Abstract
A Gram-positive, aerobic, heterotrophic, thermophilic, non-spore-forming coccus has been found to be the dominating microorganism in Swedish beet sugar extraction plants. Eight strains of this coccus are characterized in terms of their morphology and biochemical reactions. The main metabolite of sucrose degradation is L-lactic acid. The optimum temperature range is 68-70 °C. Two strains of the coccus were screened for plasmids. One strain contains two plasmids, 38 and 26 megadaltons in size. The other strain contains only one plasmid, 38 megadaltons in size. The characteristics of the coccus differ from other Gram-positive cocci described. The GC content of the DNA of the coccus and its cell wall composition were found to be similar to those of Bacillus stearothermophilus. It is suggested that the coccus represents a new genus and species, Saccharococcus thermophilus. Strain 657 is the type strain and it has been deposited in the Czechoslovak Collection of Microorganisms (Brno) under the number CCM 3586.
Published Version
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