A novel strain, Bacillus fusiformis CGMCC1347, with high vanillin yield from isoeugenol, was isolated from soil. This strain was utilized successfully to transform isoeugenol to vanillin and the product inhibition could be well avoided by addition of resin HD-8. After 72 h reaction, the vanillin concentration reached 8.10 g l(-1) vanillin from 50 g F 1 isoeugenol under the condition of adding 12.5 g resin HD-8 in 20 ml reaction solution at pH 7.0, 37 degrees C and 180 rpm. Isoeugenol and vanillin in HD-8 could be well separated. Vanillin separation yield and isoeugenol recovery were 78.4% and 69.9%, respectively. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.