COMPARATIVE STUDY OF GAFFKYA HOMARI, AEROCOCCUS VIRIDANS , TETRAD-FORMING COCCI FROM MEAT CURING BRINES, AND THE GENUS PEDIOCOCCUS

Abstract

Snieszko and Taylor (1947), and Hitchner and Snieszko (1947) described gram-positive, tetradforming micrococci associated with a septicemic disease of lobsters. These organisms grew poorly on laboratory media unless a fermentable sugar was added. They were further characterized by their ability to ferment mannitol and their inability to reduce nitrate or to hydrolyze gelatin. Because of their morphology and pathogenicity for the lobster, the authors suggested a new species, Gaffkya homari. In 1951, Dr. W. S. Sturges, Jr., of The Cudahy Packing Company Laboratory, Omaha, Nebraska, submitted to this laboratory two strains of cocci which had been isolated from cured meat products. These microorganisms were characterized by small colony formation on ordinary laboratory agar media, tendency to occur as tetrads, and ability to produce a greenish discoloration of cured meat products. Aaronson (1956) also obtained two cultures of these tetradforming cocci from Dr. Sturges and noted that they appeared to be identical to G. homari with respect to morphology, minimal nutritional requirements, and biochemical characteristics. Williams et al. (1953) attempted to enumerate the oral streptococei from the air of occupied rooms by the use of a selective culture medium containing potassium tellurite and crystal violet. They noted the frequent occurrence of a unique coccus that had biochemical characteristics similar to the enterococci. But, no tendency toward chain formation could be demonstrated. These microorganisms were catalase-negative, grew in the presence of 40 per cent bile, and produced strong greening on blood agar. In view of these unique features, the authors proposed a new genus and species, Aerococcus viridans. The present report describes a group of tetrad-' Journal paper no. 178, American Meat Institute Foundation.

Microbial Flora of Raw and Pasteurized Egg Albumen

“…Routine use was made of this method during identification. Six of our strains gave a weak catalase reaction, which agrees with the results of Deibel & Niven (1960). Their negative benzidine reaction indicates that they contain no iron-porphyrin compounds (Deibel & Evans, 1960) and that the weak, catalase activity is probably due to a nonporphyrin-containing catalase, i.e.…”

“…viridans whose taxonomic position is rather confused. Williams et al (1953) and Whittenbury (1965) assign it to a separate genus, but Deibel & Niven (1960) consider that it is closely related to Pediococcus and to Guffkya homari and suggest the name 'Pediococcus homari'.…”

A Diagnostic Key for Identifying the Lactic Acid Bacteria of Vacuum Packed Bacon

“…Other tetrad forming cocci from brines have been described by Diebel & Niven (1960). These authors were ofthe opinion that Aer.…”

Occurrence and characterization of Aerococcus viridans from lobsters, Homarus gammarus L., dying in captivity

“…Aerococcus viridans does not consistently form tetrads, and variation in the catalase reaction exists within strains of the bacterium (Deibel & Niven 1960). For further identification the electrofocusing protein patterns were therefore analysed from randomly selected isolates from the two bacterial groups.…”