Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis sp. nov., an anaerobic, extremely thermophilic, xylanolytic bacterium

An anaerobic, extremely thermophilic, xylanolytic, non-spore-forming bacterium was isolated from a sediment sample taken from Owens Lake, California, and designated strain OLT (T = type strain). Strain OLT had a Gramnegative reaction and occurred as short rods which sometimes formed long chains containing a few coccoid cells. It grew at 50-80 degrees C, with an optimum at 75 degrees C. The pH range for growth was 5.5-9.0 with an optimum at about pH 7.5. When grown on glucose at optimal conditions, its doubling time was 7.3 h. In addition to glucose, the isolate utilized sucrose, xylose, fructose, ribose, xylan, starch, pectin and cellulose. Yeast extract stimulated growth on carbohydrates but was not obligately required. The end products from glucose fermentation were lactate, acetate, ethanol, H2 and CO2. The G + C content of strain OLT was 36.6 mol%. The 16S rDNA sequence analysis indicated that strain OLT was a member of the subdivision containing Gram-positive bacteria with DNA G + C content of less than 55 mol% and clustered with members of the genus Caldicellulosiruptor. Because strain OLT is phylogenetically and phenotypically different from other members of this genus, it is proposed to designate this isolate Caldicellulosiruptor owensensis sp. nov. Strain OLT is the type strain (= ATCC 700167T).