- Volume 23, Issue 2, 1973

A critical study of the present state of the classification of vibrio-like, curved, microaerophilic bacteria was made. The species originally described under the names Vibrio coli Doyle, V. jejuni Jones et al., V. sputorum Prévot, and V. bubulus Florent are transferred to the genus Campylobacter Sebald and Véron 1963. The authors suggest that the type species of this genus, C. fetus, be divided into two subspecies: C. fetus subsp. fetus (Smith and Taylor) comb. nov. (syn. V. fetus subsp. intestinalis Florent), which contains the neotype strain of the species, and C. fetus subsp. venerealis (Florent) comb. nov. The previously described subspecies V. fetus subsp. intermedius Elazhari is regarded as an infrasubspecific taxon with the name C. fetus subsp. venerealis biotype intermedius. CIP 5396 ( = ATCC 27374 = NCTC 10842) is proposed as the neotype strain of C. fetus subsp. fetus. This strain, then, is also the neotype strain of C. fetus (Smith and Taylor) Sebald and Véron.

Among the five generally recognized species in the genus Brucella Meyer and Shaw, a type strain exists only for Brucella neotomae Stoenner and Lackman. Described herein are the characteristics of B. abortus (Schmidt and Weis) Meyer and Shaw, strain 544 (ATCC 23488); B. suis Huddleson, strain 1330 (ATCC 23444); B. melitensis (Hughes) Meyer and Shaw, strain 16M (ATCC 23456); and B. ovis Buddle strain 6690 (ATCC 25840). Each of these strains has features similar to those reported for the original isolates of the species, each simultaneously fits the revised species descriptions and, when viewed in toto, these strains reflect the current concept of this genus. Thus, in accordance with the recommendations of the International Subcommittee on the Taxonomy of the Genus Brucella, these strains here are designated as the neotype strains of these species. Because three of the species in this genus are divided into biotypes that are of epidemiological significance we have, again at the recommendation of the International Subcommittee, selected a representative strain for each biotype for use as a reference. The characteristics of each of the reference strains are also described herein.

Acid water from a closed deep coal mine was examined for the presence of heterotrophic bacteria. This water, which is routinely pumped to a surface stream for runoff, did not contain “acid streamers” or slime-producing, sporeforming bacteria. However, aerobic, nonmotile, yellow, nonfermentative, gram-negative rods were found by using the most-probable-number technique with a dilute tryptone-yeast extract medium. The isolates displayed binary fission as the mode of reproduction although abortive division, as evidenced by mini-cell formation, occurred at a low frequency. Based on morphological and other characteristics, including deoxyribonucleic acid base composition, a new species, Flavobacterium acidurans, is proposed for these bacteria. The type strain of this organism is ATCC 27383. Periodic sampling of mine effluent over a 1-year period disclosed that this organism comprises a major microbial component of the acid environment.

Twenty-two strains of extremely halophilic cocci (i.e., cocci requiring at least 15% NaCl for growth), so far considered as belonging to species of the genus Micrococcus Cohn or Sarcina Goodsir, were subjected to a taxonomic analysis. As a result of this study, it is recommended that they be assigned to the genus Halococcus Schoop, 1935. Amended descriptions of the genus and its single species, H. morrhuae (Farlow 1880) comb. nov., are given. CCM 537 (ATCC 17082, NCMB 787) is designated as the neotype strain of H. morrhuae.

The biochemical properties of strains of most of the known species of Chainia Thirumalachar were compared. The mode of formation of sclerotia by a strain of C. olivacea Thirumalachar and Sukapure was studied by light and electron microscopy. Hyphae first show numerous lipid inclusions and then divide into cells in which lipid occupies more and more space. An intercellular cement is deposited forming a plurilocular structure. The lipids, which account for 50% of the weight of the biomass, are triglycerides of branched-chain fatty acids of the iso/anteiso series, principally C1 5 and C1 6. The intercellular cement is rich in l-2,3-diaminopropionic acid, an amino acid not previously found associated with microbial structures.

A strain of a strictly anaerobic, filterable, bacteriolytic microorganism has been isolated from the bovine rumen. It has the microscopic and colonial morphology characteristic of mycoplasmas and is resistant to penicillin G. Sterols are not required for growth, and physiological properties show it to be distinct from Acholeplasma laidlawii, A. granularum, and A. axanthum. It is proposed that the organism be named Acholeplasma bactoclasticum sp. n. The type strain is ATCC 27112.

A serological investigation of 45 swine erysipelas strains showed that among Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae strains of different origin there are some with the same serotype designation that differ serologically, and there are others which have different serotype designations but which belong to the same serotype. To put an end to the resultant confusion, it is necessary to use both a uniform serological method (the double agar-gel diffusion precipitation test which employs autoclaved antigen and type-specific sera seems to be the most suitable) and a uniform system for designating the serotypes. It is proposed that Arabic numerals instead of letters be applied to serotypes of E. rhusiopathiae according to the chronological order in which the serotypes are described. Strains belonging to one serotype but differing in their antigenic structure can be differentiated by small letters placed after the numerals. The letter N is used to designate swine erysipelas strains which do not have a type-specific antigen.