TRANSFER OF RHODOCOCCUS-AICHIENSIS TSUKAMURA 1982 AND NOCARDIA-AMARAE LECHEVALIER AND LECHEVALIER 1974 TO THE GENUS GORDONA AS GORDONA-AICHIENSIS COMB-NOV AND GORDONA-AMARAE COMB-NOV

We investigated the taxonomic status of Rhodococcus aichiensis DSM 43978(T) (T = type strain) and Nocardia amarae DSM 43392(T) by using both chemotaxonomic and genetic methods. The occurrence of MK-9(H-2) as the predominant menaquinone, the presence of relatively long-chain mycolic acids (48 to 62 carbon atoms), and the phylogenetic position as determined by a 16S ribosomal DNA sequence analysis provide strong evidence that both R. aichiensis and N. amarae should be transferred to the genus Gordona as Gordona aichiensis and Gordona amarae, respectively.