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M Goodfellow

Publications and source records attributed to M Goodfellow.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1992

Numerical classification and identification of Streptomyces species--a review.

Evidence is presented to show that numerical taxonomy is of proven value both for the circumscription and identification of Streptomyces species. In addition, 252 representatives of numerically defined species and species-groups of this taxon were examined for 273 unit characters and the resultant data analysed using conventional statistics. Clustering was only marginally affected by the proximity coefficients used or by test error, estimated at 3.37%. The numerical classification obtained confirmed and extended the results of previous taxometric surveys, notably by showing that the Streptomyces albidoflavus species-group encompassed taxospecies corresponding to S. albidoflavus, Streptomyces anulatus and Streptomyces halstedii. Rapid enzyme tests based upon the fluorophores, 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin and 4-methylumbelliferone, provide useful data for streptomycete systematics. It can be concluded that the genus Streptomyces is currently well circumscribed and underspeciated.

Species Specificity↗
PubMed1992

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry as a method for the classification, identification and selection of actinomycetes.

Pilot experiments were designed to determine the potential of Curie-point pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PyMS) in the classification, identification and typing of industrially significant actinomycetes, and for the detection of target and novel actinomycetes needed for pharmacological screening programmes. The results indicate that the method is of value for the separation of actinomycetes at and below the species level, in the detection and circumscription of novel actinomycetes, and for the detection of identical and duplicated strains. There is also evidence that the pyrolysis system will permit the identification of target actinomycetes directly from selective isolation plates. PyMS is one of the methods that should be used to generate polyphasic taxonomies of actinomycete genera.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1992

Characteristics of Streptomyces globisporus strain 0234A forming endospores in submerged cultures.

Thermosensitive submerged endospores formed by Streptomyces globisporus 0234 and its natural variant A resembled those of thermoresistant actinomycetes not only in their morphology ultrastructure, but also in the content of dipicolinic acid. The production of endospores containing this substance is unusual in Streptomyces while other features of the strain indicate relatedness to other streptomycetes. Chemotaxonomic analysis of variant A revealed the cell wall to be of chemotype I and fatty acid content typical of Streptomyces. Most characteristics of surface cultures of variant A coincided with those of the original strain 0234 and its endosporeless variant B. Both the strain 0234 and its variants A and B produced identical antibiotics and pesticidal compounds.

Anti-Bacterial Agents↗
PubMed1992

Biodiversity as a source of innovation in biotechnology.

The object of this article is to draw attention to the significance of microbial diversity as a major resource for biotechnological products and processes. The topic is approached from two complementary standpoints. First, an attempt is made to assess the extent of biodiversity, particularly microbial diversity. In this context, the application of the modern techniques of molecular biology is enabling the detection of hitherto completely unknown groups of microbes and, also, is revealing the extent of genetic diversity within microbial taxa. The case is made for the establishment of sound microbial taxonomies both on the basis of satisfying fundamental scientific needs, and for designing effective isolation strategies. The impact of an ecological approach to search and discovery of novel organisms and properties also is emphasized and illustrated. Second, the question of screening a collection of appropriate microorganisms for the desired attributes is considered. The focus here is placed on modern intelligent or targeted screening, and on the power of molecular biology to extend the range of screening options. Discussions of microbial ecology or diversity only rarely touch upon questions of gene pool conservation. The point made here is that loss of biodiversity should be as ominous for microbiologists and biotechnologists as it is to conservationists. The article concludes with thoughts on some means of conserving microbial diversity.

Biotechnology↗
PubMed1991

Polyphasic taxonomic study of the genera Gordona and Tsukamurella including the description of Tsukamurella wratislaviensis sp. nov.

