Hydrogenophaga intermedia sp nov., a 4-aminobenzenesulfonate degrading organism

The taxonomic status of a Gram-negative, oxidase positive rod (strain S1) a ble to degrade 4-aminobenzenesulfonate was studied using a polyphasic appro ach. Chemotaxonomic investigations of quinones and polar lipids established the allocation of this strain to the beta-subclass of the Proteobacteria a nd revealed similarities to Hydrogenophaga palleronii. 16S rRNA sequence co mparisons demonstrated that this strain clusters phylogenetically with H. p alleronii and H. taeniospiralis, but clearly represents a new species. The fatty acid patterns and substrate utilization profile displayed similarity to the characteristics of the four validly published species of Hydrogenoph aga, although clear differentiating characters were also observed. No close similarities between the type strains of H. palleronii and H. taeniospiral is were detected in hybridization experiments with the genomic DNAs. On bas is of these results, the new species Hydrogenophaga intermedia sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain S1(T) (= DSM 5680).