Taxonomical Study of Glutamic Acid Accumulating Bacteria,Micrococcus glutamicus nov. sp.

Taxonomical studies of a new group of strains of glutamics acid accumulating bacteria isolated in our laboratory were carried out. It was found that these strains belong to Genus Micrococcus because they are gram-positive, none-sporulating, and catalase possessing cocci. They are also pale yellowish, aerobic, and capable to reduce nitrate. Moreover, they neither utilize ammonium salt as a sole source of nitrogen in Hucker’s medium nor liquefy gelatin. From these observations, it seems that they are related to M. aurantiacus and M. epidermidis. However, our strains are different from them in the manner of acid production in milk and lactose media, and also in pigmentation, serological reactions and glutamic acid accumation.

The name of Micrococcus glutamicus nov. sp. was, therefore proposed to these strains.

The phenomenon of cell elongation and characteristics of the pigments of these strains was also investigated.