16S rRNA gene sequencing was
carried out using the methods reported by Shida et al.
(1996) and Takagi et al. (1993). The 16S rRNA gene was
amplified by PCR with the universal bacterial primers, 16S-
27 F (59-AGAGTTTGATCMTGGCTCAG-39) annealed at
positions 8–27 and 16S-1539 R (59-CCAGTGAGCAGAGTGACG-
39) annealed at positions 1522–1539 (Escherichia
coli numbering according to Brosius et al., 1978).