Lipid composition in the classification of nocardiae and mycobacteria.

Ninety-six strains of aerobic actinomycetes with a type IV cell wall (major amounts of meso-diaminopimelic acid, arabinose, and galactose) were analyzed for the presence of mycolic acids and nocardomycolic acids. The method used was comparatively simple and permits the separation of these organisms into two groups: the mycobacteria and the nocardiae. In general, strains received as mycobacteria contained mycolic acids, confirming the generic assignment made by other methods. On the basis of nocardomycolic acid content, Mycobacterium brevicale, M. rhodochrous, and M. thamnopheos should be placed in the genus Nocardia, and on the basis of mycolic acid content, strains recently isolated from bovine farcy should be placed in the genus Mycobacterium. Nocardia farcinica should be considered a nomen dubium and N. asteroides should be considered the type species of the genus.