A HALOPHILIC THERMOPHILIC BACTERIUM ISOLATED FROM A COASTAL HOT-SPRING IN LUTAO, TAIWAN

A heterotrophic, moderately thermophilic bacterial strain. designated strain T501, was isolated from a hot spring on the coast of Lutao, Taiwan. This bacterial strain was a strictly aerobic, Gram-negative rod, normally 0.64-7 mum in diameter and 4-10 mum in length, and motility was achieved by one to several lateral flagella. Its minimum and maximum growth temperatures were approximately 30 and 60-degrees-C respectively, with an optimal temperature at about 50-degrees-C. The G+C ratio of its DNA was 38.1 mol%. Strain T501 tolerated a pH range from 6 to 9. It wash halophilic, growing optimally in about 2% (w/v) salt, and Na was indispensable unless Mg2+ or Ca2+ were available. The addition of either cation to Na+-sufficient media significantly enhanced growth. Halophilic heterotrophic bacteria capable of aerobic growth over a temperature range of 40-55-degrees-C have not been reported previously.