gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel thermophilic spirochete isolated from a Tunisian hot spring, and description of the novel family .

A novel thermophilic, anaerobic bacterium, strain F1F22, was isolated from hot spring water collected in northern Tunisia. The cells were non-motile, Gram-negative and helical with hooked ends, 0.5×10-32 µm in size.

Desulfovibrio senegalensis sp. nov., a mesophilic sulfate reducer isolated from marine sediment.

Several strains of sulfate-reducing bacteria were isolated from marine sediments recovered from Hann Bay (Senegal). All were related to members of the genus Desulfovibrio. A strictly anaerobic, mesophilic and moderately halophilic strain designated BLaC1T was further characterized.

gen. nov., sp. nov., an anaerobic bacterium isolated from tropical shea cake.

A Gram-stain positive, endospore-forming, strictly anaerobic bacterium, designated strain Gal1, was isolated from shea cake, a waste material from the production of shea butter, originating from Saraya, Senegal. The cells were rod-shaped, slightly curved, and motile with peritrichous flagella. The strain was oxidase-negative and catalase-negative.

Thermanaeromonas burensis sp. nov., a thermophilic anaerobe isolated from a subterranean clay environment.

A strictly anaerobic, thermophilic and halotolerant strain, designated IA106T, was isolated from the seepage water collected in a metal biocorrosion test at a depth of 490 m, in a 130-160 m thick, subterranean Callovo-Oxfordian clay formation (158-152 million years old) in northern France. This geological formation has been selected as the potential host rock for the French high-level nuclear waste repository. Cells of strain IA106T stained Gram-positive and were non-motile, spore-forming, straight rods (0.

Anaerosalibacter bizertensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a halotolerant bacterium isolated from sludge.

A strictly anaerobic, halotolerant and thermotolerant strain, designated C5BEL(T), was isolated in north Tunisia from storage tanks holding waste generated by the recycling of discarded motor oils. Cells of strain C5BEL(T) were Gram-stain-positive, motile by laterally inserted flagella, straight, and spore-forming. Their two major fatty acids were iso-C(15 : 0) and iso-C(15 : 0) dimethyl acetal.

Sporosalibacterium faouarense gen. nov., sp. nov., a moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from oil-contaminated soil.

A novel strictly anaerobic, moderately halophilic and mesophilic bacterium, designated strain SOL3f37(T), was isolated from a hydrocarbon-polluted soil surrounding a deep petroleum environment located in south Tunisia. Cells of strain SOL3f37(T) stained Gram-positive and were motile, straight and spore-forming. Strain SOL3f37(T) had a typical Gram-positive-type cell-wall structure, unlike the thick, multilayered cell wall of its closest relative Clostridiisalibacter paucivorans.

Desulfovibrio tunisiensis sp. nov., a novel weakly halotolerant, sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from exhaust water of a Tunisian oil refinery.

A novel weakly halotolerant, sulfate-reducing bacterium, designated strain RB22(T), was isolated from exhaust water of a Tunisian oil refinery. Cells of strain RB22(T) were Gram-negative, motile, vibrio-shaped or sigmoid and non-spore-forming, and occurred singly or in chains. Strain RB22(T) grew between 15 and 45 degrees C (optimum, 37 degrees C) and at pH 4.

Modicisalibacter tunisiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., an aerobic, moderately halophilic bacterium isolated from an oilfield-water injection sample, and emended description of the family Halomonadaceae Franzmann et al. 1989 emend Dobson and Franzmann 1996 emend. Ntougias et al. 2007.

An aerobic, moderately halophilic, Gram-negative, motile, non-sporulating bacterium, strain LIT2(T), was isolated from an oilfield-water injection after enrichment on crude oil. Strain LIT2(T) grew between 15 and 45 degrees C and optimally at 37 degrees C. It grew in the presence of 1-25 % (w/v) NaCl, with an optimum at 10 % (w/v) NaCl.

Bioconversion of ferulic acid to vanillic acid by Halomonas elongata isolated from table-olive fermentation.

Halomonas elongata strain Mar (=CCUG 52759) isolated from table-olive fermentation is the first halophilic bacterium to be shown to transform ferulic acid to vanillic acid under hypersaline conditions. During growth on ferulic acid, this strain was capable of promoting the formation of a significant amount of vanillic acid and trace quantities of vanillin. The products were confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry analyses.