Isolation and characterization of an anaerobic benzoate-degrading spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacterium, DESULFOTOMACULUM SAPOMANDENS sp. nov.

Spore-forming sulfate-reducing bacteria (SRB) were enriched selectively from various kinds of aerobic soils with fatty acids as the sole carbon and energy source. A Gram-negative motile rodshaped bacterium, which produced gas vacuoles during sporulation was isolated. It degraded alcohols, aromatic and n-fatty acids (up to C18) except for propionate, completely to CO2. Sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate or elemental sulfur served as electron acceptors. Because of its sensitivity to H2S, the isolate never produced more than 8 mM dissolved sulfide at pH 7.0 G + C-content of the DNA WAS 48.0 mol %. The isolated strain Pato is described as a new species DESULFOTOMACULUM SAPOMANDENS. (Résumé d'auteur