# Idiomarina aminovorans sp. nov., a halophilic bacterium isolated from the Llamara salt pan in the Atacama Desert of northern Chile

## TL;DR

Scientists discovered a new salt-loving bacterium in the Atacama Desert that can survive in extreme conditions and may have biotech applications.

## Contribution

A new species of halophilic bacterium, Idiomarina aminovorans, with unique isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways is described.

## Key findings

- Strain ATCH4T grows in 3–12% NaCl, 4–40°C, and pH 6–9, showing strong halophilicity.
- Genomic analysis revealed genes for isoprenoid synthesis, which may aid survival in hypersaline environments.
- DNA-DNA and genomic data confirm ATCH4T as a novel species within the genus Idiomarina.

## Abstract

The Atacama Desert, one of the most extreme environments on our planet, harbors a plethora of unique microbial communities adapted to the harsh conditions of the habitat. In this study, strain ATCH4T, a novel Gram-stain-negative, curved rod-shaped bacterium, was isolated from the Llamara salt pan, located in the Atacama Desert in the north of Chile. ATCH4T was capable of growth within a range of 3–12% (w/v) NaCl, 4–40 °C, and pH 6–9. Comparative 16S rRNA analysis placed the strain within the genus Idiomarina, with its closest related type species being I. loihiensis, I. ramblicola, and I. abyssalis. Genomic analysis revealed the presence of several genes linked to halophilicity as well as unique metabolic pathways, including the ability to synthesize C5 and C10–C20 isoprenoids, which may contribute to the isolate’s survival in hypersaline conditions. The observed isoprenoid biosynthesis pathways suggest potential applications in various biotechnological fields, including the production of biofuels, pharmaceuticals, and other valuable chemicals. Levels of DNA-DNA relatedness, average nucleotide identity, and several phenotypic and chemotaxonomic markers clearly indicate that strain ATCH4T represents a novel species of the genus Idiomarina, for which the designation Idiomarina
aminovorans sp. nov. (type strain ATCH4T = DSM 114475 = LMG 32710) is proposed.

The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00792-025-01399-x.