Representatives of the genera Gordona and Tsukamurella together with related actinomycetes were the subject of chemotaxonomic, numerical taxonomic and DNA homology studies. In the numerical analysis the organisms were examined for 116 unit characters and the data sorted using the simple matching, Jaccard and pattern coefficients; clustering was achieved using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages algorithm. The numerical groupings were not affected by the statistics used or by test error, estimated at 1.9%. The numerical taxonomic data supported the integrity of the four validly described species of Gordona but indicated that the genus Tsukamurella might encompass a species in addition to Tsukamurella paurometabola. The putative new strains had chemical, enzymic, nutritional and tolerance properties consistent with their assignment to the genus Tsukamurella and formed a DNA homology group corresponding to the one formed by the Tsukamurella paurometabola strains. It is proposed that the new taxon be assigned to the genus Tsukamurella as Tsukamurella wratislaviensis.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1991

Menaquinone patterns of Amycolatopsis species.

The menaquinones of representative strains of the actinomycete genus Amycolatopsis were examined by reverse phase thin-layer chromatography and mass spectrometry. Representatives of all seven validly described species contained various combinations of di-, tetra- and hexahydrogenated menaquinones with nine isoprene units as predominant isoprenologues. It seems likely that the variation in the predominant menaquinones merely reflects the stages from the growth cycle from which biomass was taken. The detection of major proportions of hydrogenated menaquinones with nine isoprene units serves to distinguish Amycolatopsis strains from most other actinomycetes, notably those belonging to related genera such as Amycolata and Pseudonocardia.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1991

Classification of acidophilic, neutrotolerant and neutrophilic streptomycetes by nucleotide sequencing of 5S ribosomal RNA.

Complete 5S ribosomal RNA sequences were obtained for four acidophilic actinomycetes, seven neutrophilic streptomycetes and a strain of Streptoverticillium baldaccii. All of the organisms contained RNAs belonging to the 120 nucleotide type. An evolutionary tree was generated after combining the test data with results from similar studies on representative Gram-positive bacteria. The acidophilic, neutrotolerant and neutrophilic actinomycetes were recovered in a distinct cluster that was equated with the genus Streptomyces. The sequence data support the view that the genera Chainia, Elytrosporangium, Kitasatoa and Microellobosporia should be considered as synonyms of the genus Streptomyces. The recovery of the Streptoverticillium baldaccii strain on the fringe of the Streptomyces cluster is also consistent with current trends in the taxonomy of these organisms. Further work is needed to determine the taxonomic status of the two streptomycete subgroups that comprised the streptomycete cluster.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1991

Epidemiological typing of coagulase-negative staphylococci by pyrolysis mass spectrometry.

Pyrolysis mass spectrometry (PMS) was evaluated for the epidemiological typing of coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS) in situations in which it was necessary to distinguish between repeated isolation of the same strain from a single patient (genuine infection) and coincidental isolation of unrelated strains (contamination). Thirteen CNS isolates were examined, consisting of five pairs, each pair isolated from a single patient, and three unrelated strains. PMS analysis gave results equivalent to a conventional typing system comprising antibiogram, biotype and plasmid profile analysis. Both methods facilitate differentiation between genuine infection with CNS and the isolation of contaminants. The speed, reproducibility, versatility and relatively low cost of PMS suggest that it may be a valuable new technique for the epidemiological typing of CNS in routine clinical settings.

Coagulase↗
PubMed1990

Classification and identification of rhodococci.

Ninety-nine representative strains of Rhodococcus were compared through 129 unit characters and the data examined using the simple matching, Jaccard and pattern coefficients. Clustering was achieved using the unweighted pair group method with arithmetic averages algorithm. The numerical classification was not affected by the statistics used or by test error, estimated at 1.95%. Sixteen multimembered and 23 single member clusters were defined by the simple matching coefficient at or above the 89% similarity level. The numerical phenetic data support the taxonomic integrity of all 13 validly described species of Rhodococcus, including Rhodococcus aichiensis. Rapid enzymic tests based upon fluorophores 7-amino-4-methylcoumarin and 4-methylumbelliferone provide valuable data for rhodococcal systematics.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1990

Amycolatopsis methanolica sp. nov., a facultatively methylotrophic actinomycete.

