Description:
<jats:p>A Gram-negative, spore-forming anaerobe, KS<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>, was isolated from an enrichment culture that was set up for anaerobic degradation of the aliphatic polyester poly(propylene adipate). The strain had the cellular organization of <jats:italic>Sporomusa</jats:italic>, vibrio-shaped cells and terminal round spores, and fermented sugars and sugar alcohols to propionic and acetic acid. Based on the morphological and physiological features as well as on a 16S rRNA gene similarity of 98 %, it was grouped with <jats:italic>Propionispora vibrioides</jats:italic>. A relatively low DNA–DNA hybridization value with the type strain of this species (47 %), and differences in substrate utilization and spore morphology, suggested that the strain should be classified in a separate species, <jats:italic>Propionispora hippei</jats:italic> sp. nov., with KS<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> as the type strain (=DSM 15287<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>=ATCC BAA-665<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>).</jats:p>