During screening for cyclodextrin-forming microorganisms, an alkalophilic Bacillus sp, which produced high activity of cyclodextrin glycosyltransferase, was isolated and identified as Bacillus firmus. The crude enzyme transformed starch to mainly beta-and gamma-cyclodextrin. The purified enzyme had an optimum pH of 7.5-8.5 and its optimum temperature was 65 degrees C, which is the highest optimum temperature as compared to other cyclodextrin glycosyltransferases except that produced by Bacillus amyloliquefaciens.186402405