CLOSTRIDIUM HYDROXYBENZOICUM SP-NOV, AN AMINO ACID-UTILIZING, HYDROXYBENZOATE-DECARBOXYLATING BACTERIUM ISOLATED FROM METHANOGENIC FRESH-WATER POND SEDIMENT

Clostridium hydroxybenzoicum JW/Z-1(T) (= ATCC 51151 = DSM 7310) (T = type strain), isolated from freshwater pond sediment, is a nonmotile, gram type-positive, spore-forming, amino acid-utilizing, anaerobic rod . This bacterium produces two inducible enzymes that catalyze the deca rboxylation of para-hydroxybenzoates. The phenols produced are not uti lized. C. hydroxybenzoicum requires yeast extract for growth. Sugars a re not utilized. Sodium ions and acetic acid stimulate growth. The opt imal temperature and optimal pH for growth are 33 to 34 degrees C and 7.2 to 8.2, respectively. The DNA base composition of the type strain is 35.5 mol% guanine plus cytosine, whereas the DNA base compositions of the type strains of Clostridium sticklandii and Clostridium aminova lericum are 33 and 33.5 mol% guanine plus cytosine, respectively, as d etermined by a chemical method. 16S rRNA sequence analysis groups stra in JW/Z-1(T) most closely with Clostridium purinolyticum and Clostridi um acidiurici (10.6 and 11 inferred changes per 100 bases, respectivel y). However, C. hydroxybenzoicum does not utilize uric acid, hypoxanth ine, xanthine, adenine, or guanine. The cell wall type is A1 alpha (L- Lys direct).