The generic position of a gram-positive, facultatively methylotrophic actinomycete known as Nocardia sp. strain 239 was determined by comparing reverse transcriptase sequences of 16S rRNA. The assignment of the organism to the genus Amycolatopsis was strongly supported by chemotaxonomic and morphological data. A comparison with the type strains of validly described Amycolatopsis species showed that the organism formed the nucleus of a new species. The name proposed for this new species is Amycolatopsis methanolica. The organism has been deposited in the National Collection of Industrial Bacteria as NCIB 11946.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1990

Pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS) for the rapid epidemiological typing of clinically significant bacterial pathogens.

Fresh clinical isolates of Salmonella spp. and Streptococcus pyogenes were analysed by pyrolysis-mass spectrometry (Py-MS). The results formed the basis of mathematically derived characterizations of individual strains and these were compared with the results of phage typing for the salmonellas and M protein typing for the streptococci. Py-MS was shown to be a rapid and reproducible method for inter-strain comparisons, giving evidence of identity and non-identity between strains that agreed well with the results of conventional tests. Py-MS has potential value as a rapid, relatively inexpensive and highly discriminatory method of epidemiological analysis in bacterial disease.

Bacterial Typing Techniques↗
PubMed1989

Lipid composition in the classification of Rhodococcus equi.

The fatty acid, menaquinone and polar lipid composition of representatives of Rhodococcus equi and related taxa were determined. All of the R. equi strains had major proportions of straight chain saturated, monounsaturated and 10-methyl branched fatty acids, dihydrogenated menaquinones with eight isoprene units as the predominant isoprenologue, and characteristic polar lipid patterns that contained diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, phosphatidylinositol, phosphatidylinositol mannosides and glycolipids including a "cord factor"-like compound that was most pronounced in fresh isolates. The mycolic acids of these strains fell within the range C24 to C48, had 0 to 4 double bonds and released major amounts of C14:0 esters on pyrolysis. These lipid data provide further evidence that R. equi strains form a distinct taxospecies within the genus Rhodococcus. The remaining strains also gave lipid profiles consistent with their assignment to the genus Rhodococcus. These organisms included strains identified as R. sputi.

Chromatography, Thin Layer↗
PubMed1979

Isoprenoid quinones in the classification of coryneform and related bacteria.

Menaquinones were the only isoprenoid quinones found in 85 of the 95 coryneform bacteria examined. Dihydromenaquinones having nine isoprene units were the main components isolated from Corynebacterium bovis, from other glutamic acid-producing strains, and from Arthrobacter globiformis and related species. Dihydromenaquinones with eight isoprene units were found in Brevibacterium linens, the remaining Corynebacterium species and strains probably belonging to the genus Rhodococcus. Tetrahydromenaquinones with eight isoprene units were found in Arthrobacter simplex and Arthrobacter tumescens, and with nine isoprene units in Cellulomonas and Oerskovia. Kurthia and Curtobacterium were characterized by menaquinones with seven and nine isoprene units, respectively, and Microbacterium lacticum and Corynebacterium aquaticum had comparable amounts of menaquinones with 10 and 11 isoprene units. Strains received as Brevibacterium leucinophagum, Corynebacterium autotrophicum, Corynebacterium nephridii, Mycobacterium flavum, Mycoplana rubra and Protaminobacter ruber contained uniquinones as their sole isoprenoid quinones. The isoprenoid quinone data correlate well with major trends in coryneform taxonomy and are of value in the classification of coryneform and related bacteria.

Actinomycetales↗
PubMed1979

Numerical taxonomy of Actinomadura and related actinomycetes.

One hundred and fifty-six Actinomadura strains, marker strains of related taxa, and related isolates from bagasse and fodder were the subject of numerical phenetic analyses using 90 unit characters. The data were examined using the simple matching (SSM), Jaccard (SJ) and pattern (DP) coefficients and clustering was achieved using both single and average linkage algorithms. Cluster composition was not markedly affected either by the coefficient or clustering algorithms used or by test error, estimated at 4.5%. Actinomadura dassonvillei, Actinomadura madurae and Streptomyces somaliensis formed good taxospecies, but the separation of Actinomadura pelletieri strains into two clusters by SJ and SSM analysis requires further study. The single representatives of Actinomadura helvata, Actinomadura pusilla, Actinomadura roseoviolacea, Actinomadura spadix and Actinomadura verrucosopora seemed to form new centres of variation while Actinomadura citrea and Actinomadura malachitica showed much similarity with Actinomadura madurae. Most of the isolates form bagasse and fodder were recovered in two well-defined phena, provisionally labelled clusters 'A' and 'B' which showed little similarity to either Actinomadura or Nocardia strains. The effect of the different coefficients on the aggregation of clusters is discussed.

Nocardiaceae↗
PubMed1977

The actinomycete-genus Rhodococcus: a home for the "rhodochrous" complex.

A numerical taxonomic classification study was carried out on 177 strains representing the "rhodochrous" complex and the genera Gordona, Mycobacterium and Nocardia. The strains were examined for 92 unit characters and the data were analysed by computer. Three clusters were defined at the 75 to 80% similarity level. The first was a heterogeneous cluster corresponding to the "rhodochrous" taxon whereas the other two contained Mycobacterium and Nocardia strains respectively. The good correlation between the numerical analysis and chemo-taxonomic, serological and genetical data collected from previous studies provides sufficient evidence for raising the "rhodochrous" taxon to generic status. We consider the generic name Rhodococcus Aopf to have priority over Proactinomyces (Jensen) Bradley & Bond, Jensenia Bisset & Moore and Gordona Tsukamura. In addition to the type species, Rhodococcus rhodochrous, nine species are recognized: R. bronchialis, R. coprophilus, R. corallinus, R. erythropolis, R. equi, R. rhodnii, R. rubrus, R. rubropertinctus and R. terrae.

Genetics, Microbial↗
PubMed1977

Distribution of menaquinones in actinomycetes and corynebacteria.

Menaquinones were the only isoprenoid quinones found in 48 corynebacteria and actinomycete strains examined. Dihydromenaquinones having nine isoprene units were the main components isolated from Gordona, Mycobacterium, Corynebacterium bovis, Corynebacterium glutamicum and a strain labelled Nocardia farcinica, but dihydromenaquinones having eight isoprene units were characteristic of other Corynebacterium species and representatives of the 'rhodochrous' complex. Tetrahydromenaquinones having six and eight isoprene units were found in Nocardia strains and in a single strain of Micropolyspora brevicatena, which also contained mycolic acids similar in chain length to those of Nocardia. Menaquinones having nine isoprene units with from one to five double bonds hydrogenated were the main components in Actinomadura madurae, Actinomadura pelletieri, Micropolyspora faeni, Oerskovia turbata and Streptomyces strains. Actinomadura dassonvillei strains had a characteristic pattern of di-, tetra- and hexahydromenaquinones with 10 isoprene units which was slightly different from the pattern in mixtures of similar quinones from Actinomyces israelii and Actinomyces viscosus.

Corynebacterium↗
PubMed1977

Fatty and mycolic acid composition of Bacterionema matruchotii and related organisms.

Whole-organism methoanolysates of bacterionemae contained mycolic acids in addition to other long-chain fatty acids. These mycolic acids were similar in general structure and overall size to those found in strains of Corynebacterium diphtheriae and Corynebacterium xerosis. The long-chain fatty acids of bacterionemae, mainly straight-chain saturated and unsaturated acids, were similar to those of certain coryneform bacteria including C. diphtheriae. On the basis of these lipid data, and results of earlier studies, we recommend that the genus Bacterionema be transferred from the family Actinomycetaceae to the Coryneform Group of Bacteria.

Actinomycetaceae↗