Akio Seino

Amended Description of the Genus Kineosporia, Based on Chemotaxonomic and Morphological Studies

The description of the genus Kineosporia is amended after chemotaxonomic and morphological studies of the type strain of the type species, Kineosporia aurantiaca JCM 3230. This organism yielded both ll- and meso-diaminopimelic acids, which suggested that the former is present in the mycelium and the latter is present in the spores. There was no characteristic sugar pattern. A diagnostic phospholipid was phosphatidylcholine, and a major menaquinone component was MK-9(H4). No iso/anteiso branched fatty acids and no mycolic acids were observed. Colonies on agar lacked aerial mycelia, formed central projections including spores, and were occasionally accompanied by bunches of spore clusters in the agar. Spores were catenated or were located singly or aggregately at the tips of the vegetative hyphae. Our data indicate that the strain representative of the genus Kineosporia shows some similarity to the spore dome actinomycetes described by Willoughby and by Makkar and Cross.

Nocardia seriolae sp. nov. causing nocardiosis of cultured fish

Five strains of bacteria causing nocardiosis in cultured fishes (yellowtails [Seriola quinqueradiata] and Japanese flounder [Paralichthys olivaceus]) were studied to establish their taxonomic status. Well-developed fragmenting vegetative mycelium was observed. The chemotype was type IVA containing meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, and galactose. The predominant isoprenoid quinone was MK-8(H4), and mycolic acids were present. These morphological and chemical properties are characteristic of the genus Nocardia. The physiological and biochemical characteristics were most similar to those of Nocardia asteroides; however, these organisms were different in their decomposition of urea, growth temperature, utilization of nitrogen sources, survival at 50°C for 8 h, mycolic and fatty acid profiles, and deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization characteristics. Therefore, we propose a new species for these strains, Nocardia seriolae. The type strain is strain JCM 3360.

Streptomyces avermectinius sp. nov., an avermectin-producing strain

We propose the establishment of a new species, Streptomyces avermectinius, based on characterization of strain MA-4680(T) and morphological and phylogenetic comparisons with closely related members of the genus Streptomyces. The 16S rDNA sequence was obtained from this strain and used to place it among Streptomyces species using the variable alpha region and the nearly complete 16S rDNA sequence. Four Streptomyces species were selected as related species from phenotypic data, three species from phylogenetic databases on alpha region sequences and two species from phylogenetic data using nearly complete 16S rDNA sequences. Analysis of DNA-DNA hybridization tests distinguished strain MA-4680(T) from these eight Streptomyces species. The type strain is strain MA-4680(T) (= ATCC 31267(T) = NRRL 8165(T)).

Herbidospora gen. nov., a New Genus of the Family Streptosporangiaceae Goodfellow et al. 1990

Eight actinomycete strains originally isolated from soil and plant samples were studied to determine their taxonomic status. All isolates produced branching substrate mycelia, but no distinct aerial hyphae. Relatively short chains of nonmotile spores (10 to 30 spores per chain) were borne on the tips of sporophores arising directly from the agar surface. The chemotaxonomic characteristics of the isolates, with the exception of the menaquinone profile, coincided with those of members of the family Streptosporangiaceae Goodfellow, Stanton, Simpson, and Minnikin 1990. Furthermore, the results of a phylogenetic analysis performed with 5S rRNA support the conclusion that the isolates should be classified in this family. The isolates differed from members of the constituent genera of the Streptosporangiaceae in morphological characteristics and menaquinone composition. Therefore, we propose a new genus for the strains, Herbidospora. The type species and type strain are Herbidospora cretacea sp. nov. and strain K-319 (= JCM 8553), respectively.

Description of two novel species of the genus Kitasatospora omura et al. 1982, Kitasatospora cineracea sp. nov. and Kitasatospora niigatensis sp. nov.

Five actinomycete strains, SK-3255T, SK-3406T, SK-3412, SK-3421 and OM-5023, were isolated using a novobiocin-containing agar medium from soil samples. These strains produced long spore chains on aerial mycelium and contained LL- and meso-diaminopimelic acids (DAPs) in the cell wall. On the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics and phylogenetic analysis, these five strains were classified into the genus Kitasatospora. DNA-DNA hybridization and comparison of physiological characteristics revealed that strains SK-3255T and SK-3406T differed from known species. Strains SK-3406T, SK-3412 and SK-3421 were regarded as the same species. Strain OM-5023 was identified as Kitasatospora griseola. Therefore, two novel species are proposed, Kitasatospora cineracea sp. nov. and Kitasatospora niigatensis sp. nov., with the type strains K. cineracea SK-3255T (= IFO 16452T = JCM 10915T = NRRL B-23134T) and K. niigatensis SK-3406T (= IFO 16453T = JCM 10916T = NRRL B-24135T).

Intra- and Intergeneric Relationships of Various Actinomycete Strains Based on the Acyl Types of the Muramyl Residue in Cell Wall Peptidoglycans Examined in a Glycolate Test

A total of 106 actinomycete strains representing 40 genera were studied to gain a better understanding of their intra- and intergeneric relationships by examining the types of acyl groups on the muramyl residues of the peptidoglycans in a glycolate test. The glycolyl type was found in about 43% of the actinomycete strains examined. These strains were distributed in the following two characteristic taxa: the actinoplanetes and their relatives, including species of the genera Actinoplanes, Catellatospora, Couchioplanes, Dactylosporangium, Glycomyces, Micromonospora, and Pilimelia; and the nocardioforms and species of the related genera Gordona, Nocardia, Rhodococcus, Tsukamurella, and Mycobacterium. Only glycolyl type bacteria were found to be present among the strains of these genera tested, except for a few doubtful strains. In contrast, the acetyl type was found extensively in bacteria belonging to the families Pseudonocardiaceae, Streptomycetaceae, Streptosporangiaceae, and Thermomonosporaceae and other taxa. The pattern of acyl type distribution among the actinomycetes correlates very well with the cell wall chemotype sensu Lechevalier and Lechevalier; that is, the chemotype I and III genera were all acetyl type taxa, the chemotype II genera were glycolyl type taxa, and the chemotype IV genera were split into a glycolyl, mycolate-containing group and an acetyl, non-mycolate group. We discuss the idea that combination of both the acyl type system and the cell wall chemotype system should provide a more useful tool for taxonomy of members of the order Actinomycetales.

Transfer of Streptosporangium indianense Gupta 1965 to the genus Streptomyces as Streptomyces indiaensis (Gupta 1965) comb. nov.

Transfer of Streptosporangium indianense Gupta 1965 to the genus Streptomyces Waksman and Henrici as Streptomyces indiaensis (Gupta 1965) comb. nov. is proposed on the basis of morphological and chemical properties. Spore chains such as those of typical streptomycetes were formed in the early stage of culture of S. indianense. True sporangia were not observed. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained ll-diaminopimelic acid. Compositions of cellular fatty acids and isoprenoid quinones were similar to those of streptomycetes. The type strain of Streptomyces indiaensis is JCM 3053T (= KCC A-0053, ATCC 33330, CBS 560.75, IFO 13964, and NCIB 9794).