A co-operative taxonomic study has been performed on slowly growing photochromogenic mycobacteria (Runyon Group I) and closely related organisms. Phenetic data on 54 strains, studied in seven laboratories, were collected and analysed by numerical taxonomic methods. Immunological properties and phage susceptibility patterns were analysed independently to establish correlation with numerical classification. Mycobacterium gastri, M. kansasii and M. marinum appeared as distinct well-defined clusters and the serological and phage data supported the resolution of these three species. A table of definitive properties is presented. Two strains each of M. simiae and M. asiaticum formed a loose cluster which was clearly separated from the previously mentioned three species; the small number of strains examined precluded the establishment of a list of definitive properties of these two species. It is concluded that the Runyon Groups, which provided a practical though arbitrary basis for establishment of a series of co-operative studies, have served their purpose and should now be supplanted by classification and nomenclature based on species.
GoodfellowM.,
LindA.,
MordarskaH.,
PattynS.,
TsukamuraM.1974; A cooperative numerical analysis of cultures considered to belong to the ‘rhodochrous’ taxon. Journal of General Microbiology 85:291–302
KubicaG. P.,
BaessI.,
GordonR. E.,
JenkinsP. A.,
KwapinskiJ. B. G.,
McDurmont C,
PattynS. R.,
SaitoH.,
SilcoxV.,
StanfordJ. L.,
TakeyaK.,
TsukamuraM.1972; A co-operative numerical analysis of rapidly growing mycobacteria. Journal of General Microbiology 73:55–70
MagnussonM.1971; A comparative study of Mycobacterium gastri and Mycobacterium kansasii by delayed type skin reactions in guinea pigs. American Review of Respiratory Disease 104:377–384
NorlinM.,
LindA.,
OuchterlonyO.1969; A serologically based taxonomic study of Mycobacterium gastri
. Zeitschrift fur Immunitats-forschung, Allergie und klinische Immunologie 137:241–248
RogosaM.,
KrichevskyM. I.,
ColwellR. R.1971; Method for coding data on microbial strains for computers (Edition AB). International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 21:A1–174A
Veterans Administration - National Tuberculosis Association Cooperative Study of Mycobacteria1955American Review of Tuberculosis and Pulmonary Diseases 72:866–868
WayneL. G.,
DietzT. M.,
Gernez-Rieux C,
JenkinsP. A.,
KäpplerW.,
KubicaG. P.,
KwapinskiJ. B. G.,
MeissnerG.,
PattynS. R.,
RunyonE. H.,
SchröderK. H.,
SilcoxV. A.,
TacquetA.,
TsukamuraM.,
WolinskyE.1971; A co-operative numerical analysis of scotochromogenic slowly growing mycobacteria. Journal of General Microbiology 66:255–271
WayneL. G.,
EngbaekH. C,
EngelH. W. B.,
FromanS.,
GrossW.,
HawkinsJ.,
KäpplerW.,
KarlsonA. G.,
KleebergH. H.,
KrasnowI.,
KubicaG. P.,
McDurmont C,
NelE. E.,
PattynS. R.,
SchröderK. H.,
ShowalterS.,
Tárnok L,
TsukamuraM.,
VergmannB.,
WolinskyE.1974; Highly reproducible techniques for use in systematic bacteriology in the genus Mycobacterium; tests for pigment, urease, resistance to sodium chloride, hydrolysis of Tween 80 and β-galactosidase. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 24:412–419
WayneL. G.,
EngelH. W. B.,
Grassi C,
GrossW.,
HawkinsJ.,
JenkinsP. A.,
KäpplerW.,
KleebergH. H.,
KrasnowI.,
NelE. E.,
PattynS. R.,
RichardsP. A.,
ShowalterS.,
SlosarekM.,
SzaboI.,
TárnokI.,
TsukamuraM.,
VergmannB.,
WolinskyE.1976; Highly reproducible techniques for use in systematic bacteriology in the genus Mycobacterium: tests for niacin and catalase and for resistance to isoniazid, thiophene 2-carboxylic acid hydrazide, hydroxylamine and p-nitrobenzoate. International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 26:311–318