Halanaerobium praevalens

Halanaerobium praevalens is an obligately anaerobic, Gram-negative, non-motile, non-sporulating, straight rod-shaped bacterium. The Great Salt Lake it was first isolated from is hypersaline, with surface sediments at >20% NaCl. The bacterium grows best at a concentration of ~13% NaCl, with no significant growth at <2% or ≥30%. The pH range for growth is between 6.0 and 9.0, with an optimum between 7.0 and 7.4. Temperature range for growth is >5°C and <60°C, with an optimum at 37ºC.[1][2]

As of 2011, H. praevalens's genome has been completely sequenced, utilizing the Illumina and 454 gene-sequencing platforms. The genome is 2,309,262 bp long, with 2,110 protein-coding, and 70 RNA genes. The bacterium's closest relative within Halanaerobium is thought to be H. alcaliphilum.[2]

H. praevalens is of interest for bioremediation purposes, thanks to its ability to degrade organic pollutants. It is able to quickly reduce a variety of nitro-substituted aromatic compounds, and has been shown to be involved in carbon sequestration in the Great Salt Lake.[1][2]

This chemoorganotroph also functions hydrolytically, fermenting complex organic matter, and producing intermediary metabolites for other trophic groups, including sulfate-reducing and methanogenic bacteria.[1][2] H. praevalens is among the bacteria which are responsible for the fermentation of the Baltic Sea herring used to make the pungent Swedish delicacy surströmming.[3]

• Alkaliphiles
• Halophiles