- Volume 18, Issue 1, 1968

The organism formerly designated Zymobacterium oroticum, Wachsman and Barker (1954), has been shown to produce heat resistant spores, and is therefore a member of the genus Clostridium. The characteristics of C. oroticum differ significantly from those of other species of the genus Clostridium that have been described.

On the basis of morphological properties Bacterium anitratum Schaub and Hauber 1 948 is classified in the family Moraxellaceae Ryter and Piéchaud 1 9 63. Since the species differs in its physiological and biochemical properties from species of the genus Moraxella a new genus is proposed and named Lingelsheimia. It is proposed to transfer Bacterium anitratum Schaub and Hauber 1948 to this genus. Lingelsheimia anitrata comb. nov. is the type-species of the genus (basionym: Bacterium anitratum Schaub and Hauber).

Reduction in number of anaerobic Corynebacterium species is proposed. C. liquefaciens, C. pyogenes, C. granulosum, C. parvum, C. diphteroides (sic) and C. anaerobium are synonyms of C. acnes (Gilchrist) Eberson 1918 and should be so treated. Evidence is presented separating C. acnes from the genus Propionibacterium where recent proposals have placed it. C. acnes NCTC 737, ATCC 6919 is proposed as neotype strain.

Many well-established names of bacterial taxa actually have no standing in nomenclature because the authors of the names did not clearly state that they were introducing new names or combinations at the time of publication. According to Rule 1 2c(3) of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (1966), such names are not validly published. If these names are in common use and if it is desirable to retain them, they may either be conserved by official action of the International Committee on Nomenclature of Bacteria or be reintroduced into the literature by the same or different authors. By calling attention to this often neglected requirement for valid publication of names, it is hoped that in the future new names and combinations will be properly proposed and will not be a source of confusion.

The bacteria which cause the psittacosis-trachoma group of diseases and which are assigned to the genus Chlamydia Jones, Rake, and Stearns, 1945, can be separated conveniently and logically into two species. This separation is based on relatively stable morphological and chemical characteristics of the organisms rather than on their presumed host or tissue preferences or on the specific serology of their cell wall antigens. The type species Chlamydia trachomatis (Busacca) Rake 1957 is differentiated from the second species Chlamydia psittaci (Lillie 1930) comb. nov., by a simple key using tests that can be performed readily in the laboratory. Each species is defined, and the laboratory tests are described.