A novel halotolerant species of cyanobacterium of the order Chroococcales was isolated from hypersaline estuary in Kwa-Zulu Natal, South Africa. A comprehensive polyphasic approach viz., cell morphology, pigment composition and complete genome sequence analysis was conducted to elucidate the taxonomic position of the isolated strain. The blue-green oval to rod-shaped cells were 14–18 μm in size, and contained a high amount of phycocyanin pigments. The strain was moderate thermotolerant/alkalitolerant halophile with the optimum conditions for growth at 35 °C, pH 8.5 and 120 g/l of NaCl. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogeny, the strain was related to members of the ‘Euhalothece’ subcluster (99%). The whole genome sequence was determined, and the annotated genes showed a 90% sequence similarity to the gas-vacuolate, spindle-shaped Dactylococcopsis salina PCC 8305. The size of the genome was determined to be 5,113,178 bp and contained 4332 protein-coding genes and 69 RNA genes with a G + C content of 46.7%. Genes encoding osmoregulation, oxidative stress, heat shock, persister cells, and UV-absorbing secondary metabolites, among others, were identified. Based on the phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences, physiological data, pigment compositions and genomic data, the strain is considered to represent a novel species of Euhalothece.

从南非夸瓦祖鲁纳塔尔州的高盐河口中分离出一种新的嗜盐蓝藻嗜盐菌。综合多相方法即进行了细胞形态学，色素组成和完整的基因组序列分析，以阐明分离菌株的分类位置。蓝绿色的椭圆形至杆状细胞大小为14–18μm，并且含有大量的藻蓝蛋白色素。该菌株是中等耐热性/耐碱性的嗜盐菌，具有在35°C，pH 8.5和120 g / l NaCl的条件下生长的最佳条件。基于16S rRNA基因序列的系统发育，该菌株与'Euhalothece'亚簇的成员有关（99％）。确定了整个基因组序列，并且注释的基因显示出与气体-真空，纺锤形的Dactylococcopsis盐沼有90％的序列相似性PCC8305。确定的基因组大小为5113178 bp，包含433​​2个蛋白质编码基因和69个RNA基因，G + C含量为46.7％。编码渗透压，氧化应激，热休克，持久性细胞和吸收紫外线的次生代谢产物的基因已被鉴定。基于对16S rRNA基因序列，生理数据，色素组成和基因组数据的系统发育分析，该菌株被认为代表了一种新的Euhalothece物种。