Hymenobacter xinjiangensis sp nov., a radiation-resistant bacterium isolated from the desert of Xinjiang, China

A Gram-negative, non-motile, rod-shaped and pink-pigmented bacterium, designated strain X2-1g(T), was isolated from a mixture of sand samples collected from the desert of Xinjiang, China, after exposure of the sand to 8 kGy gamma radiation. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that this isolate represents a novel member of the genus Hymenobacter, with low sequence similarities (<97 %) to recognized Hymenobacter species. Biolog GN2 assays supported this conclusion. Optimum growth was observed at pH 7 and 28 degrees C. The strain contained MK-7 as the predominant menaquinone and the major fatty acids were iso-C-15:0 (19-5%), C-16:1 omega 7c/iso-C-15:0 2-OH (20.2%), C-16:1 omega 5c (10.6%), C-16:0 (6.2 %), anteiso-C-17:1 B/iso-C-17:1 I (8.5 %) and C-18:0 (6.5 %). The DNA G + C content was 54 mol% (T-m). On the basis of the polyphasic evidence presented, it is proposed that strain X2-1g(T) represents a novel species of the genus Hymenobacter, for which the name Hymenobacter xinjiangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is X2-1g(T) (=CCTCC AB 206080(T) =IAIM 15452(T)).