Kitasatospora cheerisanensis sp. nov., a new species of the genus Kitasatospora that produces an antifungal agent

Abstract

An actinomycete, strain YC75(T), which produced bafilomycin-like antifungal compounds, was identified as a member of the genus Kitasatospora on the basis of morphological and chemotaxonomic characteristics. The strain produced the aerial and fragmenting vegetative mycelia consisting of straight chains of 20 or more smooth-surfaced spores. Submerged spores were formed in tryptic soy broth. No soluble pigments were formed. Whole-cell hydrolysates contained glucose and mannose, but not galactose. The 16S rDNA sequence of YC75(T) was compared with those of the other representative kitasatosporae and streptomycetes. Strain YC75(T) formed a significant monophyletic clade with Kitasatospora phosalacinea. The levels of DNA relatedness between strain YC75(T) and representatives of the genus Kitasatospora ranged from 16 to 59% including K. phosalacinea (28 and 40%). It is clear from polyphasic evidence that the isolate should be classified as Kitasatospora cheerisanensis sp. nov., whose type strain is YC75(T) (= KCTC 2395(T)). The presence of galactose in whole-cell hydrolysates may not be a stable chemical marker for the genus Kitasatospora.