| Kocuria varians yellow colonies on Sheep Blood Agar |
| Kocuria varians |
Taxonomy
Morphology
Cultural characteristics
Biochemical characters
Ecology
Pathogenicity
References
Phylum Actinomycetota, Class Actinomycetes, Order Micrococcales, Family Micrococcaceae, Genus Kocuria, Kocuria varians (Migula
1900) Stackebrandt et al. 1995.
Basonym: Micrococcus varians Migula 1900.
1900) Stackebrandt et al. 1995.
Basonym: Micrococcus varians Migula 1900.
Gram-positive cocci, 0.9-1.5 μm in diameter, occuring in pairs, tetrads and clusters.
Endospores are not formed. Nonmotile. Nonencapsulated.
Endospores are not formed. Nonmotile. Nonencapsulated.
Colonies are up to 4 mm in diameter, circular, slightly convex, smooth, and glistening.
Some strains may form rough, wrinkled, matt, dry colonies. Colonies are yellow. Does
not produce a water-soluble exopigment. Produces light turbidity and a deposit in
nutrient broth. Grows well at 22-37 ºC. The final pH in glucose-containing medium is
4.3-5.9. Growth occurs on nutrient agar containing up to 7.5% NaCl and sometimes
on nutrient agar containing 10% NaCl. Growth is stimulated by methionine or cysteine
and thiamine. Aerobic. Usually grows on Simmons’ citrate agar but not on inorganic
nitrogen agar. Non-haemolytic on sheep blood agar.
Some strains may form rough, wrinkled, matt, dry colonies. Colonies are yellow. Does
not produce a water-soluble exopigment. Produces light turbidity and a deposit in
nutrient broth. Grows well at 22-37 ºC. The final pH in glucose-containing medium is
4.3-5.9. Growth occurs on nutrient agar containing up to 7.5% NaCl and sometimes
on nutrient agar containing 10% NaCl. Growth is stimulated by methionine or cysteine
and thiamine. Aerobic. Usually grows on Simmons’ citrate agar but not on inorganic
nitrogen agar. Non-haemolytic on sheep blood agar.
Isolated from mammalian skin, milk, soil, and water.
Susceptible to methicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, polymyxin B, and vancomycin. Most strains are susceptible to tetracycline,
erythromycin, oleandomycin, penicillin G, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and novobiocin. Resistant to lysozyme.
Susceptible to methicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, polymyxin B, and vancomycin. Most strains are susceptible to tetracycline,
erythromycin, oleandomycin, penicillin G, streptomycin, chloramphenicol and novobiocin. Resistant to lysozyme.
Undetermined. Isolated from bovine milk as a possible mastitis factor (admin note).
- Hans-Jurgen Busse, 2012. Family I. Micrococcaceae Pribham 1929, 361 AL emend. Stackebrandt, Rainey and Ward-Rainey 1997,
479 in: Bergey’s Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, second edition, Volume Five The Actinobacteria, Part A, Springer, 571-666. - Stackebrandt E., Koch C., Gvozdiak O. and Schumann P.: Taxonomic dissection of the genus Micrococcus: Kocuria gen. nov.,
Nesterenkonia gen. nov., Kytococcus gen. nov., Dermacoccus gen. nov., and Micrococcus Cohn 1872 gen. emend. Int. J. Syst.
Bacteriol., 1995, 45, 682-692. - Kovacs G., Burghardt J., Pradella S., Schumann P., Stackebrandt E. and Marialigeti K.: Kocuria palustris sp. nov. and Kocuria
rhizophila sp. nov., isolated from rhizoplane of the narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia). Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1999, 49, 167-
173. - Braun MS, Wang E, Zimmermann S, Wagner H, Wink M. Kocuria tytonis sp. nov., isolated from the uropygial gland of an American
barn owl (Tyto furcata). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2019; 69:447-451.
Positive results for catalase, benzidine test, nitrate and nitrite reduction (most strains),
urease (most strains), acid production from fructose, glucose and xylose.
Can utilize as sole carbon source adonitol, L-arabinose, mannose and sorbitol.
Negative results for arginine dihydrolase, alkaline phosphatase, coagulase (free and
bound), DNase, esculin hydrolysis, beta-galactosidase, H2S production, indole
production, lecithinase, phosphatase, phenylalanine deaminase, oxidase, Tween 80
hydrolysis, Voges-Proskauer test (sometimes weakly positive), acid production from
arabinose, galactose, glycerol, glucitol, inositol, lactose (variations), mannitol,
mannose maltose, rhamnose, raffinose, ribitol, sorbitol, salicin, turanose and
trehalose.
No utilization of m-inositol and mannitol.
Variable results for gelatin hydrolysis, starch hydrolysis and sucrose utilization.
urease (most strains), acid production from fructose, glucose and xylose.
Can utilize as sole carbon source adonitol, L-arabinose, mannose and sorbitol.
Negative results for arginine dihydrolase, alkaline phosphatase, coagulase (free and
bound), DNase, esculin hydrolysis, beta-galactosidase, H2S production, indole
production, lecithinase, phosphatase, phenylalanine deaminase, oxidase, Tween 80
hydrolysis, Voges-Proskauer test (sometimes weakly positive), acid production from
arabinose, galactose, glycerol, glucitol, inositol, lactose (variations), mannitol,
mannose maltose, rhamnose, raffinose, ribitol, sorbitol, salicin, turanose and
trehalose.
No utilization of m-inositol and mannitol.
Variable results for gelatin hydrolysis, starch hydrolysis and sucrose utilization.
(c) Costin Stoica
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