Abstract
Two Gram-positive, endospore-forming, alkaliphilic bacteria were isolated from water samples obtained from the Okuhida hot spa area of Japan. The unknown bacteria were characterized using phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. On the basis of phylogenetic evidence and phenotypic distinctiveness, a new species, Bacillus okuhidensis sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Bacillus okuhidensis is GTC 854(T) (=JCM 10945(T)=DSM 13666(T)).