CHARACTERIZATION OF A NOVEL SALT-TOLERANT BACILLUS SP FROM THE NASAL CAVITIES OF DESERT IGUANAS

A Gram-positive halophile designated strain DD1 was isolated from the nasal cavities of desert iguanas (Dipsosaurus dorsalis). Strain DD1 gr ew well in 2.5 M KCl or 2 M NaCl, formed spherical refractile endospor es within swollen terminal sporangia, had a temperature optimum of 45 degrees C, tolerated pH conditions from 6.5 to 10, and grew both aerob ically and anaerobically in media containing 1 M KNO3 or 0.1 M KNO2 as electron acceptor. Characterization of strain DD1 by standard physiol ogical tests suggested that it may define a new species of the genus B acillus.