Classification of micrococci on the basis of deoxyribonucleic acid homology

The DNA homology relationships of 25 micrococci (15 strains of Micrococcus, eight strains of Sarcina and two strains of Staphylococcus) were studied by the deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization method using nuclease S1, an endonuclease specific for single-stranded DNA molecules. Nineteen of the strains were classified into three groups. Group I contained Micrococcus lysodeikticus IAMI056, M. luteus IAMI1010, M. flavus IAMI2005 and IAMI2006, Sarcina flava IAMI2007 and IAMI1006. S. subflava IAMI2009, S. lutea ATCC381, and ATCC382, and M. luteus IAMI1006. Group II contained M. roseus IAMI315, ATCC412, ATCC185 and IAMI295. Group III contained S. lutea IAMI099, IFO3232 and ATCC383, M. varians ATCC399 and Staphylococcus lactis ATCC15306. Micrococcus luteus IAMI097, M. varians ATCC19099 and ATCC19100, M. conglomeratus IAMI459 and IAMI470, and St. aureus IAMI011 could not be assigned to any of the three groups. The grouping corresponds to that derived from the results of differential lysis by lysozyme, 'lytic enzyme 2' from Cytophaga sp., or Streptomyces albus G enzyme; and to types of peptidoglycan in the cell walls and genetic transformation. The usefulness of classification based on sensitivity to various lytic enzymes was demonstrated. Group I probably coincides with M. luteus of Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology (1974), and groups II and III with M. roseus and M. varians respectively.