- Volume 15, Issue 3, 1965

New evidence is presented, based on immunoelectrophoretic analysis of the antigenic structure of various representatives of the genus Shigella, which supports the eligibility of recognition of the Newcastle bacteria as a distinct systematic entity, as is provided for in the Soviet classification of the shigellae.

Type strains are designated for Microbispora rosea, Waksmania rosea and Thermopolyspora bispora; these are IMRU 3757 (ATCC 12950), IMRU 3748 (ATCC 15334), and IMRU 3759 (ATCC 15737), respectively. A comparison of the type strains has shown these organisms to belong to the same genus, Microbispora, which name has priority. The first two types listed above are nearly identical and belong to the same species, M. rosea. The last type differs sufficiently from the others so that it represents another species in the genus Microbispora, for which the name M. bispora (Henssen) comb. nov. is proposed. Waksmania Lechevalier and Lechevalier 1957 and Thermopolyspora Henssen 1957 are regarded as later subjective synonyms of Microbispora Nonomura and Ohara 1957.

The taxonomic and phylogenetic relationships of members of the order Actinomycetaleshave been examined. On the basis of cellular and colony morphology, cell wall composition, fermentation products, and certainphysiological characteristics, the taxa within the family Actinomycetaceae were divided into two groups. Each group was closely related to members of the family Lactobacillaceae. One group consisted of Actinomyces israelii, A. naeslundii, A. propionicus, Nocardia dentocariosus and Odontomyces viscosis (“hamster organism”). The second group consisted of A. bovis, A. eriksonii, and Lactobacillus bifidus type II (L. parabifidus). This latter organism was renamed Actinomyces parabifidus nov. comb. because its morphological, physiological and biochemical characteristics related it to the members of both groups of the genus Actino myces. The families Streptomycetaceae and Mycobacteriaceae appeared more closely related to the family Corynebacte riaceae than to the family Actinomycetaceae. The use of certain criteria for classification and determination of phylogenetic relationships was discussed. We have stressed those areas in which necessary information is lacking.

Vibrio marinus (Russell 1891) Ford 1927 American Type Culture Collection strain 15381 is proposed as neotype strain (culture) of Virbrio marinus, a description of which is presented. A request for an Opinion on the proposal of strain ATCC 15381 as the neotype by the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature is made.

A salt - tolerant coccus is described which possesses morphological and physiological characteristics most nearly corresponding to those of the genus Micrococcus. The organism was isolated from sea water but is not a strict halophile; growth occurs in media containing 0-15% NaCl. The characteristics are sufficiently discrete to suggest the establishment of the new species Micrococcus haloduras. Possible relationships to other genera are discussed.

OPINION 31. Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1854 is conserved as the name of the type species of the bacterial genus Vibrio Pacini 1854, the bacterial generic name Vibrio Pacini 1854 is placed in the list of conserved bacterial generic names (nomina genera bacteriorum conservanda), and National Collection of Type Cultures (NCTC) Strain 8021 (American Type Culture Collection (ATCC) Strain 14035) is designated as the neotype strain of the species Vibrio cholerae Pacini 1854.