Species Of Cocci Research Articles

Characterization of the Human Plasma Biofilm Model (hpBIOM) to Identify Potential Therapeutic Targets for Wound Management of Chronic Infections.

The treatment of chronic wounds still represents a major challenge in wound management. Recent estimates suggest that 60-80% of chronic wounds are colonized by pathogenic microorganisms, which are strongly considered to have a major inhibiting influence on the healing process. By means of an innovative biofilm model based on human plasma, the time-dependent behavior of various bacterial strains under wound-milieu-like conditions were investigated, and the growth habits of different cocci species were compared. Undescribed fusion events between colonies of MRSA as well as of Staphylococcus epidermidis were detected, which were associated with the remodeling and reorganization of the glycocalyx of the wound tissue. After reaching a maximum colony size, the spreading of individual bacteria was observed. Interestingly, the combination of different cocci species with Pseudomonas aeruginosa in the human plasma biofilm revealed partial synergistic effects in these multispecies organizations. RT-qPCR analyses gave a first impression of the relevant proteins involved in the formation and maturation of biofilms, especially the role of fibrinogen-binding proteins. Knowledge of the maturation and growth behavior of persistent biofilms investigated in a translational human biofilm model reflects a starting point for the development of novel tools for the treatment of chronic wounds.

The genera Coccus and Prococcus (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) in China, with two new combinations and descriptions of two new species.

The Chinese soft scale species in the genus Coccus Linnaeus, 1758 (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) were studied. Coccus cambodiensis Takahashi and the Malaysian species C. cameronensis Takahashi are considered to be non-congeneric with Coccus hesperidum Linnaeus, 1758, the type species of Coccus, and are transferred to Prococcus Avasthi, 1993, as Prococcus cambodiensis (Takahashi, 1942), comb. n. and Prococcus cameronensis (Takahashi, 1952), comb. n. The generic diagnosis of Prococcus is revised. In the genus Coccus, two new species are described and illustrated based on adult females: Coccus nanningensis Cao Feng, sp. n. from Guangxi, China, on Ficus carica (Moraceae), and Coccus cephalotaxus Cao Feng, sp. n. from Shannxi, China, on Cephalotaxus sinensis (Taxaceae). Identification keys to separate adult females of Prococcus from Coccus, the 14 species of Coccus found in China, and all three species of Prococcus are provided.

New genera, new species and new combinations for some African Coccomorpha (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha).

In the past, various authors have placed many species in genera that are now understood to be restricted to other regions of the world. Thus, in Africa, species of soft scale (Hemiptera: Sternorrhyncha: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) with this problem are those in Ceronema Maskell, a genus probably restricted to Australia; Ceroplastodes Cockerell, probably restricted to the New World; and Inglisia Maskell, which is restricted to New Zealand. The placement of these species is reviewed here. Four of the known Ceronema species are placed in three new monotypic genera, Neoceronema gen. nov., Illovococcus gen. nov. and Bugandacoccus gen. nov., as Neoceronema africanum (Macfie) comb. nov., N. brachystegiae (Hall) comb. nov., Illovococcus mobilis (Brain) comb. nov. and Bugandacoccus gowdeyi (Newstead) comb. nov.; Ceroplastodes ritchiei Laing and C. zavatarii Bellio are transferred to Drepanococcus Williams Watson, as D. ritchiei (Laing) comb. nov. and D. zavattarii (Bellio), comb. nov., and Inglisia grevilliae Hall, I. pluvialis Hodgson and I. theobromae Newstead are transferred to Cryptinglisia Cockerell as C. grevilliae (Hall) comb. nov., C. pluvialis (Hodgson) comb. nov. and C. theobromae (Newstead) comb. nov. Keys are provided to all Drepanococcus and Cryptinglisia species, and all the African species discussed are illustrated. In addition, another new genus of African Coccidae is described, Testudovestis gen. nov., to take a new species somewhat similar to Eucalymnatus Cockerell: T. africana spec. nov. In addition, a new species of Coccus L.: Coccus moorei, spec. nov., and a new species of mealybug (Heliococcus tinglei spec. nov., Pseudococcidae), are described, both from mainland Africa. The lecanodiaspid Lecanodiaspis zygophylli Hodgson is also recorded from Nigeria for the first time.

