The free lipids of Flavobacterium meningosepticum were separated by thin layer chromatography, and the main lipid fractions were analysed by FAB (fast atom bombardment) mass spectrometry. The major products were di-iso-C15- and iso-C15-iso-C17-phosphatidylethanolamine, and two ninhydrin + and phosphorus- fractions. The structures of the latter two fractions were established as ornithine lipids by using MIKE (mass ions kinetic energy) mass spectrometry, GC/MS (gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry) and conventional methods. The presence of small amounts of sphingolipids with C17- and C16-sphinganines was demonstrated. F. meningosepticum can be distinguished from F. multivorum and F. spiritivorum by easy characterization of the ornithine lipids by thin layer chromatography.

Chemical Phenomena↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Isolation and description of strains of Flavobacterium multivorum of telluric origin].

Twenty encapsulated strains of Flavobacterium multivorum were isolated from soil by elective culture in minimal medium containing inulin as the sole source of carbon and energy. These strains were compared with the type strain and with 5 other strains (including 4 clinical strains) of F. multivorum. Of 168 substrates tested, 18 carbohydrates were used as the sole carbon and energy source by all 26 strains. A few amino acids were used by some strains. The yellow pigment produced was found to be a carotene and its production was photo-inducible. The presence of a cytochrome c oxidase of the aa3 type was suggested by absorption spectra. The major cell lipids were phosphatidylethanolamine and sphingolipids; the major fatty acids were 13-methyltetradecanoic and 2-hydroxy-13-methyltetradecanoic acids. Soil and clinical strains of F. multivorum showed roughly similar patterns of antibiotic multiresistance. The average G + C content of the DNA of 11 strains was 40.8 +/- 1.5 mol%.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗

PubMedDate not supplied

[Bacillus gordonae sp. nov., a new species belonging to the second morphological group, degrading various aromatic compounds].

Thirty strains were isolated from pasteurized soil samples by enrichment culture in aerobiosis at 32 degrees C in a minimal medium containing one of the following compounds as sole source of carbon and energy: quinate, p-hydroxybenzoate, phthalate, isophthalate or trimellitate. These bacteria were rods (0.8 X 2-7 micron), motile by peritrichous flagella. Endospores were oval (1.4-1.8 X 2 micron) and distinctly swelled the sporangia. The Gram reaction was variable but the Gram type was positive. Colonies were smaller on peptone (0.4%) agar than on minimal salts-glucose (0.2%) agar. The following characters were always present: growth in the presence of lysozyme, cytochrome c oxidase, catalase, nitrate assimilation, urease, amylase and L-glutamate dehydrogenase. The cells contained glycogen. In anaerobiosis, glucose was not fermented and nitrate was not used as a respiratory acceptor of electrons. Of 215 substrates tested, 31 (including 9 aromatic compounds) were used as sole carbon and energy sources by all 30 strains, and 38 substrates (including 13 aromatic compounds) were used by only some of them; 146 substrates (including 49 aromatic compounds) were not used by any of the 30 strains. No amino acid could be used as sole carbon and energy source. Numerical analysis of the 30 strains showed an aggregate cluster made of 5 phena. The mean G + C content of the DNA was 55 +/- 0.6 mol %. The described bacteria are clearly different from the 2 known species of the second morphological group which cannot ferment carbohydrates: Bacillus brevis and B. azotoformans. Strain Q1 (ATCC 29948) is the holotype of Bacillus gordonae sp. nov.

Bacillus↗