30 



THE ACTINOMYCETES, Vol. II 



1. Classification of Nocardia* Species, 

 According to Jensen (1932a) 



A. Partially acid-fast organisms with strongly re- 

 fractive cells; nonproteolytic, generally non- 

 diastatic; capable of utilizing paraffin. 



I. Initial mycelium limited, rapidly dividing 

 into rods and cocci. 



1. Slowly growing organism; cells 0.5 to 

 0.7 n in diameter. 



Nocardia minima 



2. Rapidly growing organisms; cells 1.0 to 

 1.2 n in diameter. 



a. Cystites not produced; rapid forma- 

 tion of cocci. 



Nocardia corallina 



b. Cystites produced; less rapid forma- 

 tion of cocci. 



Nocardia salmonicolor 

 II. Initial mycelium well developed, richly 

 branching, dividing into rods and generally 

 into cocci. 



1. Substrate growth soft, without macro- 

 scopically visible aerial mycelium. 



a. Substrate growth red; may produce 

 variants with undivided substrate 

 mycelium and visible white aerial 

 mycelium, or yellow and white vari- 

 ants. 



Nocardia polychromogenes 



b. Substrate growth white to pale pink. 

 a 1 . Growth in nutrient agar opaque, 



cream-colored; cocci in broth 

 culture. 



Nocardia opaca 

 b 1 . Growth on sugar-free nutrient 

 agar watery; no cocci in broth 

 culture. 



Nocardia erythropolis 



2. Substrate growth hard, yellow, with 

 white aerial mycelium; sporophores 

 divide into chains of acid-fast cocci. 



Nocardia paraffinae 

 B. Nonacid-fasl organisms with weakly refractive 

 cells; no distinct formation of cocci. Diastatic. 

 I. Nonproteolytic; no aerial mycelium; 

 marked production of cystites. 



Nocardia mesenterica 



II. Proteolytic organisms. 



1. Growth on nutrient agar with rapid 

 formation <>f unbranched diphtheroid- 

 like rods; no typical cystites; broth tur- 

 bid. 



Nocardia actinomorpha 



* Designated by Jensen as Proactiiwmijc.es. 



2. ( '.rowth with extensive mycelium on nu- 

 trient agar; simple unbranched rods not 

 formed; cystites present; broth clear. 

 Nocardia flavescens 



2. Classification of Nocardia,* Accord- 

 ing to Krassilnikov 



A. Cultures colorless, some excreting a brown sub- 

 stance into the medium. 



I. Aerial mycelium and spore-bearing hy- 

 phae produced in culture media. 



1. Substrate and aerial mycelium occa- 

 sionally forming septae; the Iryphae 

 break up into long rods, 15 to 30 /x; 

 spherical bodies not formed. 



a. Saprophytes, found on dead sub- 

 strates. 



Nocardia actinoides 

 1). Parasites, living in bodies of man 

 and animals. 



Nocardia gedanensis 



2. Mycelium producing frequent septae; 

 hyphae break up into short rods and 

 cocci. 



a. Saprophytes. 



a 1 . Grow on protein media. 



Nocardia actinomorpha 

 b 1 . ( irow on paraffin. 



Nocardia paraffi // " < 



b. Parasites. 



Nocardia bo vis 

 II. Cultures produce aerial sporophores on 

 the surface of the colonies, but no aerial 

 mycelium ; sporophores are short, straight , 

 covering the surface of the colonies with 

 a thin, pale layer. 



1. Cultures grow in organic media. 



Nocardia albicans 



2. Cultures grow in inorganic media. 



Nocardia oligocarbophilus 

 III. Cultures not forming any sporophores or 

 any aerial mycelium; colonies smooth or 

 lichenoid. 



1. Saprophytes found on dead substrate. 



Nocardia albus 



2. Parasites or symbionts living within 

 plants, animals, or man. 



a. Organisms living in symbiosis with 

 plants, forming nodules on their 

 roots. 



Nocardia alni 

 Nocardia myricae 

 Nocardia elaeagnii 



* Generic name Proactinomyces used. 



