A new benzoate-utilizing strain, Serratia marcescens DS-8, isolated from the environment was characterized. The
strain was enterobacilli, Gram negative, mesophilic, non halophilic, and aerobic bacterium that showed motile ovale-
rod shaped cells. The isolate produced extracellular chitinase, protease, and prodigiosin (a red pigment produced by
several Serratia strains yielding bright red or pink colonies). A physiological assay using Microbact* test showed that the
strain was closely related to Klebsiella ozaenae  (49.85%) and Serratia liquefaciens  (24.42%), respectively. However,
16S rRNA sequence analysis indicated that the strain was closely related to  S. marcescens  DSM 30121 with
similarity level of 98%. DS-8 strain was able to synthesize its own vitamins. Optimum growth in benzoate was
obtained at pH between 7-8.5 and NaCl concentration of 1-1.5% (w/v). The isolate could grow in benzoate-containing
medium up to 10 mM. Other carbon sources that could support the growth of DS-8 were casamino acid, glutamate, glucose,
acetate, potato starch, and ethanol.