- Volume 24, Issue 2, 1974

Twenty-five strains that conform closely to the original and subsequent descriptions of the organism now known as Eubacterium cylindroides (Rocchi) Holdeman and Moore have been studied, and previously undescribed characteristics of this species are presented. This organism is a numerically significant member of the normal intestinal flora of man and animals, and it has also been found in clinical specimens. ATCC 27803 (=Virginia Polytechnic Institute 3654) is designated the neotype strain of Eubacterium cylindroides.

A new genus of anaerobic cocci, Coprococcus, and 12 new species of anaerobes, Coprococcus eutactus, C. catus, C. comes, Ruminococcus callidus, R. torques, Streptococcus hansenii, Bacteroides eggerthii, Eubacterium eligens, E. formicigenerans, E. hallii, Lactobacillus rogosae, and Clostridium nexile, are described. Emended descriptions and proposed neotype strains for Streptococcus constellatus (Prèvot) comb. nov., S. morbillorum (Prèvot) comb. nov., S. intermedius Prèvot, and Eubacterium biforme (Eggerth) Prèvot are presented.

One hundred and seven strains of nocardiae have been isolated from samples of activated sludge or from foam forming on activated sludge coming from 10 sewage-treatment plants in five states. Thirty-five of these strains belong to a previously undescribed species containing a novel type of nocardomycolic acid whose a branch is mono-unsaturated. The name proposed for this new species is Nocardia amarae. The type strain is IMRU W3960 (= ATCC 27808).

Eighteen strains of gram-negative, aerobic, denitrifying bacteria that are either presently classified as Pseudomonas denitrificans or that might conform to the species description have been examined in some detail. On the basis of phenotypic characterization and of limited deoxyribonucleic acid and ribosomal ribonucleic acid homology studies, they appear to belong to several species and to at least two genera. Some of the strains are described without assigning them new specific names. It is recommended that the name Pseudomonas denitrificans be abandoned as a nomen ambiguum.

Information is presented to show that the name Pediococcus cerevisiae Balcke was not validly published, and, furthermore, that it has been a source of confusion, having been used to refer to two different species of pediococci. Therefore, there is no identifiable species that can be selected as the type of the genus Pediococcus in accordance with the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria, because P. cerevisiae was the only species placed in this genus by Balcke. However, the name Pediococcus has been used subsequently for a genus containing several recognizable species, and one of these may be designated by international agreement as the type species. The name of the genus would then be ascribed to the author of the name of the species designated as the type. Therefore, it is requested that the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Systemic Bacteriology issue an Opinion designating Pediococcus damnosus Claussen as the type species of Pediococcus, a genus of gram-positive, lactic acid-producing bacteria which divide in two planes, and Claussen as the author of this generic name. Neotype strains are designated for P. damnosus, P. pentosaceus, and P. acidi-lactici; these are NCDO 1832, NCDO 990, and NCDO 1859, respectively.

The specific epithets in the names Moraxella kingii Henriksen and Bøvre 1968 and Pseudomonas kingii Jonsson 1970 should be in the feminine gender; they are here corrected to “kingae.”

The thermal denaturation profiles (Tm ) of six strains of Bacterionema matruchotii were determined. The mol% G+C of five of the strains ranged from 55.0 to 58.0. The mol% G+C of the strain referred to as streptococcal variant S1 fell short of this range (42.5), suggesting that it is substantially different from the others and perhaps improperly identified.

Strains of Spirillum volutans, the type species of the genus Spirillum, have not been satisfactorily preserved in the past except by serial transfer. Long-term preservation of such strains can be achieved in liquid nitrogen by the use of dimethyl sulfoxide and a low-salt suspending medium. Glycerol is not satisfactory as a cryoprotective agent.