Kocuria varians

(aka Micrococcus varians)

Bacteria
General | Carbohydrate O/F | Substrate utilisation | Enzymes | Metabolites | Antibiotics

Overview

  • Kocuria varians, (aka Micrococcus varians), is a Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, aerobic, non-motile, coccus bacterium. It has been detected in at least 1 gut microbiome compilation study or metastudy. The DNA G+C content is 66-72%. Kocuria varians is probably a rare gut coloniser. (Stackebrandt1995; Fox1976)



  • This organism has been recovered from skin, soil and water. The risk classification (www.baua.de) for this organism is 1, i.e., low risk of infection and spread. Pathogenicity status unknown, or very unlikely to be pathogenic. A possible gut commensal.
    • GENERAL CHARACTERISTICS (Stackebrandt1995); (Fox1976);
    Character Response
  • Substrates hydrolysed or digested:
  • urea;
  • ±
  • Strain-dependent hydrolysis or digestion:
  • gelatin; starch;
  • 🧂
  • Salt tolerance:
  • tolerates 7.5% salt;
  • 🌡
  • Temperature tolerance:
  • Grows optimally at 22-37℃.
  • H+
  • Acid from carbohydrates usually produced:
  • fructose; glucose; xylose;
  • ±
  • Strain-dependent acid from carbs:
  • sucrose;
  • ⥅
  • Substrates assimilated or utilised:
  • cysteine; methionine; citrate;
  • Active enzymes:
  • catalase; urease;
    • SPECIAL FEATURES (Stackebrandt1995); (Fox1976);
    Character Response
  • ✗
  • Metabolites not produced:
  • H₂S; indole;
  • ✗
  • VP test:
  • not active
  • ±
  • Nitrate:
  • reduced by most strains
  • ±
  • Nitrite:
  • reduced by most strains
  • Pigments:
  • yellow
    • RESPONSE TO ANTIBIOTICS (Stackebrandt1995);
    Class Active Resistant
  • Penicillins:
  • methicillin;
  • Aminoglycosides:
  • kanamycin; neomycin;
  • Vancomycins:
  • vancomycin;
  • Miscellaneous antibiotics:
  • polymyxin B;

    • Details

    GENERAL
    Lineage Physiology General Growth Tolerances Hydrol./digest./degr.
    Phylum:  Actinobacteria Class:  Actinomycetia Order:  Micrococcales Family:  Micrococcaceae Genus:  Kocuria Alt. name:  Micrococcus varians Gram stain:  + O2 Relation.:  aerobic Spore:  No spore Motility:  Sessile Morphology:  Coccus Pigment:  yellow
    Health:  Unknown
    Source:  skin, soil and water
    DNA G+C(%):  66-72
    Opt. T:  22-37℃
    NaCl >6%:  7.5(+)
    		Aesculin:  neg Urea:  d(+) Gelatin:  d Starch:  d DNA:  neg Tween:  80(neg)
    CARBOHYDRATE ACID FORMATION
    Monosaccharide O/F Oligosaccharide O/F Polysaccharide O/F Polyol O/F Other O/F
    Arabinose:  neg Fructose:  + Galactose:  neg Glucose:  + Mannose:  neg Rhamnose:  neg Xylose:  + Lactose:  neg Maltose:  neg Sucrose:  d Glycerol:  neg Inositol:  neg Salicin:  neg
    SUBSTRATE ASSIMILATION & UTILISATION
    Monosaccharide util/assim Oligosaccharide util/assim Other carboh. util/assim Amino acid util/assim Organic acid util/assim
    Cys:  + Met:  + Citrate:  d(+)
    ENZYME ACTIVITY
    Enzymes: General Enzymes: Carbohydrate Enzymes: Protein Enzymes: Arylamidases Enzymes: Esters/fats
    Oxidase:  neg Catalase:  + Urease:  d(+) Coagulase:  neg β-Galactosidase:  neg ArgDH:  neg Phe deaminase:  neg DNAse:  neg Lecithinase:  neg
    METABOLITES - PRODUCTION & USE
    Fuel Usable Metabolites Metabolites Released Special Products Compounds Produced

    		H2S:  neg Indole:  neg Pigment:  yellow
    ANTIBIOTICS ℞
    Penicillins & Penems (μg/mL) Cephalosporins (μg/mL) Aminoglycosides (μg/mL) Macrolides (μg/mL) Quinolones (μg/mL)
    methicillin:  Sens
    penicillin_G:  Var
    kanamycin:  Sens
    neomycin:  Sens
    streptomycin:  Var
    erythromycin:  Var
    oleandomycin:  Var
    Tetracyclines (μg/mL) Vancomycin Class (μg/mL) Polypep/ketides (μg/mL) Heterocycles (μg/mL) Other (μg/mL)
    tetracycline:  Var
    vancomycin:  Sens
    chloramphenicol:  Var
    novobiocin:  Var
    polymyxin_B:  Sens

    References

    SPECIFIC REFERENCES FOR KOCURIA VARIANS
  • Stackebrandt1995 - Taxonomic Dissection of the Genus Micrococcus: Kocuria gen. nov., Nesterenkonia gen. nov., Kytococcus gen. nov., Dermacoccus gen. nov., and Micrococcus Cohn 1872 gen. emend.
  • Fox1976 - Differentiation of Micrococcus luteus and Micrococcus varians on the Basis of Catalase Isoenzymes.
  • ...............................
    • GUT MICROBIOME COMPILATIONS AND METASTUDIES FOR KOCURIA VARIANS
  • Lagier2016 - Culture of previously uncultured members of the human gut microbiota by culturomics.
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    • Added: January 14, 2022