- Volume 15, Issue 2, 1965

Lysenko (1961) cited CCEB 472 (NRRL B-12) to identify the strain he proposed as neotype for Pseudomonas pseudomallei (Whit-more) Haynes 1957. He thus incorrectly signified that CCEB 472 and NRRL B-12 are different designations of the same strain. In fact, they are strain numbers of two different microorganisms. The correct citation is CCEB 472 (NRRL B-1112). The error has been perpetuated and compounded in recent catalogues of the Culture Collection of Entomogenous Bacteria, of the Czechoslovak Collections of Microorganisms, and inadvertently of the American Type Culture Collection. Histories of the confounded strains are presented and the relationships among the accession numbers in various culture collections are shown as aids in untangling the confusion that has developed.

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (Schroeter 1872) Migula 1900 American Type Culture Collection strain 14216 is proposed as neotype strain (culture) of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, a description of which is presented. A request for an Opinion on the proposal of strain ATCC 14216 as the neotype has been submitted to the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature.

The designation “pseudotubercular” has been incorrectly applied to the macroscopic lesions produced by many species of bacteria. Further, the frequent inclusion of “pseudotuberculosis” as a specific epithet inappropriately in names of bacteria has led to much confusion. This is particularly true in the many names applied to the organism described by Malassez and Vignal (188 3). Reasons for recognition of the following names of genera and species segregated from the genus Pasteurella are detailed.

Criteria currently in use lead to conclusion that in the family Micrococcaceae the two genera Micrococcus and Staphylococcus may be recognized. The genus Staphylo-coccus presently contains two rather homogeneous species, S. aureus and S. epidermidis, and the genus Micrococcus contains two recognizable species, M. luteus and M. roseus. Other species in these genera have not been characterized adequately.

Sarcina lutea, S. flava and S. auriantica are synonyms of Micrococcus luteus. The genus Sarcina should include only the anaerobic species.

There is little, if any antigenic relationship between micrococci and staphylococci. Staphylococcus aureus and S. epidermidis have some common antigens. Three identifiable antigens are considered to be species-specific for S. aureus, which also has many type-specific antigens.

The majority of recent isolates of Staphylococcus aureus can be separated into two varieties and these may correspond to the original antigenic forms of Cowan’s serotypes I and III.

The most common variety has antigen 17 or I as a surface antigen and is lysed by serological group B phages; it may contain serological group A prophages and is usually tetracycline sensitive. It is probably more virulent (particularly in the 17+ form) than the second variety which possesses antigen 13 or 3, and is lysed by serological group A phages and may contain B prophages. It is usually tetracycline resistant.