• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.23 no.12
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• pp.1645-1653
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• 2013

Archaea are prokaryotic organisms distinct from bacteria in the structural and molecular biological sense, and these microorganisms are known to thrive mostly at extreme environments. In particular, most studies on halophilic archaea have been focused on environmental and ecological researches. However, new species of halophilic archaea are being isolated and identified from high salt-fermented foods consumed by humans, and it has been found that various types of halophilic archaea exist in food products by culture-independent molecular biological methods. In addition, even if the numbers are not quite high, DNAs of various halophilic archaea are being detected in human intestines and much interest is given to their possible roles. This review aims to summarize the types and characteristics of halophilic archaea reported to be present in foods and human intestines and to discuss their application as well.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.52 no.1
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• pp.76-87
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• 2024

Halophilic bacteria are promising reservoirs for halotolerant enzymes that have gained much attention in biotechnological applications due to their remarkable activity and stability. In this study, 62 halophilic bacterial strains isolated from a solar saltern were screened for the production of various extracellular enzymes. The results revealed that 31 strains (50%) were positive for amylase production while 26 strains (41.9%) were positive for protease. Further, 22 strains (35.48%) exhibited β-glucosidase activity and only 17 (27.41%) demonstrated lipase activity. Of the investigated halophiles, ten strains growing in the presence of ≥15% NaCl (w/v) were selected and identified based on their 16S rRNA gene sequences as Halomonas meridiana, Salinivibrio costicola, Virgibacillus oceani, Virgibacillus marismortui, Marinobacter lipolyticus, Halobacillus karajensis, Salicola salis, Pseudoalteromonas shioyasakiensis, Salinicoccus amylolyticus, and Paracoccus salipaludis. Therefore, the present study highlights the diversity of the culturable halophilic bacteria in a Mediterranean solar saltern, harboring various valuable halotolerant enzymes.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.16 no.10
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• pp.1640-1645
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• 2006

We studied the diversity of the halophilic archaea and bacteria in crystallizer ponds of a Korean solar saltern by analyzing 16S rRNA gene libraries. Although diverse halophilic archaeal lineages were detected, the majority (56%) were affiliated with the uncultured and cultured Halorubrum group. Halophilic archaea that have been frequently observed in solar saltern environments previously, such as Halogeometricum, Halococcus, Haloarcula, and Haloferax, were not detected in our samples. The majority of clones (53%) belonged to the Cytophaga-Flavobacterium-Bacteroides and ${\alpha}-,\;{\gamma}-,\;and\;{\delta}-Proteobacteria$ groups, with 47% of the clones being affiliated with ${\gamma}-Proteobacteria$. We also identified new ${\delta}-Proteobacteria$-related bacteria that have not been observed in hypersaline environments previously. Our data show that the diversity of the halophilic archaea and bacteria in our Korean saltern differs from that of solar salterns found in other geographic locations. We also showed by quantitative real-time PCR analysis that bacteria can form a significant component of the microbial community in solar salterns.

• Journal of Ecology and Environment
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• v.48 no.3
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• pp.405-415
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• 2024

Background: Hypersaline environments (> 40 practical salinity units [PSU]) represent some of the most extreme conditions on Earth, supporting a variety of halophilic and halotolerant bacteria, archaea, and protists. The taxon Heterolobosea includes numerous halophilic protists, making it a valuable model for studying eukaryotic adaptation to high salinity. Particularly, the genus Pharyngomonas, a deep-branching lineage within Heterolobosea, comprises mainly obligate halophiles, providing insights into early protist adaptations in hypersaline environments. Additionally, these protozoa play crucial ecological roles as grazers of bacteria and archaea, and are prey for higher trophic levels in hypersaline environments. Results: In the present study, two previously reported amoeboflagellates were isolated for the first time from hypersaline waters (~300 PSU) in two solar salterns in the Republic of Korea. Microscopic observations revealed that both strains exhibited the characteristic morphologies of Pharyngomonas, including amoeboid, flagellate, and cyst forms. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of their 18S rRNA gene sequences confirmed their close relationship to known Pharyngomonas kirbyi strains. The two strains demonstrated growth within a salinity range of 75-200 PSU, with optimal growth observed at 75-100 PSU, confirming their status as true halophiles. All known P. kirbyi strains are obligate halophiles, exhibiting a clear instance of adaptive radiation of halophilic eukaryotes. Additionally, the genus Pharyngomonas has been found in hypersaline environments across multiple continents (Asia, Europe, North America, Australia, and Africa), suggesting that it plays an ecologically significant role as a grazer of prokaryotes or prey for higher trophic levels in these habitats. Conclusions: On the bases of morphological and molecular analyses, two strains identified as P. kirbyi were isolated and characterized for the first time from solar salterns in the Republic of Korea. This discovery highlights the presence and adaptation of halophilic eukaryotes in such extreme environments. The confirmation of these strains as obligate halophiles provides additional evidence for the adaptive radiation of halophilic eukaryotes. Furthermore, the ecological role of Pharyngomonas species underscores their importance as trophic regulators in hypersaline ecosystems. These findings contribute to a deeper understanding of the diversity, adaptation, and ecological functions of halophilic eukaryotes in extreme environments.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.15 no.5
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• pp.301-305
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• 1987

Moderate halophilic bacteria isolated from several kinds of salted and fermented sea foods (jeotkal) collected from commercial market were identified and investigated on their selt requirements. It was confirmed that the isolates were dominantly moderate halophiles according to their NaCl requirement to grow. And their salt requirements in their growth have been examined for Na, K, Ni and mg ions. Among them, the most dominant and distinctive three strains in protease pro-duction have been examined and two of them identified to be halophilic Flavobacterium sp., and the other one to be halophilic Pseudomonas sp..1'heir optimum growth was observed at 3$0^{\circ}C$ and at 10 percent of NaCl.

