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Nannocystis exedens gen. nov., spec. nov., a new myxobacterium of the family Sorangiaceae

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Summary

0948 02

  1. 1.

    A new myxobacterium was isolated from a variety of soils which were collected in widely separated areas in different climate zones. The organism appears to be a common member of the soil microflora.

  2. 2.

    The new species belongs to the family Sorangiaceae. A new genus had to be established for it. The name Nannocystis exedens is proposed.

  3. 3.

    The vegetative cells of N. exedens are cylindrical, fat rods with blunt, rounded ends. In the central parts of the swarm and in older cultures the cells become short ovoid, cube shaped, or even spherical. The myxospores are spherical and optically refractile.

  4. 4.

    The fruiting bodies are solitary cysts with a firm wall. They are oval or spherical in shape and very variable in size: the smallest specimens measured 6×3.5 μm and less, the largest ones about 110×40 μm.

  5. 5.

    When N. exedens is grown on poor media the agar within the swarm area becomes corroded in a peculiar fashion: large caverns, tunnels, deep holes, and furrows arise. The pattern is possibly due to agar decomposition.

  6. 6.

    The new organism requires a complex organic N-source. Gelatine is liquefied, milk casein hydrolyzed. Cells of Sarcina lutea are almost completely lysed, yeast cells are attacked, but their walls cannot be broken down. Cellulose and starch are not decomposed. All strains are catalase-positive.

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  1. Lehrstuhl für Mikrobiologie, Biologisches Institut II der Universität Freiburg i. Br., Freiburg i. Br., Germany

    Hans Reichenbach

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  1. Hans Reichenbach
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Reichenbach, H. Nannocystis exedens gen. nov., spec. nov., a new myxobacterium of the family Sorangiaceae . Archiv. Mikrobiol. 70, 119–138 (1970). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412203

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00412203

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