Impacts of the independent and synergistic effects of curcuma and mangosteen extracts on the gut bacterial composition in lean and obese rats

Dietary polyphenols in plant extracts are being widely investigated due to their great health-promoting activities and effect on modulating gut ecology. In turn, gut microbiota, plays a vital role in the biological activities of phenolic metabolites, particularly after the intake of food rich in polyphenols, such as plant extracts. However, this two-way relationship between polyphenols and microbiota is poorly understood. We prepared curcuma and mangosteen methanol extracts and fed them to healthy, lean, and obese rats over a period of 10 weeks. Subsequent alterations in the gut microbiota were determined. Overall, Firmicutes were more abundant than Bacteroidetes throughout the experiment. A particular increase of gram-positive cocci species and a significant decrease in both Clostridium and Bacteroides species were noted primarily in the first weeks of both plant extract intake in the control and lean rats. Compared to obese rats fed a regular diet, obese rats fed plant extracts showed an increase in Enterobacteriacea, Clostridium, and Bacteroides species and a decrease in gram-positive cocci in the first weeks of treatment with the last weeks of treatment the results at the species level were inverted.

Identification of Bacteria from under Finger Nails

This study was conducted to isolate and identify bacteria from human finger nails. A total of three nail samples were collected. The samples were collected from random people in which two of them were from females and one was from male. The isolated pathogens from finger nails include Bacillus species (2 isolates), coccus species (one isolate). Highest contamination of Bacillus species was isolated. After the colonies were being isolated, they were further characterized on the basis of biochemical characteristics including Indole test, Citrate test, Nitrate reduction test and Urease test. After that Antimicrobial susceptibility tests were performed to identify the resistance of a particular bacteria towards a given antibiotic i.e. Ampicillin, Chloromphenicol, Norfloxacin, Co-Trimoxazol and Ciprofloxacin. However the results obtained showed the resistance of isolates towards Ampicillin indicating the prevalance of potentially disease causing microbes under fingernails. This study showed the importance of nail hygiene.

Diverse phylogeny and morphology of magnetite biomineralized by magnetotactic cocci.

Magnetotactic bacteria (MTB) are diverse prokaryotes that produce magnetic nanocrystals within intracellular membranes (magnetosomes). Here, we present a large-scale analysis of diversity and magnetosome biomineralization in modern magnetotactic cocci, which are the most abundant MTB morphotypes in nature. Nineteen novel magnetotactic cocci species are identified phylogenetically and structurally at the single-cell level. Phylogenetic analysis demonstrates that the cocci cluster into an independent branch from other Alphaproteobacteria MTB, that is, within the Etaproteobacteria class in the Proteobacteria phylum. Statistical analysis reveals species-specific biomineralization of magnetosomal magnetite morphologies. This further confirms that magnetosome biomineralization is controlled strictly by the MTB cell and differs among species or strains. The post-mortem remains of MTB are often preserved as magnetofossils within sediments or sedimentary rocks, yet paleobiological and geological interpretation of their fossil record remains challenging. Our results indicate that magnetofossil morphology could be a promising proxy for retrieving paleobiological information about ancient MTB.

Microbiological and FE-SEM Assessment of d-PTFE Membrane Exposed to Oral Environment after Alveolar Socket Preservation Managed with Granular nc-HA

The aim of this study was to analyze, by the aid of microbiological analysis and the field emission scanning electron microscopical (FE-SEM) analysis, the role of high-density polytetrafluoroethylene (d-PTFE) membranes in avoiding the microbial colonization of a nanocrystalline hydroxyapatite (nc-HA) bone graft and the involvement of this colonization in the healing process. Six patients underwent extraction of unrecoverable teeth, and a socket preservation technique was carried out with nc-HA synthetic bone graft and then covered with a d-PTFE membrane. After 28 days from surgery, FE-SEM analysis and BioTimer assay technique to assess the microbiological count of streptococci species were carried out. Data were collected and analyzed by the Student's t test (confidence interval: 95%). The mean amount of bacteria measured on the upper side of the membrane was 6.52 ± 0.50 CFU, while on the lower side, it was 6.59 ± 0.40 CFU. Significant differences were not found between the two sides of the membrane or between the different sectors (p > 0.05). The FE-SEM analysis revealed structured biofilms on both sides of the membrane: species of cocci, bacilli, and fusobacteria were recognizable in occasional settled vegetations. Since the amount of bacteria found was low, the improved impermeability of the d-PTFE membrane permitted the healing process to proceed uneventful and without signs of infection or inflammation. The infection of the graft site could lead to a failure of the socket preservation technique which could delay or compromise the rehabilitation following procedures. The use of d-PTFE can improve the bone regeneration thanks to its antimicrobial properties.

