- Volume 34, Issue 1, 1984

Six strains of strictly thermophilic, obligately chemolithotrophic, hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria were isolated from hot springs located in Izu and Kyushu, Japan. The bacterial strains which we tested were gram negative, nonmotile, nonsporeforming, long, straight, and rod shaped. The cell size was 0.3 to 0.5 by 2.0 to 3.0 μm. The deoxyribonucleic acid guanine-plus-cytosine contents of the six strains were between 43.5 and 43.9 mol%. The optimal temperature for autotrophic growth on H2-O2-CO2 was between 70 and 75°C. None of the strains grew at 37 or 80°C. The neutral pH range was suitable for growth. No strain showed heterotrophic growth at the expense of 48 organic compounds or on complex media, in contrast to all other known aerobic hydrogen-oxidizing bacteria which are facultative autotrophs. The major cellular fatty acids were a straight-chain saturated C18:0 acid and a straight-chain unsaturated C20:1 acid with one double bond. C16:0 and C18:1 fatty acids and a C21:0 cyclopropane acid were minor components. Cytochromes b and c were found in all of the strains. The polyacrylamide gel electrophoretic patterns of the total soluble proteins of all of the strains were essentially the same. The name Hydrogenobacter thermophilus gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed for the six new isolates, and type strain TK-6 has been deposited with the culture collection of the Institute of Applied Microbiology, University of Tokyo, as strain IAM 12695.

Three acholeplasmas isolated from floral surfaces of healthy plants in Florida were found to be similar in their biochemical and serological properties. These organisms did not require serum or cholesterol for growth, although addition of some supplementary fatty acids (as represented by Tween 80) was necessary for growth to occur in serum-free medium. The three strains possessed biochemical properties typical of the Acholeplasmataceae and were distinguished from the nine previously recognized Acholeplasma species by serological and deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization techniques. The genome molecular weight of the three Acholeplasma strains was 109, and the guanine-plus-cytosine content of the deoxyribonucleic acid was 27 to 28 mol%. On the basis of these results and other morphological, biological, and serological properties, we propose that these organisms represent a new species, Acholeplasma florum. Strain L1 (= ATCC 33453) is the type strain.

The deoxyribonucleic acids of two porcine mycoplasmas, Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae and Mycoplasma flocculare, were distinguished readily with restriction enzymes. Enzymes that recognized guanine-plus-cytosine-rich sequences, such as SmaI and BamHI, were particularly useful since they generated relatively small numbers of deoxyribonucleic acid fragments which could be resolved by gel electrophoresis. In addition, we found that the adenine nucleotide in the GATC sequence of M . hyopneumoniae is methylated, whereas that in M. flocculare is not.

We propose a new species, Flavobacterium gleum. Each of the 12 strains placed in this new species was examined for 129 characteristics, including reactions in 58 enzyme tests (API ZYM System). These bacteria are rod shaped, aerobic, gram negative, and nonmotile and attack carbohydrates oxidatively. The mean guanine-plus-cytosine content of the deoxyribonucleic acids of six representative strains is 37.6 ± 1.0 mol%. Most strains of the new species were isolated from human clinical specimens; vaginal specimens were a common source. One of the strains included in the new species (strain NCTC 10795) is a reference strain of the unnamed taxon Flavobacterium species group IIb. The type strain is strain F93 (= NCTC 11432).

We studied the cellular and colonial morphologies, the deoxyribonucleic acid base compositions, the degrees of lysis by lysozyme and by sodium lauryl sulfate, and some fundamental biochemical reactions of 70 strains received as members of Bacillus coagulans, Bacillus polymyxa, Bacillus macerans, Bacillus circulans, Bacillus alvei, Bacillus brevis, and Bacillus laterosporus. We found that the strains of B. polymyxa, B. macerans, B . circulans, B. alvei, B. brevis, and B. laterosporus had biochemical properties and morphological characteristics that were generally in agreement with those of the respective species, whereas B. coagulans did not. The guanine-plus-cytosine contents of the deoxyribonucleic acids and the susceptibilities to lysozyme and sodium lauryl sulfate were homogeneous for the strains of B. polymyxa, B . macerans, B. alvei, and B. laterosporus, whereas this was not true for the strains of B. circulans and B . brevis. The strains received as B. coagulans were homogeneous for some characteristics (susceptibility to lytic agents, some biochemical reactions, Gram staining, and colony morphology) and heterogeneous for others (deoxyribonucleic acid base composition, some biochemical reactions, and cell morphology). All strains of this species were highly susceptible to lysozyme and completely resistant to sodium lauryl sulfate.

The results of deoxyribonucleic acid-deoxyribonucleic acid and deoxyribonucleic acid-ribosomal ribonucleic acid hybridization studies demonstrated that Streptococcus faecalis and Streptococcus faecium are distantly related to the non-enterococcal streptococci (Streptococcus bovis and Streptococcus equinus) of serological group D and to other streptococci. On the basis of our results and those of previous studies, we propose that S . faecalis and S . faecium be transferred to the genus Enterococcus (ex Thiercelin and Jouhaud) nom. rev. as Enterococcus faecalis (Andrewes and Horder) comb. nov. and Enterococcus faecium (Orla-Jensen) comb. nov., respectively. A description of the genus Enterococcus nom. rev. and emended descriptions of E. faecalis and E. faecium are given.

