Phylogeny and taxonomy of mesophilic Methanococcus spp. and comparison of rRNA, DNA hybridization, and phenotypic methods.

The phylogeny and taxonomy of the mesophilic methane-producing archaea of the order Methanococcales were examined by DNA relatedness, 16S rRNA sequence analysis, cellular protein patterns, and phenotypic methods. The mesophilic species Methanococcus maripaludis, Methanococcus vannielii, Methanococcus voltaei, and "Methanococcus aeolicus" formed a deep group with 5 to 30% DNA relatedness and 92 to 96% 16S rRNA sequence similarity. Twenty-two additional isolates and Methanococcus deltae were similar to the type strain of either M.

Clostridium hydroxybenzoicum sp. nov., an amino acid-utilizing, hydroxybenzoate-decarboxylating bacterium isolated from methanogenic freshwater pond sediment.

Clostridium hydroxybenzoicum JW/Z-1T (= ATCC 51151 = DSM 7310)) (T = type strain), isolated from freshwater pond sediment, is a nonmotile, gram type-positive, spore-forming, amino acid-utilizing, anaerobic rod. This bacterium produces two inducible enzymes that catalyze the decarboxylation of para-hydroxybenzoates. The phenols produced are not utilized.

Characterization of a new thermophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium Thermodesulfovibrio yellowstonii, gen. nov. and sp. nov.: its phylogenetic relationship to Thermodesulfobacterium commune and their origins deep within the bacterial domain.

A thermophilic sulfate-reducing vibrio isolated from thermal vent water in Yellowstone Lake, Wyoming, USA is described. The gram-negative, curved rod-shaped cells averaged 0.3 micrometer wide and 1.

Clostridium thermoalcaliphilum sp. nov., an anaerobic and thermotolerant facultative alkaliphile.

An anaerobic and thermophilic alkaliphile, strain JW/YL23-2T (T = type strain), was isolated from sewage sludge obtained from a sewage plant in Atlanta, Ga. At pH 10.1 and 50 degrees C, the doubling time of this strain was 19 min.

Arhodomonas aquaeolei gen. nov., sp. nov., an aerobic, halophilic bacterium isolated from a subterranean brine.

Arhodomonas aquaeolei gen. nov., sp.