The validation of gas-vacuolated strains of methanosarcinae at the species level under the name of Methanosarcina vacuolata sp. nov. is presented, based on chemotaxonomic as well as morphological characteristics. M. vacuolata is shown to be related but distinct from the type species M. barkeri and the other species of freshwater methanosarcinae, M. mazei and M. thermophila.
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LysenkoA. M., ZhilinaT. N.1985; Taxonomic position of Methanosarcina vacuolata and Methanococcus halophilus determined by the technique of DNA-DNA hybridization. Microbiology 54:501–502 In Russian
MahR. A., KühnD. A.1984; Rejection of the type species Methanosarcina methanica (Approved Lists 1980). Conservation of the genus Methanosarcina with Methanosarcina barkeri (Approved Lists 1980) as the type species, and emendation of the genus Methanosarcina. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 34:266–267
MahR. A., KühnD. A.1984; Transfer of the type species of the genus Methanococcus to the genus Methanosarcina, naming it Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) comb, nov; et emend, and conservation of the genus Methanococcus (Approved Lists 1980) With Methanococcus vanielii (Approved Lists 1980) as the type Species. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 34:263–265
OsipovG. A., ShubanovaE. A., MorozovO. V., El-RegistanG. I., KoslovaA. N., ZhilinaT. N.1984; Lipids of Methanosarcina vacuolata and Methanococcus halophilus. Microbiology 53:633–638 In Russian
ZhilinaT. N., ZavarzinG. A.1978 Methods for isolation and cultivation of methanogenic bacteria. 68–90Theoretical and methodical studies of anaerobic microorganisms Pushchino; USSR:
ZhilinaT. N., ZavarzinG. A.1979; Comparative cytology of Methanosarcinae and description of Methanosarcina vacuolata nov. sp. Microbiology 48:279–285 In Russian