[Biochemical characterization of Bacillus benzoevorans sp. nov., a new filamentous, sheathed mesophilic species, degrading various aromatic acids and phenols].

The eleven strains studied were prototrophic and did not grow in media containing only 1% Bacto-peptone or Bacto-tryptone; they grew rapidly in media containing 0.4% yeast extract and 0.2% sodium acetate or benzoate. The maximal growth temperature ranged from 39 to 45 degrees C. Six aliphatic acids, four aromatic acids and five phenols were used as sole carbon and energy sources by the 11 strains. Carbohydrates and amino acids (except for glycine) were not used as carbon and energy sources. Nitrate (but not nitrite) was used anaerobically as a respiratory electron acceptor. Nitrous oxide was used and reduced to N2 by only 3 strains. The mean guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was 41.3 +/- 1.1 mol %. Morphologically and nutritionally, the bacteria described are clearly different from the 5 known species of the first morphological group whose cells have a diameter greater than 1 micrometer: Bacillus megaterium, B. cereus, B. cereus var. mycoides, B. macroides, B. badius, and B. fastidiosus. Strain B1 (=CCM 3364) is the holotype of Bacillus benzoevorans sp. nov.