Hydrogenoanaerobacterium saccharovorans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from H2-producing UASB granules.

Two strictly anaerobic bacterial strains, designated SW512(T) and W72, were isolated from a laboratory-scale H(2)-producing up-flow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. Cells were Gram-stain-negative, non-motile and 0.3-0.4x2.0-14.5 mum; they did not form spores. Both strains grew at 24-45 degrees C (no growth at <or=22 degrees C or >or=46 degrees C), with optimum growth at 37 degrees C. The pH range for growth was 4.5-9.0 (no growth at pH<or=4.2 or pH>or=9.3), with optimum growth at pH 6.5-7.0. Several kinds of mono-, di- and oligosaccharides supported growth. The main end products of glucose fermentation were ethanol, acetate, hydrogen and carbon dioxide (according to the equation 1 mol glucose-->1.1 mol acetate+0.6 mol ethanol+2.6 mol H(2)+1.6 mol CO(2)). The DNA G+C contents of strains SW512(T) and W72 were 41.9+/-0.5 and 42.8+/-0.4 mol% (T(m) method), respectively. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities indicated that the two strains represent a new phyletic sublineage within the family 'Ruminococcaceae', with <91.3 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to recognized species. On the basis of the polyphasic evidence in this study, it is proposed that the two strains represent a novel species in a new genus, for which the name Hydrogenoanaerobacterium saccharovorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of the type species is SW512(T) (=AS 1.5070(T)=JCM 14861(T)).