H. halophila is a Gram-negative bacterium within the gamma subdivision of the phylum Proteobacteria and is known to be phototrophic (Class: Gammaproteobacteria).
[2] H. halophila produces organic solutes such as glycine, betaine and ectoine, to balance the osmotic pressure.
Its ability for photoautotrophic growth under extreme conditions, and it is distinguished by its characteristic sulfur metabolism.
The bacterium has a low cytoplasmic potassium content, even when grown in medium containing high KCl concentrations, as has been established by x-ray microanalysis and plasma emission spectrometry.
H. halophila also serves in the production of organic solutes such as glycine, betaine, ectoine, and trehalose.