Bacteria Genomes - OCEANOBACILLUS IHEYENSIS

In 1998, Japanese researchers discovered a previously unknown organism in mud taken from the sea at a depth of 1050m, near Okinawa, Japan. It soon became clear that they had stumbled upon a new species in a new genus, consequently it was named Oceanobacillus iheyensis-or 'small ocean bacillus pertaining to the Iheya Ridge.'

This organism is extremely salt-tolerant. The researchers were surprised to find that O. iheyensis grows at depths of up to 3,000 m. The bacteria thrive under high hydrostatic pressure and grow optimally at about 30 degrees Celsius and genes were discovered that help the organism adapt to the highly saline and alkaline environment.

O. iheyensis has at least 29 'proteolytic' enzymes, which can be used as additives in laundry detergent and could be important for future industrial applications.

References:

Nucleic Acids Res. 30 (18):3927-3935 (2002)
FEMS Microbiol. Lett. 205:291-297(2001)
http://genomenewsnetwork.org/sequenced_genomes/genome_guide_p3.shtml#ocea