Isolation and Characterization of Clostridium stercorarium sp. nov., Cellulolytic Thermophile

Abstract

Clostridium stercorarium, a new species of anaerobic, sporeforming, thermophilic, saccharoclastic, cellulolytic bacteria, is described. The colonies produced by these bacteria on cellobiose agar are 3 to 6 mm in diameter, cream colored, glossy, and umbonate with fiat, entire margins. Single cells are straight rods 0.7 to 0.8 by 2.7 to 7.7 μm, with oval terminal spores. Fermentation products from cellulose include hydrogen, carbon dioxide, ethanol, acetate, and lactate. The deoxyribonucleic acid base composition of the type strain of C. stercorarium, NCIB 11754, is 39 mol% guanine plus cytosine, and its temperature optimum is 65%C. The specific epithet refers to the source of the original isolate, rotting vegetation (a compost heap).