Streptomyces cocklensis sp. nov., a dioxamycin-producing actinomycete.

The taxonomic position of a streptomycete isolated from soil collected from Cockle Park Experimental Farm, Northumberland, UK, was determined by using a polyphasic approach. The organism had chemical and morphological features consistent with its classification in the genus Streptomyces. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis supported classification of the strain in the genus Streptomyces and showed that it formed a distinct phyletic line loosely associated with members of the Streptomyces yeochonensis clade. It was related most closely to Streptomyces paucisporeus 1413(T) (98.6 %16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), but could be distinguished from the latter based on the low level of DNA-DNA relatedness (40 %). It was readily distinguished from the type strains of all species assigned to the S. yeochonensis clade based on a combination of phenotypic properties. Strain BK168(T) ( = KACC 20908(T) = NCIMB 14704(T)) should therefore be classified as the type strain of a novel species of the genus Streptomyces, for which the name Streptomyces cocklensis sp. nov. is proposed. The organism produces the antibiotic dioxamycin.