Abstract
A novel thermophilic Gram-positive bacillus, “Bacillus thermoantarcticus”, isolated from geothermal soil near the crater of Mount Melbourne, is described. The organism grows at an optimal temperature of 63°C at pH 6.0, is oxidase-positive, catalase-negative and produces an exopolysaccharide, an exocellular xylanase, an intracellular alcohol dehydrogenase and exo- and endocellular α-glucosidase(s). The sequence of 16S rDNA is very similar to that of “Bacillus thermoglucosidasius”; however, the guanine-plus-cytosine (G+C) content is 8 mol% higher. The type strain is “Bacillus thermoantarcticus” (DSM 9572).
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received : 3 February 1995/Accepted : 12 May 1995
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nicolaus, B., Lama, L., Esposito, E. et al. “Bacillus thermoantarcticus” sp. nov., from Mount Melbourne, Antarctica: a novel thermophilic species. Polar Biol 16, 101–104 (1996). https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050034
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s003000050034