Abstract:[Objective] To isolate and identify a novel strain with cis-epoxysuccinate hydrolase (CESH) activity and to optimize its enzyme production. [Methods] The isolated strain was identified by electron microscopy, Biolog gram negative (GN) test, G+C (guanine plus cytosine) content measurement and 16S rDNA sequence. The purified enzymatic biotransformed product was identified by IR, 1H-NMR, 13C-NMR, MS and optical rotation analysis. Then the fermentation conditions for CESH production were optimized. [Results] A novel CESH-producing strain was isolated for biotransforming cis-epoxysuccinate to D(-)-tartaric acid. It was assigned to genus Bordetella and named Bordetella sp. BK-52. The optimal conditions were found to be 30°C, pH 7.0, fermentation time 36 h, car-bon source of saccharose, inorganic nitrogen source of ammonium sulfate and enzyme inducer of disodium cis-epoxysuccinate. Under these conditions, the maximum CESH activity reached 764 U/g biomass. [Conclusion] The isolated Bordetella sp. BK-52 provided a new alternative for biosynthesis of D(-)-tartaric acid from cis-epoxysuccinate.