Pseudomonas deceptionensis sp. nov., a psychrotolerant bacterium from the Antarctic.

During the taxonomic investigation of cold-adapted bacteria from samples collected in the Antarctic area of the South Shetland Islands, one Gram-reaction-negative, psychrotolerant, aerobic bacterium, designated strain M1(T), was isolated from marine sediment collected on Deception Island. The organism was rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive and motile by means of a polar flagellum. This psychrotolerant strain grew at temperatures ranging from -4 °C to 34 °C.

Shewanella vesiculosa sp. nov., a psychrotolerant bacterium isolated from an Antarctic coastal area.

Two strains of psychrotolerant bacteria, designated M7(T) and M5, isolated from Antarctic coastal marine environments were studied to determine their taxonomic position. The organisms comprised Gram-negative, rod-shaped, facultatively anaerobic cells that were motile by means of single polar flagella. Neither of the bacterial isolates had a requirement for Na(+).

Marinobacter guineae sp. nov., a novel moderately halophilic bacterium from an Antarctic environment.

Two Gram-negative, cold-adapted, moderately halophilic, aerobic bacteria, designated strains M3B(T) and M3T, were isolated from marine sediment collected from the South Shetland Islands, Antarctica. The organisms were rod-shaped, catalase- and oxidase-positive, and motile by means of polar flagella. These two psychrotolerant strains required Na(+) and grew at NaCl concentrations of 1-15 % and temperatures between 4 and 42 degrees C.

Paenibacillus antarcticus sp. nov., a novel psychrotolerant organism from the Antarctic environment.

An endospore-forming strain, 20CMT, was isolated from Antarctic sediment and identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus on the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic analyses. The organism stained Gram-variable and was facultatively anaerobic. Strain 20CMT was psychrotolerant, growing optimally at 10-15 degrees C.