- Volume 52, Issue 3, 2002

The 16S rDNA sequences of four strains, i.e. three type strains of Actinobispora and strain 6330T, were determined and compared with those of representatives of the family Pseudonocardiaceae by using two tree-making algorithms. All the validly described species of the genera Actinobispora and Pseudonocardia were consistently recovered as a mixed group in phylogenetic trees, and were distinct from the other genera of the family Pseudonocardiaceae. Strain 6330T formed a distinct phyletic line in the 16S rDNA tree and was most closely associated with the type strain of Actinobispora aurantiaca. The use of specific PCR primers designed for differentiating the genus Pseudonocardia from other genera of the family Pseudonocardiaceae showed that all the Actinobispora species and strain 6330T have the same amplified 640 bp 16S rDNA fragment as members of the genus Pseudonocardia. The DNA-DNA relatedness, chemotaxonomic and phenotypic data also supported classification of these taxa in the genus Pseudonocardia, and distinguished each from the others. On the basis of these observations, it is proposed that the genera Actinobispora and Pseudonocardia be combined in an emended genus Pseudonocardia, and that strain 6330T be classified in the same genus as Pseudonocardia zijingensis sp. nov. The type strain is 6330T (= AS 4.1545T = JCM 11117T).

A hitherto unknown anaerobic coccus isolated from a post-operative fluid collection was characterized by phenotypic and phylogenetic methods. 16S rDNA sequence analysis revealed an affiliation of this isolate to the family Veillonellaceae. Also, a high level of sequence similarity was observed to some oral clone sequences of Megasphaera spp. contained in the GenBank database under designations BB166, CS025 and BS073. These clones and the unknown bacterium form a well-separated phylogenetic branch that may represent a novel lineage within the family Veillonellaceae. Based on phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, a new genus, Anaeroglobus gen. nov., is proposed for the unknown bacterium, with one species, Anaeroglobus geminatus gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Anaeroglobus geminatus is strain AIP 313.00T (= CIP 106856T = CCUG 44773T). It is also suggested that the oral clones BB166, CS025 and BS073 belong to the genus Anaeroglobus.

Okibacterium fritillariae gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain VKM Ac-2059T = IFO 16404T) is proposed for aerobic, oxidase- and catalase-positive, coryneform bacteria isolated from seeds of Fritillaria ruthenica Wikstr. and Clematis recta L. Strains of the new genus form a distinct branch within the phylogenetic cluster composed of members of the family Microbacteriaceae and are characterized by B-type peptidoglycan containing amino acids glycine, glutamate, homoserine, alanine and lysine, the glycolyl type of muramic acid, the major menaquinones MK-10 and MK-11, the principal phospholipids phosphatidylglycerol and diphosphatidylglycerol, and a DNA G+C content of approximately 67 mol %.

Five strains of an unusual catalase-negative Gram-positive asporogenous rod-shaped bacterium from human sources were subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The presence of fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase, a key enzyme of bifidobacterial hexose metabolism, indicated the strains were members of the genus Bifidobacterium but they did not correspond to any of the recognized species of this genus on the basis of biochemical profiles and whole-cell protein analyses. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing confirmed the placement of the isolates in the genus Bifidobacterium, and demonstrated they represent a hitherto unknown subline within the genus displaying > 5% sequence divergence with recognized species. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic criteria, it is proposed that the isolates recovered from human sources be classified as a new species, Bifidobacterium scardovii sp. nov.; the type strain is CCUG 13008T (= DSM 13734T).

Two coryneform bacteria isolated from human clinical specimens were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed the presence of cell-wall chemotype IV and short-chain mycolic acids consistent with the genus Corynebacterium sensu stricto. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that the two strains are genealogically highly related (99.8% sequence similarity) and constitute a new subline within the genus Corynebacterium, with Corynebacterium minutissimum as their nearest phylogenetic neighbours (98.8% sequence similarity). However, DNA-DNA hybridization experiments demonstrated unambiguously that the isolates are genealogically distinct from Corynebacterium minutissimum (42% homology). Biochemical testing indicated that the two isolates were hardly differentiated from Corynebacterium minutissimum. Based on both phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence it is proposed that these isolates be classified as a new species, Corynebacterium aurimucosum sp. nov. The type strain of Corynebacterium aurimucosum is represented by strain IMMIB D-1488T (= DSM 44532T = NRRL B-24143T).

The cellular fatty acid content of 22 cyanobacterial strains belonging to the genera Anabaena, Aphanizomenon, Calothrix, Cylindrospermum, Nostoc, Microcystis and Planktothrix were analysed. The identities of the major peaks were confirmed by MS. Correspondence analysis of the data revealed three distinct groups formed by the Microcystis strains, the Nostoc/Planktothrix strains and the Anabaena/Aphanizomenon/Cylindrospermum strains. The Calothrix strain did not cluster with the other heterocystous cyanobacteria, supporting its morphological classification separate from the Nostocaceae family. The presence of large amounts of the fatty acids 18:30omega6,9,12c and 18:0 iso distinguished the Microcystis strains from the other cyanobacteria studied. The high content of 16:1omega7c grouped the Nostoc strains with the Planktothrix strains. A free-living strain of Nostoc contained 16:1omegao5c and 16: 1omega7c (about 1: 1), separating it from the symbiotic Nostoc strain and the Planktothrix strains. the strains of Anabaena, Aphanizomenon and Cylindrospermum grouped tightly and were characterized by the presence of 16:1omega9c and 16:0 anteiso fatty acids. Correspondence analysis of Anabaena, Aphanizomenon and Cylindrospermum showed that all hepatotoxic Anabaena strains grouped together, whereas the non-toxic and neurotoxic Anabaena strains grouped with the non-toxic Aphanizomenon strains.

