Rhodococcus opacus B4

Rhodococci are aerobic, Gram positive actinomycetes of high G+C content, capable of morphological differentiation in response to their environment (e.g., cocci or filaments). These widely occurring organisms are of considerable environmental and biotechnological importance due to their broad metabolic diversity and array of unique enzymatic capabilities. These are of interest to the pharmaceutical, environmental, chemical and energy sectors. Specific applications include the desulphurization of fossil fuels and the industrial production of acrylamide. Rhodococci are well suited for bioremediation due to their capacity for long term survival in soil, their exceptional ability to degrade hydrophobic pollutants even in the presence of more readily assimilable carbon sources, and their ability to accumulate high levels of heavy metals.Strain B4 was isolated from a soil sample taken from the roadside in Hiroshima, Japan. It is a benzene-tolerant, Gram-postitive, non-motile, strictly aerobic rod, able to use many organic compound as its sole source of carbon and energy (adapted from PubMed 16233805). (HAMAP: RHOOB)