Identification of strains assigned to the genus Gluconobacter Asai 1935 based on the sequence and the restriction analyses of the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions

Thirteen reference strains, including the type strains of the type species of the genus Gluconobacter, Gluconobacter oxydans (NBRC 14819T), Gluconobacter cerinus (NBRC 3267T), and Gluconobacter frateurii (IFO 3264T) were examined for their species identification based on the sequence and the restriction analyses of the 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. A phylogenetic tree constructed by the neighbor-joining method represented three clusters corresponding respectively to the three species, G. oxydans, G. cerinus, and G. frateurii. The type strain of Gluconobacter asaii (NBRC 3276T), which is a junior subjective synonym of G. cerinus, was included completely in the G. cerinus cluster. Several restriction endonucleases discriminating the three species from one another were selected by computer analyses: Bsp1286I, MboII, SapI, Bpu10I, EarI, BsiHKAI, and FatI. On digestion of the PCR products with restriction endonucleases Bsp1286I and MboII, all the restriction patterns coincided with those of the type strains of the three species except for strain NBRC 3251. This strain gave a different pattern from the type strain of G. frateurii, when digested with MboII. However, strain 3251 was included phylogenetically in the G. frateurii cluster. All the reference strains were thus identified at the species level by the sequence and the restriction analyses of the 16S-23S rDNA ITS regions.     

Gluconobacter thailandicus sp. nov., an acetic acid bacterium in the alpha-Proteobacteria

Four strains of acetic acid bacteria were isolated from flowers collected in Thailand. In phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences and 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences, the four isolates were located in the lineage of the genus Gluconobacter and constituted a separate cluster from the known Gluconobacter species, Gluconobacter oxydans, Gluconobacter cerinus, and Gluconobacter frateurii. In addition, the isolates were distinguished from the known species by restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA ITS region PCR products using three restriction endonucleases Bsp1286I, MboII, and AvaII. The DNA base composition of the isolates ranged from 55.3-56.3 mol% G+C. The four isolates constituted a taxon separate from G. oxydans, G. cerinus, and G. frateurii on the basis of DNA-DNA similarities. Morphologically, physiologically, and biochemically, the four isolates were very similar to the type strains of G. oxydans, G. cerinus, and G. frateurii; however, the isolates were discriminated in their growth at 37 degrees C from the type strains of G. cerinus and G. frateurii, and in their growth on L-arabitol and meso-ribitol from the type strain of G. oxydans. The isolates showed no acid production from myo-inositol or melibiose, which differed from the type strains of the three known species. The major ubiquinone homologue was Q-10. On the basis of the results obtained, Gluconobacter thailandicus sp. nov. was proposed for the four isolates. The type strain is isolate F149-1(T) (=BCC 14116(T)=NBRC 100600(T)=JCM 12310(T)=TISTR 1533(T)=PCU 225(T)), which had 55.8 mol% G+C, isolated from a flower of the Indian cork tree (Millingtonia hortensis) collected in Bangkok, Thailand.     

Phylogenetic position of Gluconobacter species as a coherent cluster separated from all Acetobacter species on the basis of 16S ribosomal RNA sequences

Abstract The 16S rRNA sequences from the Gluconobacter species G. asaii G. cerinus and G. frateurii were determined and compared with homologous sequences from published databases and sequences of G. oxydans and Acetobacter species previously described [Sievers M., Ludwig W. and Teuber M. (1994) System. Appl. Microbiol. 17, 189–196]. The Gluconobacter species have unique 16S rRNA sequences and exhibit sequence similarity values of 97.4 to 99.1%, corresponding to 36 to 14 base differences. The phylogenetic tree inferring methods (distance matrix, maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood) show that the species of Gluconobacter form a coherent, closely related cluster. Based on the distance matrix method including Rhodopila globiformis as an outgroup reference organism, Gluconobacter is well separated from Acetobacter .     

Re-identification of Gluconobacter strains based on restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions

Thirty Gluconobacter strains maintained at Culture Collection NBRC were re-identified at the species level on the basis of restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions by digestion with two restriction endonucleases MboII and Bsp1286I. The strains examined were divided into seven groups, designated as Group I and Group III-VIII, by the combination of the restriction patterns obtained with the two restriction endonucleases. Group I included seven strains, which gave "G. oxydans patterns" with the two restriction endonucleases and were re-identified as G. oxydans. Group III included 12 strains, which gave "G. frateurii patterns" and were re-identified as G. frateurii. Group IV included six strains, which gave "G. cerinus pattern" with MboII and "G. frateurii pattern" with Bsp1286I and were re-identified as G. frateurii. Group V included one strain (NBRC 3274), which gave respectively "G. frateurii pattern" and "G. cerinus pattern" and was re-identified as G. cerinus. Group VI included one strain (NBRC 3990), which gave respectively "G. oxydans pattern" and an unidentified restriction pattern and was re-identified temporarily as G. oxydans. Group VII included two strains (NBRC 3250 and NBRC 3273), which gave respectively an unidentified restriction pattern and "G. oxydans pattern." Group VIII included one strain (NBRC 3266), which gave unidentified restriction patterns. The three strains of Group VII and Group VIII were suggested to constitute new taxa by sequencing of 16S-23S rDNA ITS regions.     

Gluconobacter sphaericus (Ameyama 1975) comb. nov., a brown pigment-producing acetic acid bacterium in the Alphaproteobacteria

Strain NBRC 12467(T )was examined genetically, phylogenetically, phenotypically, and chemotaxonomically. The DNA G+C content of the strain was 59.5 mol%. The strain represented low levels of DNA-DNA hybridization of 49-9% to the type strains of eight Gluconobacter species. The strain formed a cluster along with the type strains of G. albidus and G. kondonii in phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. In a phylogenetic tree based on 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS sequences, however, the strain formed an independent cluster from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species. Such phylogenetic relationships were supported by the calculated pair-wise 16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS sequence similarities. The strain was distinguished from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species by 16S-23S rRNA gene ITS restriction analysis using five restriction endonucleases. The strain produced a water-soluble brown pigment and 2,5-diketo-D-gluconate from D-glucose, differing from the type strains of the eight Gluconobacter species, and acid from meso-erythritol very weakly, differing from the type strains of the remaining seven Gluconobacter species except for the type strain of G. roseus, but not from maltose, differing from the type strain of G. oxydans, and had Q-10. For the strain, which was once classified as G. oxydans subsp. sphaericus, