Sporomusa,a new genus of gram-negative anaerobic bacteria including Sporomusa sphaeroides spec. nov. and Sporomusa ovata spec. nov.

A new genus of strictly anaerobic, gram-negative, banana-shaped bacteria is described. Cells formed spores and were motile by means of up to 15 laterally inserted flagella. Nitrate or sulfate were not used as electron acceptor. Organic substrates that were fermented included N-methyl compounds, such as betaine, N,N-dimethylglycine and sarcosine, primary alcohols, hydroxy fatty acids, and 2,3-butanediol. In addition, molecular hydrogen and carbon dioxide were fermented to acetate. The latter was the characteristic fermentation product in general. During growth on betaine, trimethylamine was formed in addition. The degradation of N,N-dimethylglycine yielded acetate, monomethylamine, and trimethylamine. The presence of cytochrome b and of ubiquinone in the cells was shown. The deoxyribonuleic acid base composition of the strains was between 41.3 and 47.4 mol% guanine plus cytosine. The name Sporomusa is proposed for this new genus. On the basis of the DNA-DNA homology values obtained, the shape of the spores and some other properties, the isolated strains were assigned to two species. Names proposed: Sporomusa sphaeroides and Sporomusa ovata. The type species is S. sphaeroides and the type strains are strain E, DSM 2875 (S. sphaeroides) and strain H1, DSM 2662 (S. ovata).Dedicated to Prof. H. G. Schlegel on the occasion of his 60th birthday