General Information: Sphingobium japonicum (strain NBRC 101211 / UT26S) is a yellow-pigmented, non-motile, aerobic, hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH)-degrading Gram-negative bacterium isolated from a dumpsite in the vicinity of an industry that has been producing lindane. Sphingobium japonicum, formerly Sphingomonas paucimobilis, is able to degrade hexachlorocyclohexane which has been used extensively as insect control agents in the health and agriculture fields.