Strain CMS 90rT, a red-pigmented bacterium, was isolated from a cyanobacterial mat sample from a pond located in McMurdo, Antarctica. Based on its chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic properties, strain CMS 90r(T) was identified as a member of group I of Arthrobacter. It shared 16S rDNA similarity of 98% with Arthrobacter oxydans ATCC 14358T and Arthrobacter polychromogenes ATCC 15216T, while DNA-DNA similarities determined for these three organisms were less than 70%. It also differed from all 17 reported Arthrobacter species with A3alpha-variant peptidoglycan in that it possessed a unique peptidoglycan (Lys-Gly-Ala3) and contained galactose, glucose, ribose and rhamnose as cell-wall sugars. These data and the presence of diagnostic phenotypic traits support the description of CMS 90r(T) as a novel species of Arthrobacter, for which the name Arthrobacter roseus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is strain CMS 90r(T) (= MTCC 3712T = DSM 14508T).

Fourteen ballistoconidium-forming yeast strains were isolated from leaves of plants collected in the Ogasawara Islands, which are isolated islands in the Pacific Ocean, about 1,000 km south of the Japanese mainland, in the subtropical zone. The 14 isolates were characterized by the absence of xylose in whole-cell hydrolysates, the presence of Q-10(H2) as the major ubiquinone isoprenologue, G+C contents of 47.6-52.0 mol%, the inability to ferment sugars or to assimilate nitrate and positive Diazonium blue B and urease reactions. They formed a phylogenetically coherent cluster within the Erythrobasidium lineage in the Urediniomycetes of the Basidiomycota based on 18S rDNA sequences. Analyses of the nucleotide sequences of internal transcribed spacer regions and DNA complementarity showed that four genospecies were recognized among the 14 isolates. A mating reaction was observed in one of the four genospecies, which produced one-celled basidia on dikaryotic hyphae with clamp connections. On the basis of the morphological, physiological, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic analyses, a new teleomorphic genus, Bannoa, is proposed, in which one novel species is described, Bannoa hahajimensis gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain OK-248(T) = JCM 10336T = CBS 9039(T)). The other three anamorphic genospecies are described as Sporobolomyces bischofiae sp. nov. (type strain OK-257T = JCM 10338T =CBS 9041T), Sporobolomyces ogasawarensis sp. nov. (type strain OK-14T = JCM 10326T = CBS 9038T) and Sporobolomyces syzygii sp. nov. (type strain OK-227T = JCM 10337T = CBS 9040T.

In December 1997, 196 soil and snow samples were collected from Vestvold Hills, Davis Base, Antarctica. Two isolates, CBS 8804T (pink colonies) and CBS 8805 (yellow colonies), were shown by proteome analysis and DNA sequencing to represent the same species. Results from the sequencing of the D1/D2 region of the large rDNA subunit placed this species in the hymenomycetous tree in a unique sister clade to the Trichosporonales and the Tremellales. The clade consists of Holtermannia corniformis CBS 6979 and CBS strains 8804T, 8805, 8016, 7712, 7713 and 7743. Morphological and physiological characteristics placed this species in the genus Cryptococcus, with characteristics including the assimilation of D-glucuronate and myo-inositol, no fermentation, positive Diazonium blue B and urease reactions, absence of sexual reproduction and production of starch-like compounds. Fatty acid analysis identified large proportions of polyunsaturated lipids, mainly linoleic (C18:2) and, to a lesser extent, linolenic (C18:3) acids. On the basis of the physiological and phylogenetic data, isolates CBS 8804T and CBS 8805 are described as Cryptococcus nyarrowii sp. nov.

In accordance with the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision), the connecting vowel and gender of the specific epithet macrogoltabidus in combination with the generic name Sphingomonas must be -i- and the ending must be changed to -a to agree with the gender of the generic name, respectively. Thus Sphingomonas macroboltabidus Takeuchi et al. 1993 should be Sphingomonas macrogolitabida corrig. Takeuchi et al. 1993.

The basonym of Shigella dysenteriae (Shiga 1898) Castellani and Chalmers 1919 was first and officially proposed in 1897 as Bacillus dysentericus (sic) in Saikingaku Zasshi, published in Japan. In accordance with Section 6 (Citation of Authors and Names) of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision), the year of the first proposal of Shigella dysenteriae has to be corrected from Bacillus dysenteriae 1898 to Bacillus dysentericus (sic) 1897.

An ad hoc committee for the re-evaluation of the species definition in bacteriology met in Gent, Belgium, in February 2002. The committee made various recommendations regarding the species definition in the light of developments in methodologies available to systematists.

In this paper minimal standards for the description of new genera and cultivable species in the family Flavobacteriaceae are proposed in accordance with Recommendation 30b of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision). In addition to specified phenotypic characteristics, the description of new species should be based on DNA-DNA hybridization data, and the placement of new taxa should be consistent with phylogenetic data derived from 16S rRNA sequencing. An emended description of the family is also proposed as several new taxa have been described since 1996. These proposals have been endorsed by the members of the Subcommittee on the taxonomy of Flavobacterium and Cytophaga-like bacteria of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes.