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A total of 310 isolates were obtained from the gold mine tailing pond, in Khorasan-Razavi province in NE Iran. The cyanide tolerances of these strains were studied in an M9 medium supplemented by different cyanide concentrations. Nine strains showed the highest level of cyanide tolerance and could grow in up to 350 ppm of cyanide. Of these, two isolates, designated BN1 (identified as Halomonas to genus level by 16SrDNA sequencing) and DNB, capable of metabolizing cyanide as the sole source of nitrogen were selected for further analysis. The effects of different factors including pH, temperature, inoculum size and initial cyanide concentration were studied on the remediation process by OFAT (one factor at a time) experimental design. Strains BN1 and DNB showed 66% and 50% removal of cyanide at pH 9.5, temperature 25 °C, inoculum size 2.5% (v/v) and an initial cyanide concentration of 50 ppm after five days, respectively. The co-culture of strains was removed 75% of cyanide from the tailing pond after 96 h.

An extremely halophilic archaeon, strain IC35T, was isolated from a mud sample of the Aran-Bidgol salt lake in Iran. The novel strain was cream, non-motile, rod-shaped and required at least 2.5 M NaCl, but not MgCl2, for growth. Optimal growth was achieved with 3.4 M NaCl and 0.1 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.0 (grew over a pH range of 6.5–9.0) and 40 °C (grew over a temperature range of 30–50 °C), respectively. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain IC35T clustered with species of the genus Halovivax , with sequence similarities of 97.3 %, 96.6 % and 96.3 %, respectively, to Halovivax limisalsi IC38T, Halovivax asiaticus EJ-46T and Halovivax ruber XH-70T. The rpoB′ gene similarities between the novel strain and Halovivax limisalsi IBRC-M 10022T, Halovivax ruber JCM 13892T and Halovivax asiaticus JCM 14624T were 90.2 %, 90.2 % and 89.9 %, respectively. The polar lipid pattern of strain IC35T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester; six unknown glycolipids and two minor phospholipids were also observed. The only quinone present was MK-8 (II-H2). The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 63.2 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization studies (29 % hybridization with Halovivax limisalsi IBRC-M 10022T), as well as biochemical and physiological characterization, allowed strain IC35T to be differentiated from other species of the genus Halovivax . A novel species, Halovivax cerinus sp. nov., is therefore proposed to accommodate this strain. The type strain is IC35T ( = IBRC-M 10256T = KCTC 4050T).

A novel Gram-staining-positive, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain A76T, was isolated from a brine sample of the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran. Cells were strictly aerobic, coccus-shaped, non-motile, non-sporulating, and catalase- and oxidase-positive. Strain A76T grew between pH 7.0 and 10.0 (optimal growth at pH 8.0), between 20 and 45 °C (optimal growth at 35 °C) and at salinities of 0.5 to 12.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimal growth at 7.5 %, w/v, NaCl). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, strain A76T was shown to belong to the phylum Firmicutes with sequence similarities of 94.1, 93.1 and 91.1 %, to the type species of the genera Jeotgalicoccus , Salinicoccus and Nosocomiicoccus , respectively. The DNA G+C content of this new isolate was 38.8 mol%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain A76T were anteiso-C15 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0, and its polar lipid pattern consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, a glycolipid, an unknown lipid and two unknown phospholipids. The isoprenoid quinones were MK-6 (94 %), MK-5 (3 %) and MK-7 (3 %). The amino acid constituents of the cell wall were Lys, Asp, Gly, Glu and Ala. The physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic differences between strain A76T and type strains of taxa with validly published names suggest that this strain represents a novel species in a novel genus within the family Staphylococcaceae , for which the name Aliicoccus persicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Aliicoccus persicus is strain A76T ( = CECT 8508T = DSM 28306T = IBRC-M 10081T).

