FERMENTATIVE DEGRADATION OF 3-HYDROXYBENZOATE IN PURE CULTURE BY A NOVEL STRICTLY ANAEROBIC BACTERIUM, SPOROTOMACULUM-HYDROXYBENOICUM GEN. NOV., SP. NOV

A strictly anaerobic bacterium, strain BT, from termite hindgut homoge nates, was isolated in pure culture and grew on 3-hydroxybenzoate as s ole source of carbon and energy. No other substrate tested was degrade d, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, nitrate, ferric iron, oxygen or fuma rate were not reduced, and no electron transfer to partner organisms w as observed. 3-Hydroxybenzoate was fermented to butyrate, acetate and CO2. Benzoate was detected in the culture supernatant as an intermedia te. The isolate was a slightly motile, endospore-forming Gram-positive rod; 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed a high similarity to members of the genus Desulfotomaculum. The G+C content of the DNA was 48 mol% , Strain BT differs from the members of the genus Desulfotomaculum sig nificantly due to its lack of dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and is therefore described as the type strain of a new genus and species, Spo rotomaculum hydroxybenzoicum gen. nov., sp. nov.