PURPOSE: To provide a new transformed thermus bacteria having increased carotenoid productivity.

CONSTITUTION: A DNA fragment containing a gene participating in the biosynthesis of carotenoid is separated from a chromosome of a strain originated from Thermus thermophilus HB27 and the fragment is cloned to determine the base sequence of the gene. A plasmid able to be replicated and proliferated in a Thermus bacteria containing introduced DNA fragment is prepared. The strain originated from carotenoid-producing Thermus thermophilus HB27 transformed with the plasmid has remarkably increased carotenoid productivity.