An extremely halophilic archaeon, strain D108T, was isolated from a brine sample of Aran-Bidgol salt lake in Iran. The novel strain was cream-pigmented, motile, pleomorphic rod-shaped and required at least 2.5 M NaCl but not MgCl2 for growth. Optimal growth was achieved with 4.3 M NaCl and 0.1 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively, and the strain was able to grow over a pH range of 6.5 to 9.0, and a temperature range of 30 to 50 °C. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence comparisons revealed that strain D108T clustered with the type strain of the sole species of the genus Halorientalis , Halorientalis regularis TNN28T, with a sequence similarity of 98.8 %. The polar lipid pattern of strain D108T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, one phosphoglycolipid and two glycolipids. The only quinone present was MK-8(II-H2). The DNA G+C content of strain D108T was 62.8 mol%. DNA–DNA hybridization studies (45 % with Halorientalis regularis IBRC-M 10760T), as well as biochemical and physiological characterization, allowed strain D108T to be differentiated from Halorientalis regularis . A novel species of the genus Halorientalis , Halorientalis persicus sp. nov., is therefore proposed to accommodate this strain. The type strain is D108T ( = IBRC-M 10043T = CECT 8375T). An emended description of the genus Halorientalis is also proposed.

The aim of the present study is to provide a strategy for predicting the production of antigenic regions of Clostridium novyi alpha toxin. The selection is based on B-cell epitopes and MHCII binding protein by immunoinformatics tools. The study resulted in identifying antigenic regions in the beginning and middle (3-17 and 965-997 amino acid residues) as suitable binders to MHCII and the carboxyl terminal of the protein (1800-1958 amino acid residues) in B-cell epitopes. The appropriate region in B-cell epitopes was chosen for cloning. The presence of recombinant protein was detected with immunological methods. Subsequently, BALB/C mice were immunized with the recombinant protein and alpha toxin, and the antibodies produced were evaluated by dot-blot and ELISA tests. After cloning the highly antigenic region (1799-1966 amino acid residues), the results of immunological tests showed that the recombinant protein reacts with antitoxin antibodies. Antirecombinant protein has a higher affinity to the alpha toxin than antialpha toxin. Thus, the carboxyl terminal of the protein (1799-1966 amino acid residues) in B-cell epitopes could be a proper candidate for a peptide vaccine against alpha toxin.

Strain CC65T, a novel extremely halophilic archaeon, was isolated from a brine sample of a salt lake in Iran. The novel strain was light yellow-pigmented, non-motile, pleomorphic and required at least 1.7 M NaCl and 0.02 M MgCl2for growth. Optimal growth was achieved at 3.5 M NaCl and 0.4 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively, while it was able to grow over a pH and a temperature range of pH 6.5–9.0 and 30–50 °C, respectively. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain CC65Tclustered with the sole member of the genusHalopenitus,Halopenitus persicusDC30Twith a sequence similarity of 98.0 %. The polar lipid profile of strain CC65Tconsisted of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester. An unidentified glycolipid and two minor phospholipids were also observed. The only quinone present was MK-8(II-H2). The DNA G+C content of strain CC65Twas 63.8 mol%. On the basis of the biochemical and physiological characteristics, as well as DNA–DNA hybridization (44 % withHalopenitus persicusIBRC 10041T), strain CC65Tis classified as a novel species of the genusHalopenitus, for which the nameHalopenitusmalekzadehiisp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CC65T( = IBRC-M 10418T = KCTC 4045T).

A Gram-negative, non-endospore-forming, rod shaped, strictly aerobic, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain M9BT, was isolated from the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran. Cells of strain M9BT were found to be motile and produce colonies with an orange-yellow pigment. Growth was determined to occur between 5 and 20 % (w/v) NaCl and the isolate grew optimally at 7.5–10 % (v/w) NaCl. The optimum pH and temperature for growth of the strain were determined to be pH 7.0 and 35 °C, respectively, while it was able to grow over pH and temperature ranges of 6–8 and 25–45 °C, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on the comparison of 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain M9BT is a member of the genus Marinobacter. The closest relative to this strain was found to be Marinobacter hydrocarbonoclasticus MBIC 1303T with a similarity level of 97.7 %. DNA–DNA hybridization between the novel isolate and this phylogenetically related species was 13 ± 2 %. The major cellular fatty acids of the isolate were identified as C16:0, C19:1 ω6c, C18:1 ω9c and C16:1 ω9c. The polar lipid pattern of strain M9BT was determined to consist of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylserine and three phospholipids. Ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) was the only lipoquinone detected. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of this strain was determined to be 58.6 mol%. Phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness data suggest that this strain represents a novel species of the genus Marinobacter, for which the name Marinobacter persicus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Marinobacter persicus is strain M9BT (=IBRC-M 10445T = CCM 7970T = CECT 7991T = KCTC 23561T).

A novel pale pink-pigmented halophilic archaeon, strain DC30T, was isolated from Aran-Bidgol salt lake, a hypersaline playa in Iran. Cells of strain DC30T were non-motile and pleomorphic, from rods to triangular or disc-shaped. Strain DC30T required at least 1.7 M NaCl and 0.05 M MgCl2 for growth (optimum, 3 M NaCl and 0.1 M MgCl2). The optimum pH and temperature for growth of strain DC30T were pH 7.5 and 40 °C, respectively, although it was capable of growth over pH and temperature ranges of 6.5–8.5 and 25–50 °C, respectively. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain DC30T was a member of the family Halobacteriaceae . However, it had low 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities of 92.4 %, 89.4 % and 89.1 % to the most closely related haloarchaeal taxa, the type species of the genera Halorubrum , Halogranum and Haloplanus , respectively. The DNA G+C content was 66.0 mol%. Phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, common phospholipids found in haloarchaea, were present. Three minor phospholipids and one unidentified glycolipid were also observed. The only quinone present was MK-8(II-H2). The physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic differences between strain DC30T and other previously described genera of extremely halophilic archaea suggest that strain DC30T represents a novel species in a new genus within the family Halobacteriaceae , for which the name Halopenitus persicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Halopenitus persicus is DC30T ( = IBRC 10041T = KCTC 4046T).

Two Gram-staining-negative, red- and orange-pigmented, non-motile, rod-shaped, extremely halophilic bacteria, designated strains CB7T and DGOT, were isolated from Aran-Bidgol salt lake, Iran. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations of between 2 and 5 M NaCl and the isolates grew optimally with 3 M NaCl. The optimum pH and temperature for growth of the two strains were pH 7.5 and 37 °C, and they were able to grow over pH and temperature ranges of pH 6–8 and 25–50 °C. The predominant fatty acids of the two isolates were C18 : 1ω7c, iso-C15 : 0 and summed feature 3 (C16 : 1ω7c and/or iso-C15 : 0 2-OH). The polar lipid pattern of the two isolates consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, three unidentified lipids, one unidentified aminolipid and three unidentified glycolipids. The only quinone present was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The G+C contents of the genomic DNA of strains CB7T and DGOT were 64.8 and 65.6 mol%, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains CB7T and DGOT were related to Salinibacter ruber in the phylum Bacteroidetes . Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains CB7T and DGOT and Salinibacter ruber DSM 13855T were 93.2 and 93.6 %, respectively. The two novel strains shared 98.9 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. DNA–DNA hybridization experiments between strains CB7T and DGOT and Salinibacter ruber DSM 13855T indicated levels of relatedness of 44 and 52 %, respectively, while the level of relatedness between the two new isolates was 53 %. Chemotaxonomic data supported the placement of strains CB7T and DGOT in the genus Salinibacter . DNA–DNA hybridization studies and biochemical and physiological characterization allowed strains CB7T and DGOT to be differentiated from Salinibacter ruber and from each other. They are therefore considered to represent two novel species of the genus Salinibacter , for which the names Salinibacter iranicus sp. nov. (type strain CB7T = IBRC-M 10036T = CGMCC 1.11003T) and Salinibacter luteus sp. nov. (type strain DGOT = IBRC-M 10423T = CGMCC 1.11002T) are proposed. Emended descriptions of the genus Salinibacter and of Salinibacter ruber are also presented.

A novel red-pigmented halophilic archaeon, strain EB27T, was isolated from Aran-Bidgol salt lake, a hypersaline playa in Iran. Cells of strain EB27T were non-motile and pleomorphic (rods to triangular or disc-shaped). Strain EB27T required at least 2.5 M NaCl and 0.1 M MgCl2 for growth. Optimal growth was achieved at 4 M NaCl and 0.5 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.5 and 40 °C; it was able to grow at pH 6.0–8.0 and 25–50 °C. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that strain EB27T is a member of the family Halobacteriaceae ; however, levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity were as low as 90.0, 89.3 and 89.1 % to the most closely related haloarchaeal taxa, namely Halalkalicoccus tibetensis DS12T, Halosimplex carlsbadense 2-9-1T and Halorhabdus utahensis AX-2T, respectively. The DNA G+C content of strain EB27T was 61 mol%. Strain EB27T contained phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester, common phospholipids found in haloarchaea, together with two minor phospholipids. The only quinone present was MK-8(II-H2). Physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic differences between strain EB27T and recognized genera of extremely halophilic archaea suggest that this strain represents a novel species in a new genus within the family Halobacteriaceae , for which the name Halovenus aranensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Halovenus aranensis, the type species of the new genus, is strain EB27T ( = IBRC-M 10015T = CGMCC 1.11001T).

