Photobacterium proteolyticum sp. nov., a protease-producing bacterium isolated from ocean sediments of Laizhou Bay.

A protease-producing bacterial strain, 13-12T, was isolated from the ocean sediment of Laizhou Bay, PR China and systematically studied. The bacterium was Gram-stain negative, non spore-forming rods, which were motile with two flagella. It was positive for oxidase, the hydrolysis of starch, agar and gelatin, and for nitrate reduction.

Diversity of Cultivable Protease-Producing Bacteria in Laizhou Bay Sediments, Bohai Sea, China.

Protease-producing bacteria are widespread in ocean sediments and play important roles in degrading sedimentary nitrogenous organic materials. However, the diversity of the bacteria and the proteases involved in such processes remain largely unknown especially for communities in enclosed sea bays. Here, we investigated the diversity of the extracellular protease-producing bacteria and their protease types in Laizhou Bay.