Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>A novel methanogenic strain, CaP3V-MF-L2A<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>, was isolated from an exploratory oil well from Cahuita National Park, Costa Rica. The cells were irregular cocci, 0.8–1.8 μm in diameter, stained Gram-negative and were motile. The strain utilized H<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>/CO<jats:sub>2</jats:sub>, formate and the primary and secondary alcohols 1-propanol and 2-propanol for methanogenesis, but not acetate, methanol, ethanol, 1-butanol or 2-butanol. Acetate was required as carbon source. The novel isolate grew at 25–40 °C, pH 6.0–7.5 and 0–2.5% (w/v) NaCl. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the strain is affiliated to the genus <jats:italic>Methanofollis</jats:italic>. It shows 98.8% sequence similarity to its closest relative <jats:italic>Methanofollis ethanolicus</jats:italic>. The G + C content is 60.1 mol%. Based on the data presented here type strain CaP3V-MF-L2A<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> (= DSM 113321<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> = JCM 39176<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>) represents a novel species, <jats:italic>Methanofollis propanolicus</jats:italic> sp. nov.</jats:p>