Strain EB21T was isolated from a brine sample from Aran-Bidgol salt lake, a saline playa in Iran. Strain EB21T was an orange–red-pigmented, motile rod and required at least 2 M NaCl but not MgCl2 for growth. Optimal growth was achieved at 3.5 M NaCl and 0.2 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.5 and 40 °C, while it was able to grow at pH 6.0–8.0 and 25–55 °C. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain EB21T is a member of the family Halobacteriaceae , showing low levels of similarity to other members of the family. The highest sequence similarities, 91.8, 91.7 and 91.5 %, were obtained with the 16S rRNA gene sequences of the type strains of Halobiforma lacisalsi , Haloterrigena thermotolerans and Halalkalicoccus tibetensis , respectively. Polar lipid analyses revealed that strain EB21T contains phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester and phosphatidylglycerol sulfate. Three unidentified glycolipids and one minor phospholipid were also observed. The only quinone present was MK-8(II-H2). The G+C content of its DNA was 67.7 mol%. On the basis of the data obtained, the new isolate could not be classified in any recognized genus. Strain EB21T is thus considered to represent a novel species in a new genus within the family Halobacteriaceae , order Halobacteriales , for which the name Haloarchaeobius iranensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Haloarchaeobius iranensis is EB21T ( = IBRC-M 10013T = KCTC 4048T).

Prokaryotic diversity in Aran-Bidgol salt lake, a thalasohaline lake in Iran, was studied by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), cultivation techniques, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) of PCR-amplified fragments of 16S rRNA genes and 16S rRNA gene clone library analysis. Viable counts obtained (2.5-4 × 10(6) cells mL(-1)) were similar to total cell abundance in the lake determined by DAPI direct count (3-4×10(7) cells mL(-1)). The proportion of Bacteria to Archaea in the community detectable by FISH was unexpectedly high and ranged between 1:3 and 1:2. We analyzed 101 archaeal isolates and found that most belonged to the genera Halorubrum (55%) and Haloarcula (18%). Eleven bacterial isolates obtained in pure culture were affiliated with the genera Salinibacter (18.7%), Salicola (18.7%) and Rhodovibrio (35.3%). Analysis of inserts of 100 clones from the eight 16S rRNA clone libraries constructed revealed 37 OTUs. The majority (63%) of these sequences were not related to any previously identified taxa. Within this sampling effort we most frequently retrieved phylotypes related to Halorhabdus (16% of archaeal sequences obtained) and Salinibacter (36% of bacterial sequences obtained). Other prokaryotic groups that were abundant included representatives of Haloquadratum, the anaerobic genera Halanaerobium and Halocella, purple sulfur bacteria of the genus Halorhodospira and Cyanobacteria.

A novel Gram-stain-negative, aerobic, non-endospore-forming, non-pigmented, rod-shaped, slightly halophilic bacterium, designated GBPy5T, was isolated from aquatic plants of the Gomishan wetland, Iran. Cells of strain GBPy5T were motile. Growth occurred with between 1 and 10 % (w/v) NaCl and the isolate grew optimally with 3 % (w/v) NaCl. The optimum pH and temperature for growth of the strain were pH 8.0 and 30 °C, respectively, while it was able to grow over a pH range of 6.5–9.0 and a temperature range of 4–35 °C. Phylogenetic analysis, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, revealed that strain GBPy5T is a member of the genus Pseudomonas forming a monophyletic branch. The novel strain exhibited 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 95.4 % with type strains of Pseudomonas guariconensis PCAVU11T and Pseudomonas sabulinigri J64T, respectively. The major cellular fatty acids of the isolate were C18 : 1ω7c (37.8 %), C16 : 0 (14.9 %), C16 : 1ω7c (12.9 %), C12 : 0 3-OH (7.1 %) and C12 : 0 (7.0 %). The polar lipid pattern of strain GBPy5T comprised phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine and one phospholipid. Ubiquinone 9 (Q-9) was the predominant lipoquinone. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of strain GBPy5T was 59.2 mol%. On the basis of the phenotypic and phylogenetic data, strain GBPY5T represents a novel species of the genus Pseudomonas , for which the name Pseudomonas salegens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GBPy5T ( = IBRC-M 10762T = CECT 8338T).

