ISOLATION AND CHARACTERIZATION OF RHODOTHERMUS STRAINS FROM S-MIGUEL, AZORES

Ten strains of the eubacterial genus Rhodothermus isolated from a shallow marine hydrothermal area on the island of S. Miguel, Azores, the type strain of Rhodothermus marinus from Iceland, and several high-temperature strains of the genus Thermus isolated at the same site, as well as "Thermus thermophilus" HB-8, Thermus strains B and RQ-1 were subjected to a numerical classification study based on 52 characters. All Rbodothermus isolates from S. Miguel were very similar to R. marinus, but easily distinguishable from the Thermus strains. The Rbodotbermus strains were moderately halophilic, cytochrome oxidase negative, resistant to aminoglycoside antibiotics, poorly proteolytic, did not reduce nitrate and did not grow anaerobically in the presence of nitrate.