We used a combination of chemical analysis, seroagglutination, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay to examine the glycolipids of the rapidly growing mycobacteria in order to define the basis of the antigenicity of these organisms. This dual chemical and serological approach established that the typing antigens of Mycobacterium chelonae subsp. chelonae belong to the polar C-mycoside glycopeptidolipid class, the major component of which contains a trisaccharide composed of 3,4-di-O-methylrhamnose, rhamnose, and 6-deoxytalose. The glycolipid patterns of M . chelonae subsp. abscessus and M . chelonae subsp. chelonae were identical. The same approach showed that there is no relationship between Mycobacterium fortuitum biovar fortuitum and Mycobacterium fortuitum biovar peregrinum. The specific lipids of M. fortuitum biovar peregrinum belong to the alkali-stable C-mycoside glycopeptidolipid class and are different from those of M . chelonae subsp. chelonae. M . fortuitum biovar fortuitum isolates produced three patterns of alkali-labile lipids with features of lipooligosaccharide antigens. Moreover, strains and antisera of M . fortuitum biovar fortuitum and M. fortuitum biovar peregrinum used in combination produced no cross-reactions. Thus, chemical analysis of the type-specific antigens is a powerful adjunct to serology for studying the antigenic relationships among rapidly growing mycobacteria, and our results support the reinstitution of “Mycobacterium peregrinum” as a species distinct from M . fortuitum.

There are seven names on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names that have been treated as partial or total synonyms for strains belonging to the Enterobacter agglomerans-Herbicola group of Erwinia species complex. A total of 124 strains belonging to this complex, isolated mainly from plant and human sources, were studied by deoxyribonucleic acid relatedness and by a variety of biochemical tests. Ninety of these strains fell into 13 deoxyribonucleic acid hybridization groups (2 to 13 strains per group), and the remaining 34 strains did not fit into any hybridization group. Nine of the hybridization groups could be separated biochemically, whereas four hybridization groups could not. Our results point out the inadequacy of the classification schemes presently used for these organisms, the inadequacy of the present nomenclature, the extreme diversity of the strains presently classified in the Enterobacter agglomerans-Herbicola group of Erwinia species complex, and the need for additional, in-depth studies of these organisms.

Bordetella avium is proposed as the name of a new species containing 28 avian strains that cause coryza (rhinotracheitis) in turkey poults. The type strain is Hinz 591-77 (= ATCC 35086). The majority of the strains investigated were previously known as Bordetella-like or Bordetella bronchiseptica-like bacteria; one of the strains was previously referred to as Alcaligenes faecalis. The B . avium strains were compared with more than 50 culture collection strains belonging to Bordetella bronchiseptica, Bordetella pertussis, Bordetella parapertussis, Alcaligenes faecalis, “Alcaligenes odorans,” Alcaligenes denitrificans, Achro-mobacter xylosoxidans, Pseudomonas pertucinogena, and unnamed groups IVc-2 and IVe. The properties of B . avium and its taxonomic position relative to the above-mentioned taxa were determined by morphological, physiological, nutritional, and serological studies and by a numerical analysis of protein electropherograms, deoxyribonucleic acid-ribosomal ribonucleic acid hybridizations, and pathogenicity tests for turkey poults. The 28 B . avium strains formed a tight cluster, sharing very similar phenotypic features and protein gel electropherograms. We observed no significant differences among strains isolated from turkeys in different geographical areas. The 28 strains were strictly aerobic, gram-negative, peritrichously flagellated, urease-negative rods; the deoxyribonucleic acid base composition ranged from 61.6 to 62.6 mol% guanine plus cytosine. The phenotypic and serological characteristics, together with the properties of the deoxyribonucleic acid-ribosomal ribonucleic acid hybrids, indicated that this new species is a member of the genus Bordetella. The Alcaligenes denitrificans-Achromobacter xylosoxidans cluster is the closest neighbor of Bordetella, which is clearly different from all of the other taxa examined. B . avium has been isolated from the respiratory tracts of turkeys and from some other birds, such as a chicken, a duck, and a goose. All of the B . avium strains investigated caused coryza in turkey poults. An extensive phenotypic description of B . avium is given, and this species is differentiated phenotypically from the following taxa: B . pertussis, B . parapertussis, B . bronchiseptica, Alcaligenes faecalis, Alcaligenes denitrificans, Achromobacter xylosoxidans, and groups IVc-2 and IVe.

We present evidence in support of revival of the genus Hyphomonas Pongratz 1957 and emend the description of this genus. The type species is Hyphomonas polymorpha nom. rev., with type strain PS728 (= ATCC 33881 = IFAM PS728). A second strain of Hyphomonas polymorpha, strain PR727 (= ATCC 33880 = IFAM PR727), is also recognized. Transfer of a related organism, Hyphomicrobium neptunium strain LE670 (= ATCC 15444 = IFAM LE670), to the genus Hyphomonas is formally proposed.

The superoxide dismutases from Acholeplasma laidlawii and Acholeplasma hippikon were serologically related, whereas the superoxide dismutase from Acholeplasma equifetale appeared to be unique serologically . Enzymes from Acholeplasma granularum and Acholeplasma axanthum did not show any serological reactivity. Moreover, the acholeplasmic enzymes exhibited electrophoretic heterogeneity, indicating the evolutionary diversity of superoxide dismutases.

The classification of the causal organism of bacterial black spot of mango has long been an issue. A total of 15 strains, including the type strain, were subjected to 156 tests used for species identification of members of Xanthomonas and Pseudomonas. The current classification of this organism as Xanthomonas campestris pv. mangiferaeindicae (ISPP list, 1980) is confirmed, and the description is extended.

The purpose of this announcement is to effect the valid publication of the following new names and new combinations under the procedure described previously (Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 27(3):iv, 1977). Authors and other individuals wishing to have new names and/or combinations included in future lists should send the pertinent reprint or a photocopy thereof to the IJSB for confirmation that all of the other requirements for valid publication have been met. It should be noted that the date of valid publication of these new names and combinations is the date of publication of this list, not the date of the original publication of the names and combinations. The authors of the new names and combinations are as given below, and these authors’ names will be included in the author index of the present issue and in the volume author index in this issue of the IJSB.