Thioalkalivibrio thiocyanoxidans sp. nov. and Thioalkalivibrio paradoxus sp. nov., novel alkaliphilic, obligately autotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria capable of growth on thiocyanate, from soda lakes.

Nine strains of haloalkaliphilic, obligately autotrophic, sulfur-oxidizing bacteria able to grow with thiocyanate (SCN-) as the sole energy and nitrogen source were isolated from soda lakes in South-East Siberia, Kenya and Egypt after enrichment on sodium carbonate minerals buffered at pH 10 with thiocyanate as the substrate. The isolates fell into two groups that were substantially different in terms of cell morphology, growth parameters and the ability to oxidize carbon disulfide. The bacteria were able to oxidize sulfide, polysulfide, sulfur and tetrathionate, as well as thiocyanate.

Thioalkalimicrobium aerophilum gen. nov., sp. nov. and Thioalkalimicrobium sibericum sp. nov., and Thioalkalivibrio versutus gen. nov., sp. nov., Thioalkalivibrio nitratis sp.nov., novel and Thioalkalivibrio denitrificancs sp. nov., novel obligately alkaliphilic and obligately chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from soda lakes.

Forty-three strains of obligately chemolithoautotrophic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from highly alkaline soda lakes in south-east Siberia (Russia) and in Kenya using a specific enrichment procedure at pH 10. The main difference between the novel isolates and known sulfur bacteria was their potential to grow and oxidize sulfur compounds at pH 10 and higher. The isolates fell into two groups that were substantially different from each other physiologically and genetically.

Thiorhodospira sibirica gen. nov., sp. nov., a new alkaliphilic purple sulfur bacterium from a Siberian soda lake.

A new purple sulfur bacterium was isolated from microbial films on decaying plant mass in the near-shore area of the soda lake Malyi Kasytui (pH 9.5, 0.2% salinity) located in the steppe of the Chita region of south-east Siberia.

Influence of phosphorus on the composition of polar lipids of Actinomyces olivaceus.

The influence of phosphorus on the composition of the lipids of Act. olivaceus was studied. It was found that the phosphorus content in the culture medium can serve as a regulator of the synthesis of definite lipids.