Erratum: Addendum to Zootaxa 4612 (3): On some new and old soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) from Africa, with description of a new Coccus species and introduction of a new genus by B. Łagowska and Chris J. Hodgson.

Due to an oversight, the depositories of the new species, Coccus giliomeei Łagowska Hodgson, and of the new material of Coccus rhodesiensis (Hall) collected in the Transvaal, South Africa, was omitted from the manuscript. Both lots of slides will be deposited in SANC, The South African National Collection of Insects, Pretoria, South Africa.

On some new and old soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae)from Africa, with description of a new Coccus species and introduction ofa new genus.

A new species of soft scale (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha; Cocccidae) from South Africa, Coccus giliomeei Łagowska Hodgson sp. n., collected on Gymnosporia buxifolia (L.) Szyszyl, is described and illustrated. Also, Coccus rhodesiensis (Hall) is recorded for the first time from South Africa and is redescribed and illustrated based on the adult females of the type series and fresh South African specimens. An updated key to the species of Coccus and similar species known from Africa is included. Based on this latter study, (i) Marsipococcus proteae (Brain) and M. durbanensis (Brain) are considered not to be congeneric with Marsipococcus marsupialis (Green), the type species of Marsipococcus Cockerell Bueker, and are placed in a new genus Proteacoccus Łagowska Hodgson, gen. n. with Lecanium proteae Brain as the type species; (ii) it is considered that Coccus asiaticus Lindinger is clearly not a junior synonym of Parasaissetia nigra (Nietner) and is accepted as a full species, rev. stat., and (iii) Neoplatylecanium adersi (Newstead) is considered to be non-conspecific with N. cinnamomi Takahashi, the type species of Neoplatylecanium Takahashi, and is transferred to Maacoccus Tao Wong, as Maacoccus adersi (Newstead), comb. n.

Taxonomy of coccids (Hemiptera: Coccidae: Coccus L.) associated with Crematogaster ants (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) in the stems of Macaranga plants (Euphorbiaceae) in Southeast Asia.

The Southeast Asian soft scale insects (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Coccidae) associated with ants of the Crematogaster borneensis-group (Hymenoptera: Formicidae) and living in the hollow stems of Macaranga plants (Euphorbiaceae) are revised taxonomically. Ten species of the genus Coccus L. are recognised: seven were described previously and three new species are described herein. The species are: Coccus caviramicolus Morrison, C. circularis Morrison, C. heckrothi Gullan Kondo sp. n., C. lambirensis Gullan Kondo sp. n., C. macarangicolus Takahashi, C. macarangae Morrison, C. penangensis Morrison, C. pseudotumuliferus Gullan Kondo sp. n., C. secretus Morrison and C. tumuliferus Morrison. All of these species are described or redescribed and newly illustrated based on the adult females, and a key to distinguish the species is provided. We designate a lectotype for C. macarangicolus. The first-instar nymphs of all species are morphologically extremely similar and therefore only the first-instar nymph of C. macarangae is described and illustrated. Seven of these species currently are known only from Macaranga, but C. macarangae, C. secretus and perhaps C. pseudotumuliferus have been recorded from the hollow stems of several other ant-plants and a few non-myrmecophytes. The Coccus species from Macaranga are closely related to C. hesperidum L., the type species of the genus, and therefore are retained in the genus Coccus even though the adult females exhibit a few morphological differences from C. hesperidum. The species of Coccus from Macaranga appear to be parthenogenetic because no male nymphs or adults have been found, despite extensive collecting.

Review of the genus Coccus Linnaeus from Korea, with description of a new species (Hemiptera, Coccomorpha, Coccidae).