A Gram-stain-negative, cream‐pigmented, motile, extremely halophilic archaeon, designated strain IC38T, was isolated from a saline mud sample taken from a hypersaline lake, Aran-Bidgol, in Iran. The strain required at least 2.5 M NaCl for growth. However, MgCl2 was not required. Optimal growth occurred with 4.3 M NaCl and 0.2 M MgCl2. The optimum pH and temperature for growth were pH 7.0 and 35 °C, respectively, and strain IC38T was able to grow over a pH range of 6.5–9.0, and a temperature range of 25–45 °C. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence revealed that strain IC38T clustered with the two species of the genus Halovivax , Halovivax asiaticus EJ-46T and Halovivax ruber XH-70T, with sequence similarities of 96.4 % and 96.1 %, respectively. The similarities between the rpoB′ gene of the novel strain and Halovivax asiaticus and Halovivax ruber were 90.7 % and 90.3 %, respectively. The polar lipid pattern of strain IC38T consisted of phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol phosphate methyl ester. Three unidentified glycolipids and two minor phospholipids were also observed. The DNA G+C content of strain IC38T was 62.6 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic analysis, as well as the biochemical and physiological characteristics, the new isolate is suggested to be a representative of a novel species of the genus Halovivax , for which the name Halovivax limisalsi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Halovivax limisalsi is IC38T ( = IBRC-M 10022T = KCTC 4051T).

A Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, moderately halophilic bacterium, designated strain H9BT, was isolated from a mud sample of the hypersaline lake Aran-Bidgol in Iran. Cells of strain H9BT were motile and produced colonies with a yellowish-grey pigment. Growth occurred between 2.5 and 10 % (w/v) NaCl and the isolate grew optimally at 7.5 % (w/v) NaCl. The optimum pH and temperature for growth of the strain were pH 7.0 and 35 °C, respectively, while it was able to grow over pH and temperature ranges of pH 6–10 and 25–45 °C, respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain H9BT is a member of the genus Oceanobacillus . The closest relative to this strain was Oceanobacillus profundus CL-MP28T with 97.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequences similarity. The level of DNA–DNA relatedness between the novel isolate and this phylogenetically related species was 17 %. The major cellular fatty acids of the isolate were anteiso-C15 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0. The polar lipid pattern of strain H9BT consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, four phospholipids and an aminolipid. It contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and meso-diaminopimelic acid in the cell-wall peptidoglycan. The G+C content of the genomic DNA of this strain was 37.1 mol%. Phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and DNA–DNA relatedness data suggest that this strain represents a novel species of the genus Oceanobacillus , for which the name Oceanobacillus limi sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Oceanobacillus limi is strain H9BT ( = IBRC-M 10780T = KCTC 13823T = CECT 7997T).

A novel, Gram-staining-negative, non-pigmented, rod-shaped, strictly aerobic, extremely halophilic bacterium, designated strain IA16T, was isolated from the mud of the hypersaline Lake Aran-Bidgol, in Iran. Cells of strain IA16T were not motile. Growth occurred with 2.5–5.2 M NaCl (optimum 3.4 M), at pH 6.0–8.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and at 30–50 °C (optimum 40 °C). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain IA16T belonged in the family Rhodospirillaceae and that its closest relatives were Rhodovibrio sodomensis DSM 9895T (91.6 % sequence similarity), Rhodovibrio salinarum NCIMB 2243T (91.2 %), Pelagibius litoralis CL-UU02T (88.9 %) and Fodinicurvata sediminis YIM D82T (88.7 %). The novel strain’s major cellular fatty acids were C19 : 0 cyclo ω7c and C18 : 0 and its polar lipid profile comprised phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, four unidentified phospholipids, three unidentified aminolipids and two other unidentified lipids. The cells of strain IA16T contained the ubiquinone Q-10. The G+C content of the novel strain’s genomic DNA was 67.0 mol%. The physiological, biochemical and phylogenetic differences between strain IA16T and other previously described taxa indicate that the strain represents a novel species in a new genus within the family Rhodospirillaceae , for which the name Limimonas halophila gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Limimonas halophila is IA16T ( = IBRC-M 10018T = DSM 25584T).

