Marisia - Maros Megyei Múzeum Évkönyve 32-34. (2014)
Zoology
Mädälin ENACHE, Rázván FILIMON sub-Carpathian Mountains, having rivulet Särata as main water flow. Salt extraction in Telega has been performed by bell type exploitation technology [3, 5] starting before 1685. The extraction continued for more than 330 years, until to 1900, but there are some data that indicated that extraction has been made from old times [3]. After the salt extraction was abandoned, the traditionally tourism based on mineral waters, climateric resorts, cultural—historical and recreational resources, became an economical source for the area [22]. Telega salt deposit (Doftana-Telega) was formed in Neogene [4] and appeared to be a mixture of crystals of various colors from white to grey or swarthy. The deposit has a surface of 2.1 km2 and 0.7 km thickness [4]. Extremely halophilic microorganisms require high concentrations of NaCl for their growth, with optimum concentrations of 2.5—5.2 M (15— 30%), while moderately halophiles grow optimally in media containing 0.5-2.5 M (3-15%) NaCl [15]. Moreover, halotolerant microorganisms are able to grow in media without NaCl, but also in the presence of high concentrations of NaCl [15]. Halophilic archaea are extremely halophilic microorganisms, classified in the family Halobacteriaceae, where various species constitute 40 recognized genera [24]. Among these, the Haloferax and Haloarcula genera are commonly found in saline environments and best represented. The Haloferax genus was defined byToreblanca etal. [21] based on numerical taxonomic study and polar lipid composition on non-alkaliphilic halobacteria. The genus include species growing in media containing 1.0—5.2 M NaCl and high amount of magnesium and species harbor a characteristic lipid composition [12]. Currently this genus is constituted of 12 species comprising Haloferax volcanii [13, 21], Hfic. denitrificans [19, 20], Hfic. gibbonsii [10], Hfx. mediterranei [16], Hfic. alexandrinus [2], Hfic. lucentense [9], Hfic. sulfurifontis [8], Hfic. larsenii [23], Hfic. prahovense [6], Hfic. elongans and Hfic. mucosum [1] and Hfic. chudinovii [17]. The current work presents the characterization of a haloarchaeon isolated from rock salt crystal extracted from Telega salt deposit. This strain belongs to Haloferax genus, in accordance with our corroborated molecular and biochemical data according to proposed minimal standard for the description of new taxa in order Halo bacteriales [14]. Materials and methods The strain investigated in this work was obtained by courtesy of Dr. Sergiu Fendrihan, being isolated from rock salt crystal from Telega, Prahova county, Romania. In all experiments the strain was cultivated on JCM 168 medium of following composition (g/1): Bacto casamino acids (5), Bacto yeast extract (5), sodium glutamate (1), trisodium citrate (3), MgS04x7H20 (29.5), KC1 (2), NaCl (175.5), FeCl2x4H20 (0.036), MnCl2x4H20 (0.36 mg). The pH of the growth medium was 7.0-7.2 before autoclaving. The experiments for Gram-staining, lyses in distilled water, range and optimum growth parameters of NaCl/MgCl^H^O/pH/^C were in accordance with protocols previously described [6]. Catalase test: 2 ml H,0, were mixed with the loop-contained tested culture after 72 hours of growth on microscope glass slide. The positive response was recorded after 30 minutes if oxygen bubbles were observed. Oxidase test-, a loop-contained tested culture after 72 hours of growth were spread on paper bands containing 1% tetra-methyl-p-phenylendiamine. The positive response was recorded when blue color of paper appeared. Tests for H?S from sodium thyosulphate, and indole from tryptophan formation reactions, anaerobic growth in the presence of nitrate, nitrate to nitrite reduction, and producing gas from 112
