Aerobic degradation of 2-sulphobenzoic acid by Pseudomonas strain SB(W)

A 2-sulphobenzoic acid-degrading bacterium, Pseudomonas sp. strain SB(W), was isolated from creosote-contaminated soil. It used this compound as its sole carbon, sulphur and energy source, and gave a nearly stoichiometric release of sulphate from 2-sulphobenzoic acid. It did not grow on 3- or 4-sulphobenzoic acids. Isolate SB(W) produced two transient metabolites. The first to appear, and the more abundant metabolite, was identified as 2,3-dihydroxybenzoic acid. The second metabolite was identified as salicylic acid. Both of these compounds served as growth substrates for the isolate.