Frederick P. Mertz

Saccharopolyspora spinosa sp. nov. isolated from soil collected in a sugar mill rum still

A new Saccharopolyspora species isolated from soil collected in a sugar mill rum still is described. This organism is characterized by pale yellowish pink aerial hyphae that bear long chains of spores encased in distinctive spiny spore sheaths. Fragmentation occurs when the organism is cultured in liquid media. The new species contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, and galactose (cell wall chemotype IV), has whole-cell sugar pattern type A, contains no mycolic acids, and contains phosphatidylcholine (phospholipid pattern type PIII). The single isolate has chemical and morphological properties consistent with the genus Saccharopolyspora. A comparison with previously described species of the genus in which we used standard techniques plus fatty acid analyses showed that this organism differs from previously described species. The name proposed for this new species is Saccharopolyspora spinosa. The type strain is strain A83543.1 (= NRRL 18395). The description is based on a single isolate.

Amycolatopsis alba sp. nov., Isolated from Soil

A new Amycolatopsis species isolated from soil produces a new glycopeptide antibiotic related to vancomycin. Traditional taxonomic methods and contemporary fatty acid analysis techniques were used to establish the position of this species. The hyphae fragment extensively when the organism is cultured in liquid media. The organism is characterized by white aerial hyphae that bear long chains of cylindrical conidia. The reverse side is yellowish brown; a faint light brown soluble pigment is occasionally produced. The organism has a type IV cell wall (meso-diaminopimelic acid), a type A whole-cell sugar pattern, and a type PII phospholipid pattern. Mycolic acids are not present in whole-cell hydrolysates. The major menaquinone is MK-9(H4); there is also a minor amount of MK-8(H4). The name proposed for this new species is Amycolatopsis alba. The type strain is strain A83850 (= NRRL 18532).

Sporulation ofStreptomyces roseosporus in submerged culture

SummaryA soil isolate ofStreptomyces roseosporus was found to produce spores in stirred submerged culture. Both biological mass and respiratory activity increased during the sporulation process. Contrary to other reports, the differentiation process was not purposefully initiated by critical manipulation of either nutritional or environmental conditions.

Planomonospora alba sp. nov. and Planomonospora sphaerica sp. nov., Two New Species Isolated from Soil by Baiting Techniques

Two new Planomonospora species were isolated from soil by novel baiting techniques. Traditional taxonomic methods and fatty acid analysis techniques were used to establish the identities of these organisms. The names proposed for these new species are Planomonospora sphaerica, whose type strain is strain A51460 (= NRRL 18923), and Planomonospora alba, whose type strain is strain A82600 (= NRRL 18924). The descriptions of these taxa are based on single isolates.

Streptosporangium carneum sp. nov. Isolated from Soil

A new species of the genus Streptosporangium is described. This organism is characterized by light yellowish pink aerial hyphae bearing abundant sporangia which enclose many large, spherical, nonmotile spores. Cell walls of this new species contain meso-diaminopimelic acid, mannose, arabinose, and madurose (cell wall chemotype III and type B whole-cell sugar pattern); the cells contain phosphatidylinositol, diphosphatidylglycerol, and unknown glucosamine-containing phospholipids (phospholipid pattern type PIV), and they contain no mycolic acids. The major menaquinone detected was MK-9(H4); a minor amount of MK-9(H2) was also detected. Thus, this isolate has chemical and morphological properties that are consistent with the properties of the genus Streptosporangium. A comparison with previously described species of the genus Streptosporangium in which we used standard techniques plus fatty acid analyses indicated that this organism differs from previously described species. The name proposed for this new species is Streptosporangium carneum. The type strain is strain A84575 (= NRRL 18437). The description is based on a single isolate.

Actinomadura fibrosa sp. nov. isolated from soil.

A new species of the genus Actinomadura which belongs to the Actinomadura madurae group of Goodfellow et al. was isolated from soil collected in Togo, West Africa. Traditional taxonomic methods plus contemporary fatty acid analysis techniques were used to establish the position of this species. Both physiological characteristics and fatty acid composition differentiate this strain from previously described species. This culture produces a new polyether antibiotic. It is characterized by the production of white to pink aerial hyphae on a limited number of media. The aerial hyphae appear asporogenous, forming thick fibers and projections instead of true spores. The reverse side is a distinctive reddish orange. This organism is resistant to 5% NaCl and grows at temperatures between 20 and 45 degrees C. Whole cells contain meso-diaminopimelic acid, galactose, glucose, mannose, madurose, phosphatidylinositol, and diphosphatidylglycerol. The menaquinones detected were MK-9(H6) and minor amounts of MK-9(H8). The name proposed for this new species is Actinomadura fibrosa; the type strain is strain NRRL 18348.

Kibdelosporangium philippinense sp. nov. Isolated from Soil

A new species of Kibdelosporangium is described. This organism is characterized by white aerial hyphae bearing long chains of smooth-walled spores and abundant sporangiumlike structures. The new species contains meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, and galactose (type IV cell walls, type A whole-cell sugar pattern), phosphatidylethanolamine (type PII phospholipid pattern), and no mycolic acids. The single soil isolate has chemical and morphological properties consistent with the genus Kibdelosporangium. A comparison with previously described species of the genus Kibdelosporangium in which we used standard techniques, fatty acid profiles, and polypeptide banding fingerprints indicated that this strain is a new species. The name proposed for this new species is Kibdelosporangium philippinense. The type strain is strain A80407 (= NRRL 18198).

Actinomadura oligospora sp. nov. the Producer of a New Polyether Antibiotic

A new species of Actinomadura, which was isolated from soil collected in India, is characterized by sparse aerial mycelia, yellowish gray to brown vegetative mycelia, a carbohydrate utilization pattern of adonitol, cellobiose, glucose, and ribose, unique physiological characteristics, and the production of a new polyether antibiotic. Whole cells contain meso-diaminopimelic acid and madurose, but do not contain nitrogenous phospholipids or mycolic acids. The name proposed for this new species is Actinomadura oligospora, and the type strain is strain A80190.1 (= NRRL 15878).