Agrococcus jenensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a New Genus of Actinomycetes with Diaminobutyric Acid in the Cell Wall

TLDR

Two gram‑positive coryneform strains isolated from soil and sandstone surface, both coccoid, nonmotile, non‑acid‑fast, microaerophilic, are described and named Agrococcus jenensis gen. The authors propose the new genus and species Agrococcus jenensis for these organisms. The type strain DSM 9580 (2002‑39/1T) possesses MK‑12 and MK‑11 menaquinones, glucose and rhamnose sugars, lacks mycolic acids, has a 74 mol % G+C content, and 16S rRNA and cell‑wall analyses indicate a new actinomycete genus containing diaminobutyric acid. The species is designated Agrococcus jenensis nov., sp.

Abstract

Two strains of a new gram-positive coryneform bacterium isolated from soil and from a sandstone surface are described. Strain 2002-39/1T (T = type strain) is a coccoid, nonmotile, non-acid-fast, microaerophilic organism. The menaquinones of this strain are MK-12 and MK-11, and the main components of the whole-cell sugars are glucose and rhamnose. No mycolic acids are present. The G+C content of the DNA is 74 mol%. Comparative 16S ribosomal DNA studies and a cell wall analysis revealed that this strain represents a new genus belonging to the group of actinomycetes that have diaminobutyric acid in their peptidoglycans. The second strain, strain ST54, which was isolated from a sandstone surface, had the same characteristic features as strain 2002-39/1T. The name Agrococcus jenensis gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed for these organisms. The type strain is strain 2002-39/1, which has been deposited in the German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures as strain DSM 9580.