LUTEOCOCCUS JAPONICUS GEN-NOV, SP-NOV, A NEW GRAM-POSITIVE COCCUS WITH LL-DIAMINOPIMELIC ACID IN THE CELL-WALL

A new gram-positive, nonmotile coccus is described. Strains IFO 12422(T) (T = type strain) and IFO 15385 in the Institute for Fermentation, Osaka, culture collection, which were isolated from soil and water, respectively, have the following chemotaxonomic characteristics: menaquinone MK-9(H-4); G+C content of DNA of 67 mol%; and LL-diaminopimelic acid, alanine, glycine, and glutamic acid in a molar ratio of ca. 1:2:1:1 (type A3 gamma). Mycolic acids are not present. The taxonomic characteristics of these organisms are different from those of previously described gram positive, high-G+C-content cocci. The partial 16S rRNA sequence indicated that IFO 12422(T) represents a distinct line of descent among gram-positive bacteria with a high G+C content. The name Luteococcus japonicus gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain IFO 12422.