia marina
- Carnimonas
- Chromohalobacter
- Chromohalobacter marismortui
- Chromohalobacter beijerinckii
- Chromohalobacter canadensis and Chromohalobacter israelensis, formerly of the genus Halomonas
- Chromohalobacter japonicus
- Chromohalobacter nigrandesensis
- Chromohalobacter salarius
- Chromohalobacter salexigens
- Chromohalobacter sarecensis, phychrotolerant
- Halotalea alkalilenta
- Kushneria
- Kushneria aurantia, type species
- Kushneria marisflavi, Kushneria indalinina and Kushneria avicenniae were previously classified under Halomonas
- Modicisalibacter
- Portiera
- Zymobacter, not to be confused with Zymomonas mobilisZymomonas mobilisZymomonas mobilis is a bacterium belonging to the genus Zymomonas. It is notable for its bioethanol-producing capabilities, which surpass yeast in some aspects. It was originally isolated from alcoholic beverages like the African palm wine, the Mexican pulque, and also as a contaminant of cider and...
, an alphaproteobacterion studies for its biofuel production, an easy error that even the International Code of Nomenclature of BacteriaInternational Code of Nomenclature of BacteriaThe International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria or Bacteriological Code governs the scientific names for bacteria, including Archaea. It denotes the rules for naming taxa of bacteria, according to their relative rank...
made in as noted in
Note: Species of Deleya and Halovibrio are now now Halomonas
Etymology
The names derives from Halomonas, which is the type genus of the family, plus the suffix -aceae, ending to denote a familyResearch
GeomicrobiologistGeomicrobiology
Geomicrobiology is the result of the combination of geology and microbiology. The field of geomicrobiology concerns the role of microbe and microbial processes in geological and geochemical processes and vice-versa...
Felisa Wolfe-Simon
Felisa Wolfe-Simon
Felisa Wolfe-Simon is an American microbial geobiologist and biogeochemist. As a NASA research fellow in residence at the US Geological Survey and a member of the NASA Astrobiology Institute, Wolfe-Simon led the team that discovered GFAJ-1, an extremophile bacterium that they claim is capable of...
with a NASA funded team is researching a particular strain the Halomonadaceae family, named GFAJ-1
GFAJ-1
GFAJ-1 is a strain of rod-shaped bacterium in the family Halomonadaceae. The extremophile was isolated from the hypersaline and alkaline Mono Lake in eastern California by a research team led by NASA astrobiologist Felisa Wolfe-Simon...
, isolated and cultured from sediments collected along the shore of Mono Lake
Mono Lake
Mono Lake is a large, shallow saline lake in Mono County, California, formed at least 760,000 years ago as a terminal lake in a basin that has no outlet to the ocean...
, near Yosemite National Park in eastern California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. This GFAJ-1 strain of Halomonadaceae can grow in the presence of high concentrations of arsenic
Arsenic
Arsenic is a chemical element with the symbol As, atomic number 33 and relative atomic mass 74.92. Arsenic occurs in many minerals, usually in conjunction with sulfur and metals, and also as a pure elemental crystal. It was first documented by Albertus Magnus in 1250.Arsenic is a metalloid...
.
External links
- NASA - Astrobiology Magazine: "Searching for Alien Life, on Earth" — (October 2009)
- NASA.gov: "NASA-Funded Research Discovers Life Built With Toxic Chemical" — (December 2010)
- Science Express abstract of F. Wolfe-Simon, et al.: "A Bacterium That Can Grow by Using Arsenic Instead of Phosphorus." - (December 2010)