Fermentative degradation of 3-hydroxybenzoate in pure culture by a novel strictly anaerobic bacterium, Sporotomaculum hydroxybenzoicum gen. nov., sp. nov.

A strictly anaerobic bacterium, strain BT, from termite hindgut homogenates, was isolated in pure culture and grew on 3-hydroxybenzoate as sole source of carbon and energy. No other substrate tested was degraded, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate, nitrate, ferric iron, oxygen or fumarate were not reduced, and no electron transfer to partner organisms was observed. 3-Hydroxybenzoate was fermented to butyrate, acetate and CO2. Benzoate was detected in the culture supernatant as an intermediate. The isolate was a slightly motile, endosporeforming 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 significantly due to its lack of dissimilatory sulfate reduction, and is therefore described as the type strain of a new genus and species. Sporotomaculum hydroxybenzoicum gen. nov., sp. nov.