• Journal of the Korean Society of Food Science and Nutrition
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• v.28 no.6
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• pp.1405-1407
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• 1999

A carotenoid pigment, which was a determinant for food quality, was extracted from a marine halophilic bacteria. The stability of the pigment extract was investigated for a food additive. The optimum temperature for stability was 20oC. The pigment degradation was significantly affected by solvent polarity, however, stable in salvent methanol and ethanol. The pigment degradation was highly sensitive to light and UV exposure.

• Microbiology and Biotechnology Letters
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• v.27 no.3
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• pp.246-251
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• 1999

To extend the storage period and to inhibit contamination of Kimchi by Escherichia coli, conditions of Kimchi brining and effects of the fermentation starter, halophilic Lactobacillus HL-48 were investigated. Optimum brining condition for Kimchi was accomplished in 15% NaCl and at pH2.5-3.0 adjusted by lactic acid. Starter-treated Kimchi showed pH 4.2 after 18hr fermentation, while the pH of starter-untreated Kimchi resulted in 3.3. After 36hr fermentation, the number of E. coli in starter-treated Kimchi was found clearly to decrease and not detected macroscopically, but contamination of E. coli (5.3$\times$103CFU/ml) was observed in starter-untreated sample. Organic acids in Kimchi contained organic acids such as oxalic acid, citric acid, malic acid and lactic acid. among ther, lactic acid content was remarkably high in the early fermentation stages. However, from 24hr fermentation, lactic acid content of starter-untreated Kimchi was higher than that of starter-treated Kimchi.

• Journal of Microbiology and Biotechnology
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• v.17 no.6
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• pp.985-992
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• 2007

The diversity of archaeal strains from six hypersaline environments in Turkey was analyzed by comparing their phenotypic characteristics and 16S rDNA sequences. Thirty-three isolates were characterized in terms of their phenotypic properties including morphological and biochemical characteristics, susceptibility to different antibiotics, and total lipid and plasmid contents, and finally compared by 16S rDNA gene sequences. The results showed that all isolates belong to the family Halobacteriaceae. Phylogenetic analyses using approximately 1,388 bp comparisions of 16S rDNA sequences demonstrated that all isolates clustered closely to species belonging to 9 genera, namely Halorubrum (8 isolates), Natrinema (5 isolates), Haloarcula (4 isolates), Natronococcus (4 isolates), Natrialba (4 isolates), Haloferax (3 isolates), Haloterrigena (3 isolates), Halalkalicoccus (1 isolate), and Halomicrobium (1 isolate). The results revealed a high diversity among the isolated halophilic strains and indicated that some of these strains constitute new taxa of extremely halophilic archaea.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.51 no.4
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• pp.427-434
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• 2015

Most of halophilic archaea are found in the various hypersaline environments including solar saltern, salt lake with very high salt concentration. The present study is about isolation and characterization of halphilic archaea from Gomso solar saltern known as a representative high salt environment in Korea. In order to isolate the halophilic archaea, we prepared and used high salt medium. Finally, total 7 strains obtained were tentatively identified based on comparative similarity analysis for 16S rRNA gene sequence and physiological traits. All halophilic archaea belonged to Haloruburm, Halogeometriucm, Halobacterium, and Haloarcula genera. These isolates were all Gram-staining negative, and growth was not observed using nitrate as an alternative electron acceptor under anaerobic conditions. In addition, all isolates required about 12-30% (w/v, NaCl) salt. This case study might provide basic information on microbial isolation technologies and related research in halophilic microorganisms from domestic halophilic environments, and contribute to obtaining useful indigenous halophilic archaea in a variety of extreme environmental conditions.

• Korean Journal of Microbiology
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.302-306
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• 2004

A total of forty strains of pigment-producing halophilic bacteria were isolated from the solar saltern and coastal seawater in Korea. The diversity of those bacteria were determined on the basis of PCR-RFLP and 16S rDNA sequences. The isolated strains were clssified into nine genera: Pseudoalteromonas, Photobacterium, Vibrio, Halobacillus, Bacillus, Paracoccus, Salinicoccus, Tenacilbaculum, and Flavobacterium. While more than $80\%$ of the pigment-producing halophilic bacteria isolated from the coastal seawater were classified as gram-negative Pseudolateromonas, most of the strains isolated from the solar saltern were classified into gram-positive Halo­bacillus. The other strain was KK7, which may be identified as novel species belonging to the genus, Salini­coccus.