The genus Coccus from Korea is reviewed, including a new species, C. ficicola sp. n., and a first record of C. malloti (Takahashi, 1956). The new species is characterized by a distinctive pattern of ventral tubular ducts on medial area of head and thorax, and submarginal area of abdomen. The adult female of Coccus ficicola sp. n. is described and illustrated, and a morphological comparison is given with congeners. Coccus malloti is redescribed and illustrated based on the adult female specimens from Korea. A key to the four species of Coccus known from Korea is provided with diagnoses and photographs.

First Case of Tricuspid Valve Endocarditis Caused by Gemella bergeri.

Gemella bergeri is a Gram-positive cocci species arranged in pairs and composes the normal flora of oral cavity, digestive and urinary tract. Several species of Gemella are known to cause endocarditis. Here, we report the first case in Thailand of G. bergeri endocarditis whose blood culture was negative using routine methods but was positive by PCR identification of bacteria in the affected valve. A 37-year-old male presented with prolonged fever, weight loss, and dyspnea on exertion. By transthoracic echocardiography, he was suspected of having infective endocarditis of the tricuspid valve. The patient underwent tricuspid valve repair and vegetectomy. Routine hospital blood cultures were negative but G. bergeri was identified by PCR/sequencing of the heart valve tissue.

Delimiting genera of scale insects: molecular and morphological evidence for synonymisingTaiwansaissetiaTao, Wong and Chang withCoccusLinnaeus (Hemiptera: Coccoidea: Coccidae)

We provide objective criteria for assessing the taxonomic status of genera, especially those that are monotypic, using the coccid genusTaiwansaissetiaTao, Wong & Chang. This genus contains only the type species,Lecanium formicariiGreen [currentlyTaiwansaissetia formicarii(Green)], known from the Afrotropical and Oriental regions. Here,Taiwansaissetiais synonymised (syn.nov.) withCoccusLinnaeus (Hemiptera: Coccidae) on the basis of phylogenetic analyses of DNA sequence data and morphological examination. All analyses (maximum parsimony, neighbour‐joining and Bayesian inference) of four gene regions (18S,28S,COIandEF‐1α), and a concatenation of these regions, placed the clade includingT. formicariiand three unidentifiedCoccusspecimens as sister to the type species ofCoccus,C. hesperidumLinnaeus, with high support.Taiwansaissetia formicariiis more closely related toC. hesperidumthanC. hesperidumis toC. viridis(Green), which is considered to be a ‘typical’ species ofCoccus,and several other current members ofCoccus[C. longulus(Douglas),C. penangensisMorrison andC. pseudomagnoliarum(Kuwana)]. Explicit criteria, including monophyly, diagnosability, sister taxa being of equal rank, and the level of genetic divergence betweenT. formicariiandC. hesperidumrelative to within‐genus divergence of other scale insects, were used to assess the taxonomic status ofTaiwansaissetia. The autapomorphic features ofTaiwansaissetiathat differentiate it from typical species ofCoccusmight be due to its myrmecophilous habit and adaptation to living inside ant nests – most other species ofCoccuslive externally on their host plants. Since its description in 1896,T. formicariihas been placed in four different genera: here we transfer it back toCoccusasC. formicarii(Green)stat.rev.We rediagnose the genusCoccusto accommodate the features ofC. formicarii. This study also found thatCoccusmight not be monophyletic, warranting further study of the group.

Identification of tetracycline‐ and erythromycin‐resistant Gram‐positive cocci within the fermenting microflora of an Italian dairy food product

Microbiological and molecular analysis of antibiotic resistance in Gram-positive cocci derived from the Italian PDO (Protected Designation of Origin) dairy food product Mozzarella di Bufala Campana. One hundred and seven coccal colonies were assigned to Enterococcus faecalis, Lactococcus lactis and Streptococcus bovis genera by ARDRA analysis (amplified ribosomal DNA restriction analysis). Among them, 16 Ent. faecalis, 26 L. lactis and 39 Strep. bovis displayed high minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) values for tetracycline, while 17 L. lactis showed high MIC values for both tetracycline and erythromycin. Strain typing and molecular analysis of the phenotypically resistant isolates demonstrated the presence of the tet(M) gene in the tetracycline-resistant strains and of tet(S) and erm(B) in the double-resistant strains. Southern blot analysis revealed plasmid localization of L. lactis tet(M), as well as of the erm(B) and tet(S) genes. Genetic linkage of erm(B) and tet(S) was also demonstrated by PCR amplification. Conjugation experiments demonstrated horizontal transfer to Ent. faecalis strain JH2-2 only for the plasmid-borne L. lactis tet(M) gene. We characterized tetracycline-and erythromycin-resistance genes in coccal species, representing the fermenting microflora of a typical Italian dairy product. These results are of particular relevance from the food safety viewpoint, especially in the light of the potential risk of horizontal transfer of antibiotic-resistance genes among foodborne commensal bacteria.

