Raymond C. Yao

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.

A83543A-D, unique fermentation-derived tetracyclic macrolides

Abstract A multi-factored complex of structurally-unique macrolides was isolated from culture broths of a new species of Saccharopolyspora. The core structure consists of a 5,6,5-cis-anti-trans-tricyclic ring system fused to a 12-membered macrocyclic lactone, which is further substituted by an amino- and a neutral sugar.

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).

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).

A peptide binding chromogenic assay for detecting glycopeptide antibiotics

SummaryA solid-phase peptide binding assay, based on the mechanism of action of glycopeptide antibiotics, was developed for detecting this chemical class of metabolites. Utilizing a pentapeptide (l-alanyl-d-isoglutaminyl-l-lysyl-d-alanyl-d-alanine)-bovine serum albumin conjugate immobilized on the wall of microtiter wells, the binding of the vancomycin-alkaline phosphatase to the peptide could be demonstrated by subsequently monitoring the enzyme activity. The presence of glycopeptides in fermentation broths could be detected and quantified with a competitive binding assay. Peptides with ad-alanyl-d-alanine carboxyl terminus were necessary for the binding of these glycopeptides, thus confirming the mode of action of this class of antibiotics.

Synthesis of a radioiodinated park nucleotide analog: a new tool for antibacterial screen development

The Park nucleotide is an important biological building block used in the construction of bacterial cell walls. Herein, we describe the synthesis of a radiolabeled Park nucleotide analog, p-iodophenoxyacyl-Ala-(d)-iso-Glu-Lys-(d)-Ala-(d)-Ala-OH-[123I], using electrophilic destannylation. Anti-Park nucleotide antibody binding assays using a scintillation proximity assay (SPA) system showed good recognition of the radiolabeled surrogate. This methodology could be used for establishing a screen to identify inhibitors of peptidoglycan biosynthesis.