Reevaluating the classification of Halobacteroides and Haloanaerobacter species based on sequence comparisons of the

The 16s rRNA gene (rDNA) sequence analysis of four halophilic anaerobes: Halobacteroides Izulobius, H. lacunaris, Haloa17aerobc~cter fHb.) ckitirzocorurzs and H. acetoetlzylicus confirmed that they were all members of the family Haloanaerobiaceae. H. lacunaris and H. halobius were found to be more closely related to each other and were distantly related to Sporohalobacrer lortetti and the members of the genera Haloanaerobium and Hczlothermothrix. These data are in agreement with their assignment to the genus Halobacreroides. Further analysis indicated that Hb. chitinocorms was closely affiliated to members of the genus Halobacteroides, and therefore we propose to transfer it to the genus Halobacteroides as H. chitinooornn.s comb. nov. This transfer would invalidate the genus Haloanaerobacter, as Hb. clzitinouorans is the only member of this genus. The 16s rDNA sequence analysis of H. ucetoethylicunz indicated that it was very closely related to members of the genus Huloa~iuerobiuin, viz. Huloarzaerobiur~ (Ha.) praecalens, Ha. salsugo, and Ha. alcaliplzilunz, and hence we propose to transfer it to the genus Haloannerobiunz as Ha. acetoetlzylicus comb. nov.