[Mesophilic rod-like nonsporeforming bacterium reducing sulfates]

Abstract

A pure culture of a new organism, strain X, reducing sulphates is described. According to its morphological, physiological and biochemical properties, the organism is classed as a new species. Desulfovibrio baculatus nov. sp. The cells have the shape of short rods, 1.3X0.6 mcm, with a polar flagellum 0.021 mcm thick. It is an obligate anaerobic culture growing on media only in the presence of sulphates at the account of sodium salts of lactic, pyruvic and malic acids and also in the presence of yeast autolysate at the account of formate and hydrogen. Sulphate, sulphite and thiosulphate can serve as acceptors of electrons during growth on lactate. The organism grows at 2 to 41 degree C in the presence of up to 6% NaCl in the medium and does not require NaCl for its growth. The cells do not contain desulphoviridine as was proved by fluorescence. Hemes of cytochromes b and c were found in the cells. The content of G+C base pairs in DNA is 56.8+/-0.4 mole %. The culture was isolated from dumps of manganese ore.