Two Gram-staining-negative, red- and orange-pigmented, non-motile, rod-shaped, extremely halophilic bacteria, designated strains CB7(T) and DGO(T), were isolated from Aran-Bidgol salt lake, Iran. Growth occurred at NaCl concentrations of between 2 and 5 M NaCl and the isolates grew optimally with 3 M NaCl. The optimum pH and temperature for growth of the two strains were pH 7.5 and 37 °C, and they were able to grow over pH and temperature ranges of pH 6-8 and 25-50 °C. The predominant fatty acids of the two isolates were C(18:1)ω7c, iso-C(15:0) and summed feature 3 (C(16:1)ω7c and/or iso-C(15:0) 2-OH). The polar lipid pattern of the two isolates consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, three unidentified lipids, one unidentified aminolipid and three unidentified glycolipids. The only quinone present was menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The G+C contents of the genomic DNA of strains CB7(T) and DGO(T) were 64.8 and 65.6 mol%, respectively. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that strains CB7(T) and DGO(T) were related to Salinibacter ruber in the phylum Bacteroidetes. Levels of 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between strains CB7(T) and DGO(T) and Salinibacter ruber DSM 13855(T) were 93.2 and 93.6%, respectively. The two novel strains shared 98.9% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity. DNA-DNA hybridization experiments between strains CB7(T) and DGO(T) and Salinibacter ruber DSM 13855(T) indicated levels of relatedness of 44 and 52%, respectively, while the level of relatedness between the two new isolates was 53%. Chemotaxonomic data supported the placement of strains CB7(T) and DGO(T) in the genus Salinibacter. DNA-DNA hybridization studies and biochemical and physiological characterization allowed strains CB7(T) and DGO(T) to be differentiated from Salinibacter ruber and from each other. They are therefore considered to represent two novel species of the genus Salinibacter, for which the names Salinibacter iranicus sp. nov. (type strain CB7(T)=IBRC-M 10036(T)=CGMCC 1.11003(T)) and Salinibacter luteus sp. nov. (type strain DGO(T)=IBRC-M 10423(T)=CGMCC 1.11002(T)) are proposed. Emended descriptions of the genus Salinibacter and of Salinibacter ruber are also presented.

On the protologue of the description of the new species, we cited incorrectly the culture collections of the type strain, which may be confusing for the validation and future citations of the type strain of this new species. They were correctly cited on the abstract of the article but not on the species description. On page 53, column 1, the end paragraph, lines 3–4, the type strain should be cited as CCM 7970 (instead of CCM 7991) and IBRC-M 10445 (instead of IBRC 10445).

Production of ten hydrolytic enzymes was qualitatively studied on the haloarchaeal strains isolated from Aran-Bidgol hypersaline lake in the central desert area of Iran. A total of 293 haloarchea strains were selected among 300 extremely halophilic isolated prokaryotes. Accordingly, 142, 141, 128, 64, 38, 16, 7, 3 and 1 archaeal isolates were able to produce DNase, amylase, lipase, inulinase, pullulanase, protease, cellulase, chitinase and xylanase, respectively. None was able to produce pectinase activity. Combined hydrolytic activity was also detected in many strains. A total of 0.3 % of the strains showed 6 hydrolytic activities, 0.3 % of the strains had 5 hydrolytic activities, 5.4 % of the strains presented 4 hydrolytic activities, 25 % of the strains presented 3 hydrolytic activities, 28 % of the strains presented 2 hydrolytic activities and 18 % of the strains presented 1 hydrolytic activity. According to their phenotypic characteristics and comparative partial 16 S rRNA sequence analysis, the halophilic strains were all identified as members of family Halobacteriaceae within 12 different taxa from the following genera: Halorubrum, Haloarcula, Natrinema, Halovivax and Natronomonas. Most enzymes production rate was observed in the genera Halorubrum, Haloarcula and Natrinema whereas; there was not any detectable amount of enzyme production in the genera Halovivax and Natronomonas. The most hydrolytic isolate with 6 combinatorial enzyme production belonged to the genus Natrinema. This investigation showed that the extreme halophilic archaea from Aran-Bidgol lake are a potential source of hydrolytic enzyme under stress conditions and may have possess commercial value.