Microbial community analysis of drinking water sources from rural areas of Zimbabwe

Traditional methods employing selective, differential and non-selective media were used to isolate and identify different species of bacteria from rural drinking water reservoirs of Mount Darwin district of Zimbabwe. The colony counts from non-selective nutrient agar plates gave an indication of the overall level of bacterial activity from each water sample. Open deep wells, shallow wells and rivers were found to be the most heavily contaminated water sources. Borehole water sources had very low total microbial loads and absent in some of the water samples. The prevalent bacteria found were the Gram negative Escherichia coli, Shigella, Salmonella, Enterobacter aerogenes and one cocci species that was not further characterized. The presence of faecal pathogenic species in the river water and open wells poses epidemiological cases of diarrhoeal diseases in the district studied. Key words: Drinking water, microbial analysis, faecal bacteria, bacteriophages, phenotypic.

RpoB gene: A target for identification of LAB cocci by PCR-DGGE and melting curves analyses in real time PCR

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are essential in the quality of many fermented beverages like beer, cider and wine. In the two later cases, they convert malic acid into lactic acid during the malolactic fermentation. After fermentation, microbial stabilization is needed to prevent the development of spoilage bacteria species. Among them, cocci lead to different alterations: Pediococcus sp., and some strains of Leuconostoc mesenteroides and Oenococcus oeni can produce exopolysaccharides which modify wine viscosity and lead to ropiness. They also can produce acetic acid, biogenic amine, ethyl carbamate and volatile phenols. Therefore detection and identification are crucial. Results of phenotypic tests and DNA–DNA probes are not accurate enough. 16S RNA gene which is currently used for bacterial species identification presents intraspecies heterogeneity. The rpoB gene is an alternative to this limitation. However previous PCR targeting partial sequence of rpoB gene could not delimit cocci species. Therefore we compared the rpoB gene sequence of the six main cocci species found in fermented beverages: P. damnosus, P. dextrinicus, P. parvulus, P. pentosaceus, L. mesenteroides and O. oeni. The most discriminating partial sequence of the rpoB gene was chosen for designing primers. By PCR-DGGE the reliability of these primers was verified. It was controlled in a mixture of several cocci and other lactic acid bacteria ( Lactobacillus sp.). Then we adapted the primers and the PCR conditions in order to achieve the identification of cocci species by real time PCR program including the fluorescent dye SYBR Green I, which gives faster results. PCR melt curves were established and a specific T m was attributed to each species.

Identification of enterococcal, streptococcal and Weissella species in the faecal flora of individually owned dogs

To improve the limited information on the composition of the faecal Gram-positive coccal flora of healthy dogs by the use of a molecular identification method. Faecal swabs were collected for the selective isolation of Gram-positive coccal strains. Colonies with enterococcal- and streptococcal-like morphology were identified by tRNA intergenic length polymorphism analysis (tDNA-PCR). Fourteen known species belonging to three genera (Enterococcus, Streptococcus and Weissella) and one alleged new enterococcal species were found. The faecal flora of dogs comprises an unusually broad diversity of culturable Gram-positive coccal species with Enterococcus faecalis being most frequently present followed by not less than six other species of about equal importance. Many human- and animal-associated enterococci and streptococci are also present in dog faeces together with the largely uncharacterized Weissella cibaria and a group of strains resembling Enterococcus dispar, but representing a distinct and hitherto unknown species. Phenotypic characteristics of the latter two species were determined and the test results were compared with the species descriptions of W. cibaria and E. dispar respectively.

