BACILLUS OLERONIUS SP-NOV, A MEMBER OF THE HINDGUT FLORA OF THE TERMITE RETICULITERMES SANTONENSIS (FEYTAUD)

A new rod-shaped endospore-forming bacterium is described, which was i solated from the hindgut of the termite Reticulitermes santonensis (Fe ytaud). The isolate stains Gram negative and its DNA has a guanine-plu s-cytosine content of 35 mol%. Despite the Gram-staining reaction, bot h biochemical and physiological features place the isolate in the genu s Bacillus and indicate a phenotypic resemblance to the Bacillus firmu s-lentus group of species. On the basis of comparative 16S rRNA analys is and some phenotypic features the isolate clearly represents a new s pecies for which the name Bacillus oleronius is proposed. The type str ain is Bacillus oleronius Rt 10 (DSM 9356).