[Blastobacter viscosus, a new species of methanol-utilizing autotrophic bacteria]

A strain of budding bacteria capable of autotrophic growth in the atmosphere of H2+O2+CO2 or in a medium with methanol was isolated from activated sludge. The cells are Gram negative nonmotile yellow pleomorphic rods which do not form rosettes. The bacterium is a strict aerobe. It utilizes a wide range of organic compounds (alcohols, sugars and organic acids) as the sources of carbon and energy. The G+C content of DNA is 66.3 +/- 0.9 mol %. Based on the study of morphological, cultural, and physiologo-biochemical properties, the strain has been assigned to the genus Blastobacter. A new species, Blastobacter viscosus sp. nov. different from other known blastobacteria in certain morphological and physiological properties, is described.