TAXONOMIC SIGNIFICANCE OF CELL-WALL ACYL TYPE IN CORYNEBACTERIUM-MYCOBACTERIUM-NOCARDIA GROUP BY A GLYCOLATE TEST

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Abstract
The glycolate test was carried out on 86 cultures including 51 coryneform bacteria, 13 nocardiae, 4 mycobacteria, 4 gordonae and related organisms. Among coryneform bacteria, about 2/3 had an acetyl type of cell wall and about 1/3 had the glycolyl type. The latter strains were distributed among limited taxa, i.e., 3 spp. in the high-GC taxon of the genus Corynebacterium, 1 in the genus Curtobacterium and several strains in a complicated taxon not classified. All strains of the genus Mycobacterium and most of the genus Nocardia had a cell wall of the glycolyl type. Among the M. rhodochrous complex, the Gordona group appeared to have a unique acyl type, namely, a glycolyl type of glycerol-suppression positive. The bacteria of the genera Actinomadura, Oerskovia and Streptomyces had the acetyl type. The classification of the Corynebacterium-Mycobacterium-Nocardia group was discussed on the basis of these results and additional data.
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