Gordonia lacunae sp. nov., isolated from an estuary.

An actinomycete, strain BS2T, was isolated from a sand sample collected from an estuary in Plettenberg Bay, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities and chemotaxonomy, strain BS2T was identified as a member of the genus Gordonia. It exhibited weak antibiosis against Mycobacterium aurum A+ and Mycobacterium smegmatis LR222.

Nonomuraea candida sp. nov., a new species from South African soil.

A novel actinomycete, strain HMC10(T), was isolated from a soil sample taken from the banks of the Gamka River in the Swartberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Strain HMC10(T) was identified as a member of the genus Nonomuraea by a polyphasic approach. Strain HMC10(T) could be differentiated from other members of the genus Nonomuraea on the basis of physiology and 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Actinomadura rudentiformis sp. nov., isolated from soil.

As part of an antibiotic-screening programme, the actinomycete strain HMC1(T) was isolated from soil collected from the banks of the Gamka River in the Swartberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape Province, South Africa. The isolate produced branching vegetative mycelia, which entwined to form rope-like structures. It exhibited antibiosis against Enterococcus faecium VanA (a vancomycin-resistant clinical strain) and Mycobacterium aurum A+.

Nocardia gamkensis sp. nov.

A novel actinomycete, strain CZH20(T), was isolated from a soil sample taken from the banks of the Gamka River in the Swartberg Nature Reserve, Western Cape Province, South Africa. Strain CZH20(T) was identified as a member of the genus Nocardia by a polyphasic approach. Strain CZH20(T) could be differentiated from other members of the genus Nocardia on the basis of physiology and 16S-rRNA gene sequence analysis.

Kribbella karoonensis sp. nov. and Kribbella swartbergensis sp. nov., isolated from soil from the Western Cape, South Africa.

Two novel nocardioform actinomycetes, strains Q41T and HMC25T, were isolated from soil samples collected in the Western Cape province, South Africa. Rapid genus identification revealed that the isolates belonged to the genus Kribbella (based on single-digestion restriction analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences with MboI, VspI, SphI, SnaBI, SalI and AgeI). Both isolates had ll-diaminopimelic acid and glycine in their cell-wall peptidoglycan, and contained mannose and ribose as whole-cell sugars.

Streptomyces pharetrae sp. nov., isolated from soil from the semi-arid Karoo region.

An actinomycete, strain CZA14T, was isolated from Worcester in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Based on rapid genus identification, 16S-rDNA sequence similarities and chemotaxonomy, strain CZA14T was identified as a member of the genus Streptomyces. It exhibited weak antibiosis against Bacillus coagulans ATCC 7050T, Mycobacterium aurum A+ and Acinetobacter calcoaceticus C91.

Actinomadura napierensis sp. nov., isolated from soil in South Africa.

An actinomycete, strain B60(T), was isolated from a soil sample in Napier, Western Cape province of South Africa. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and chemotaxonomy, strain B60(T) was identified as a member of the genus Actinomadura. Strain B60(T) produced an antibiotic with activity against Escherichia coli, Enterococcus faecium and Mycobacterium aurum, but not against Mycobacterium tuberculosis.