Amycolatopsis bartoniae sp. nov. and Amycolatopsis bullii sp. nov., mesophilic actinomycetes isolated from arid Australian soils

The status of two mesophilic filamentous actinomycetes isolated from an arid Australian soil sample was determined using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. The isolates had chemical and morphological properties consistent with their classification in the genus Amycolatopsis, assignments that were supported by analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence data. Isolate SF26^T formed a distinct phyletic line and hence was sharply separated from its nearest phylogenetic neighbour, Amycolatopsis sacchari DSM 44468^T. In contrast, isolate SF27^T formed a subclade in the Amycolatopsis tree with Amycolatopsis vancoresmycina DSM 44592^T but was separated readily from the latter by DNA:DNA pairing data. The two isolates were distinguished from one another and from their respective nearest phylogenetic neighbours using a range of phenotypic properties. These data indicate that the two isolates should be recognized as new species in the genus Amycolatopsis. The names proposed for these new taxa are Amycolatopsis bartoniae sp. nov. and Amycolatopsis bullii sp. nov. with isolates SF26^T (=NCIMB 14706^T = NRRL B-2846^T) and SF27^T (=NCIMB 14707^T = NRRL B-24847^T) as the respective type strains.