Occurrence and Patterns of Waxes in Neisseriaceae

Abstract

Summary: Forty-five strains classified in the family Neisseriaceae were analysed for wax esters by gas—liquid chromatography. The amounts and types of waxes varied between the taxa. Waxes were not detected in 16 strains of ‘true neisseriae’ (genus Neisseria) or in two strains of Kingella, but they were found in all ‘false neisseriae’, in all species of Moraxella except Moraxella phenylpyrouvica, in five out of 10 strains of Acinetobacter, and in all strains of a group of psychrophilic, oxidase-positive organisms. The chain lengths of the wax esters ranged from C₂₄ to C₄₂, with C₃₆ predominating. In all taxa, esters with even numbers of carbon atoms constituted 70 to 100% of the total. Saturated, mono-unsaturated and di-unsaturated waxes were found. Acinetobacter strains were characterized by large amounts (30 to 98%) of di-unsaturated wax esters; such waxes did not exceed 8% in the ‘false neisseriae’ or Moraxella spp. Waxes of strains belonging to the psychrophilic, oxidase-positive group generally resembled those found in Moraxella. Wax esters with odd numbers of carbon atoms were abundant in M. lacunata (29%), M. atlantae (15%) and in the psychrophilic group (19 to 28%); long-chain esters (C₄₀ or above) were characteristic of M. atlantae (30%) and one strain of M. osloensis (26%).