MENAQUINONE SYSTEM IN CLASSIFICATION OF AEROBIC GRAM-POSITIVE COCCI IN GENERA MICROCOCCUS, STAPHYLOCOCCUS, PLANOCOCCUS, AND SPOROSARCINA

Cultures (26) were examined for the MK [menaquinone] system of aerobic gram-positive cocci. S. ureae revealed the MK-7 system, which is consistent with that of the genus Bacillus. In the genus Planococcus, the only system composed of MK-8(MK-7) was found. The genus Staphylococcus was divided into 2 groups according to the MK system, i.e., MK-8(MK-7) in St. aureus and MK-7 in St. epidermidis and St. saprophyticus. The genus Micrococcus was the most complicated; it had MK-8(MK-7), MK-8(H2), and MK-9(H2) in M. luteus, MK-9(H2) in M. agilis and MK-7(H2) in M. varians. The pinkish red-pigmented, revised species M. agilis Ali-Cohen 1889 is distinguished from M. roseus on the basis of its MK-9(H2) system. Discussions are made on the classification of these aerobic gram-positive cocci from the viewpoint of the MK system.