Pontibacillus sp. ALD_SL1 and Psychroflexus sp. ALD_RP9, two novel moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from sediment and water from the Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles

Researchers have identified two novel, moderately halophilic bacterial species—Pontibacillus sp. ALD_SL1 and Psychroflexus sp. ALD_RP9—from the unique saline environments of Aldabra Atoll in the Seychelles. Pontibacillus sp. ALD_SL1 stands out as the third facultatively anaerobic member of its genus, capable of fermenting pyruvate under low-oxygen conditions, while its genome uniquely harbors a megaplasmid. Psychroflexus sp. ALD_RP9 demonstrates exceptional pH tolerance, surviving up to pH 10.5—the highest recorded for its genus—and employs bacteriorhodopsins for energy production. Both species exhibit remarkable adaptations to high-salinity conditions, yet employ distinct survival strategies, highlighting the biodiversity and ecological resilience of Aldabra Atoll's extreme environments.

von Hoyningen-Huene, A. J. E., Schlotthauer, T. J., Schneider, D., Poehlein, A., & Daniel, R. (2021). Pontibacillus sp. ALD_SL1 and Psychroflexus sp. ALD_RP9, two novel moderately halophilic bacteria isolated from sediment and water from the Aldabra Atoll, Seychelles. Plos One, 16(8), e0256639. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0256639