Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis sp nov., an actinomycete isolated from Saharan soil

Actinomycete strain SA198(T), isolated from a Saharan soil sample of Algeria, was characterized taxonomically by using a polyphasic approach. Chemotaxonomic and morphological characteristics observed suggested that it was a member of the genus Saccharothrix. The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis confirmed that strain SA198(T) was a member of the genus Saccharothrix and showed a similarity level ranging between 97.5 and 98.9% within species of the genus Saccharothrix, Saccharothrix australiensis being the most closely related. However, DNA-DNA hybridization values between strain SA198(T) and its closest phylogenetic neighbours, the type strains of S. australiensis, Saccharothrix xinjiangensis, Saccharothrix algeriensis and Saccharothrix espanaensis, were clearly below the 70% threshold. Based upon genotypic and phenotypic differences from other members of the genus, a novel species, Saccharothrix tamanrassetensis sp. nov., is proposed, with SA198(T) (=DSM 45947(T)=CECT 8640(T)) as the type strain.