actinoplanes utahensis actinoplanes utahensis actinoplanes utahensis is a species of bacteria and a source of the drug acarbose, an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor used in the treatment of diabetes mellitus. actinoplanes utahensis scientific classification domain: bacteria phylum: actinomycetota class: actinomycetia order: micromonosporales family: micromonosporaceae genus: actinoplanes species: a. utahensis binomial name actinoplanes utahensiscouch 1963 (approved lists 1980) type strain atcc 14539dsm 43147ifo 13244jcm 3122nbrc 13244nrrl b-16727vkm ac-674 description a. utahensis are irregular in size and shape. they form sporangia which are 5 to 18 micrometers in diameter, and contain spores arranged in irregular coils. a. utahensis are motile by way of a number of flagella at one end. history a. utahensis was originally identified by john couch from soils collected from salt lake city's liberty park as well as along u.s. route 40 in nevada.