Kytococcus schroeteri sp. nov., a novel Gram-positive actinobacterium isolated from a human clinical source.

Becker K, Schumann P, Wüllenweber J, Schulte M, Weil HP, Stackebrandt E, Peters G, von Eiff C

Abstract

A strain of a gram-positive, coccoid, yellow-pigmented bacterium was isolated from human blood. The bacterium was aerobic, non-encapsulated and non-motile. Phenotypically, the bacterium closely resembled Kytococcus sedentarius, but could be distinguished from this species by physiological tests and chemotaxonomic investigations. The peptidoglycan type is L-Lys-Glu2, variation A4alpha. The predominant menaquinones are MK-8 and MK-7. The major cellular fatty acids are iso-C17:1, iso-C17:0, iso-C15:0 and anteiso-C17:0. The strain contains catalase and does not produce acid from carbohydrates. The ability to hydrolyse Tween 80 and the lack of alpha-glucosidase activity are the most characteristic features. The results of comparative 16S rDNA analysis revealed that the strain represents a novel species within the genus Kytococcus, for which the name Kytococcus schroeteri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain Muenster 2000T (= DSM 13884T = CCM 4918T).