STUDIES ON A NEW OXALATE-DECOMPOSING BACTERIUM, PSEUDOMONAS OXALATICUS

Abstract

Since Bhat and Barker (1948) reviewed the existing literature and reported on the isolation and characteristics of an oxalate-decomposing Vibrio, only two attempts appear to have been made to study the problem of oxalate decomposition by microorganisms. One of the studied reported (Janota, 1950) relates to the utilization of oxalate by Psudomonas extorquens Basalik, whereas the other by Muiller (1950) pertains to the oxalate-decomposing species of Proactinomyces isolated from soils, water, and sheep rumina. The purpose of this paper is to present the details of the isolation and the description of another oxalate-decomposing bacterium isolated from the intestinal tract of common Indian earthworms including the Pheretima species.