Yasuko Jojima

Corynebacterium efficiens sp. nov., a glutamic-acid-producing species from soil and vegetables.

Three glutamic-acid-producing coryneform strains were isolated from soil and vegetable samples. Chemotaxonomic investigations indicated that these strains belonged to the genus Corynebacterium. Phylogenetic studies, based on 16S rDNA analysis, demonstrated that the three strains formed a distinct cluster within the genus Corynebacterium and that their nearest relatives were Corynebacterium glutamicum and Corynebacterium callunae, also known as glutamic-acid-producing species. The data from 16S rDNA sequence and DNA-DNA relatedness studies clearly indicated that the three isolates represented a new species within the genus Corynebacterium. All of the isolates could grow at 45 degrees C and produced acid from dextrin; these were the most significant characteristics differentiating the three isolates from their neighbours. On the basis of the data presented here, it is proposed that the three glutamic-acid-producing isolates together be classified as Corynebacterium efficiens sp. nov., the type strain of which is YS-314T (= AJ 12310T = JCM 11189T = DSM 44549T).

Enhygromyxa salina gen. nov., sp. nov., a Slightly Halophilic Myxobacterium Isolated from the Coastal Areas of Japan

Six isolates of novel marine myxobacteria, designated strains SHK-1T, SMK-1-1, SMK-1-3, SMK-10, SKK-2, and SMP-6, were obtained from various coastal samples (mud, sands and algae) collected around Japan. All of the isolates had Gram-negative rod-shaped cells, motile by gliding and grew aerobically. They showed bacteriolytic action, fruiting body formation, and NaCl requirement for growth with an optimum concentration of 1.0-2.0% (w/v). In addition, divalent cationic components of seawater, such as Mg2+ or Ca2+, were also needed for growth. The major respiratory quinone was MK-7. The G+C content of genomic DNA ranged from 65.6 to 67.4 mol% (by HPLC). The isolates shared almost identical 16S rDNA sequences, and clustered with a recently described marine myxobacterium, Plesiocystis pacifica, as their closest relative on a phylogenetic tree (95.9-96.0% similarity). Physiological and chemotaxonomic differences between the new strains and strains of the genus Plesiocystis justify the proposal of a new genus. Therefore, we propose to classify the six isolates into a new taxon of marine myxobacteria with the name, Enhygromyxa salina gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is SHK-1(T) (JCM 11769(T) = DSM 15217(T) = AJ 110011(T)).

Miuraenamides A and B, Novel Antimicrobial Cyclic Depsipeptides from a New Slightly Halophilic Myxobacterium : Taxonomy, Production, and Biological Properties

A slightly halophilic myxobacterial strain, SMH-27-4, was isolated from nearshore soil and shown to belong to a new myxobacterium genus based on phylogenetic analysis. This slowly-growing myxobacterium produced the novel antibiotic depsipeptides miuraenamides A and B. Their physico-chemical properties and molecular formulas, C34H42N3O7Br and C34H42N3O7I, were determined. Miuraenamides A exhibited potent and selective inhibition against a phytopathogenic microorganism, Phytophthora sp., and moderate inhibition against some fungi and yeasts, but was ineffective against bacteria. Both of the metabolites inhibited NADH oxidase at IC50 values of 50 μM, suggesting, like β-methoxyacrylate-type antibiotics, the electron transfer system of the mitochondrial respiratory chain as the cellular target.

Rare Bacterium of New Genus Isolated with Prolonged Enrichment Culture

Dynamic change in microbial flora was monitored with an oxygen electrode. The 1st phase microorganisms, which first grew well in LB medium, were followed by the 2nd phase microorganisms, which supposedly assimilated microbial cells of the 1st phase and their metabolites. In a similar way, a change in microbial flora was observed from the 1st phase to the 4th phase in 84 hr. Based on this observation, prolonged enrichment culture was done for as long as two months to increase the ratio of existence of rare microorganisms. From these culture liquids, four slow-growing bacteria (provisionally named Shinshu-ah1, -ah2, -ah3, and -ah4), which formed scarcely visible small colonies, were isolated. Sequence analysis of their 16S rDNA showed that Shinshu-ah1 had 97% homology with Bradyrhizobium japonicum and uncultured alpha proteobacterium clone blaii 16, Shinshu-ah2 91% with Rasbo bacterium, Alpha proteobacterium 34619, Bradyrhizobium genosp. P, Afipia felis and an unidentified bacterium, Shinshu-ah3 99% with Methylobacterium mesophilicum, and Shinshu-ah4 95% with Agromyces ramosus DSM 43045. Phylogenetic study indicated that Shinshu-ah2 had a possibility to form a new family, Shinshu-ah1 a new genus, and Shinshu-ah4 a new species.