Two potentially novel aerobic and thermophilic bacteria, Brevibacillus sp. JXL and Anoxybacillus sp. 527, isolated in our lab from swine waste grow optimally at 57^oC. Cellulase activities measured as filter paper unit (FPU) were observed to be optimal at 70^oC. In addition, we have found that cellulases produced by these two bacteria can be induced by the presence of cellobiose and glucose with optimal doses of 0.5 or 1%. Most interestingly, we identified cellulosome-resembling structures when strain JXL was grown on different carbon sources. These cellulosome-like extracellular protuberant structures were most abundant in culture with glucose, followed by cellobiose and without sugar addition.

The genome of strain JXL was recently sequenced. Initial investigation of the draft genome revealed that it has 2 copies of endo-1,4-beta-glucodiase, 6 copies of xylanase, 10 copies of glucoamylase, and 4 copies of glycosidase. Further understanding of gene regulation and expression is underway.