PRELIMINARY DESCRIPTION OF A NOVEL SPECIES OF HALOPHILIC METHYLOBACTERIA OF <i>METHYLOPHAGA </i>GENUS FROM THE LANDFILL LEACHATE
A moderately halophilic methylotrophic denitrifier RS-MM3 from weakly alkaline (pH 8.0-8.3) landfill leachate with high levels of dissolved nitrogen compounds and methane (Perm city, Russia) was isolated and identified. The isolate have been defined as aerobic active denitrifier on the pyruvate contain medium. Growth occurred at 0.02-5% СН <sub>3</sub>ОН, 0.2-10% NaCl at temperatures between 10 and 40°C and pH 6.09.5. Facultative methylotroph, methanol, methylamine, fructose and sucrose are used as carbon and energy sources. Under optimal conditions (30°C, pH 7.8, 30 g/l NaCl, 20 |ig/l of vitamin B <sub>12</sub>) with 5 ml/l of methanol the major fatty acids are C <sub>16:1to7c</sub>, C <sub>16:0</sub>, C <sub>18:1to7c</sub>. The DNA G+C content of the obtained strain is 43.9 mol%. Using genotyping and phenotyping parameters isolate was affiliated with methylotrophic representatives within the genus Methylophaga of the Gammaproteobacteria as a Methylophaga RS-MM3 sp. nov. Phylogenetic similarity with moderately haloalkaliphilic species of Methylophaga genus reached the interspecies level (95.3-96.7%).