THE PHYSIOLOGY AND NATURAL RELATIONSHIPS OF THE MOTILE, SPOREFORMING SARCINAE

Abstract

Eleven strains of Sarcina ureae were compared to members of the genus Sarcina and to three species of Bacillus. Biochemically these 11 strains are very much alike. They appear to be more closely allied to members of the genua Bacillus than to the sarcinae, both on the basis of biochemical patterns and DNA composition. The spores of S. ureae are very similar to spores of the bacilli in their degree of heat resistance, requirements for formation, and composition. Serological differences among the 11 strains of S. ureae were observed, although no cross reactions with the spore forming bacilli or the other sarcinae were found, We propose that S. ureae (Beijerinck) Löhnis be called Sporosarcina ureae (Beijerinck) Kluyver and van Niel and that it be classified as a member of the family Bacillaceae.