Fig. 1

Microbial Structures in CCB. (a) A CCB microbial mat characterized by stratified, colorful layers used for isolation of H. salinarum AD88. The upper most salt crust, composed primarily of halite crystals, often harbors halophilic microorganisms, including extremophilic archaea such as Halobacterium spp. and some halophilic bacteria. Beneath the crust, stratified microbial layers exhibit distinct colors due to the presence of pigments like chlorophylls (green layer), carotenoids (orange-red), and phycobiliproteins, reflecting the diversity of cyanobacteria, purple sulfur bacteria, and other anaerobes in deeper strata, (b) SEM image of a cluster of Halobacterium salinarum AD88 cells. The cells exhibit pleomorphic morphology, including variations in size and shape, a characteristic feature of haloarchaea. This structural adaptability aids survival in extreme saline conditions, facilitating aggregation and biofilm formation, which enhance resource acquisition and stress resistance, (c) Scanning Electron Micrograph (SEM) of a single rod-shaped cell of Halobacterium salinarum AD88, with a measured length of approximately 3.09 μm