Characterisation of and immunity to the aerobic bacteria found in the pouch of the brushtail possum Trichosurus vulpecula

The bacterial composition of the brustail possum ( Trichosurus vulpecula) pouch was characterized throughout the reproductive cycle using brushtails from an Australian captive breeding colony (45 swabs) and a wild population in New Zealand (26 swabs). Gram-positive coccal species predominate throughout the reproductive cycle. Enteric Gram-negative rods, particularly Escherichia coli, were most prevalent when a pouch young was present and was most likely the result of faecal contamination from the pouch young. As culturing is only able to detect a proportion of bacteria present in a particular environment, molecular 16S rDNA sequencing was carried out on DNA extracted from a pouch wash of a female carrying a pouch young to gain a more accurate assessment of the pouch microflora. This approach identified approximately five times the number of bacterial species when compared to culture results. The majority detected were Gram negative rods or most closely related to Gram-negative rods species. Brushtails are immunologically immature at birth yet survive in a pouch colonised with potentially pathogenic bacteria. A haemagglutination assay was used to determine whether antibodies to a frequently isolated bacterium ( Klebsiella pneumoniae) were transferred via milk from mother to pouch young. IgG antibodies were detected in maternal serum, milk and pouch young serum. In young over 70 days, antibody titres were significantly higher than those found in maternal serum, suggesting that the young is capable of producing adult type antibodies to pouch bacteria at this time.

Oral colonization of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci in irradiated, dentate, xerostomic individuals.

This study aimed at investigating the oral colonization of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci in head- and neck-irradiated, dentate, xerostomic individuals. Subjects were recruited from a nasopharyngeal carcinoma clinic and were segregated into group A: <60 years (n=25, 48+/-6 years, 5+/-5 years post-irradiation) and group B: >or=60 years (n=8, 67+/-4 years, 2+/-2 years post-irradiation) and were compared with age- and sex-matched normal individuals, group C: <60 years (n=20, 44+/-12 years) and group D: >or=60 years (n=10, 70+/-3 years). Selective culture of the oral rinse samples was carried out to isolate, quantify and speciate (using API 20E kit) aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci recovery. All test subjects were put under comprehensive oral and preventive care for 3 months, and 12 group A and 5 group B subjects were recalled for reassessment of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci colonization. All identical isolates, pre- and post-hygienic care, were phenotypically (Vitek, Hazelwood, MA and antibiogram profile) and genotypically (pulsed-field gel electrophoresis) evaluated. The aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci isolated from the first round oral rinse samples included: Acinetobacter, Neisseria, Chryseomonas, Flavimonas, Pseudomonas, Citrobacter, Enterobacter, Escherichia, Klebsiella, Flavobacterium and Weeksella species. The aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci isolation rate was high for irradiated individuals, and they were 64/25% and 100/80% for groups A/C and B/D, respectively. Recovery of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci and Klebsiella pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae in oral rinse samples were found to be significantly more prevalent in the irradiated subjects (groups A and B). Enterobacteriaceae were more frequently isolated from oral rinse samples of aged irradiated subjects (group B vs D, P<0.05), where the quantity of Citrobacter freundii (colony-forming units/ml oral rinse) was also significantly elevated. The isolation rate of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci after hygienic care remained unchanged; 3 of 12 and 3 of 5 of the recalled subjects from groups A and B, respectively, harbored same aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci species. However, only two pairs of K. pneumoniae subsp. pneumoniae, sequentially isolated from same patients in group B, were found to be identical by pulsed-field gel electrophoresis. This may be due to reinfection of the microbes from the same source or permanent colonization. In conclusion, irradiation-induced xerostomia seems to favor frequent, repeated, transient intraoral colonization of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic gram-negative rods and cocci.

The putative DNA translocase SpoIIIE is required for sporulation of the symmetrically dividing coccal species Sporosarcina ureae.

The spoIIIE gene of Sporosarcina ureae encodes a 780-residue protein, showing 58% identity to the SpoIIIE protein of Bacillus subtilis, which is thought to be a DNA translocase. Expression of the S. ureae spoIIIE gene is able to restore sporulation in a B. subtilis spoIIIE mutant. Inactivation of the S. ureae spoIIIE gene blocks sporulation of S. ureae at stage III. Within the limits of detection, the sporulation division in S. ureae shows the same symmetry, or near symmetry, as the vegetative division (in contrast to the highly asymmetric location of the sporulation division for B. subtilis), and so it is inferred that SpoIIIE facilitates chromosome partitioning during sporulation, even when the division is not grossly asymmetric. It is suggested that chromosome partitioning lags behind division during sporulation but not during vegetative growth.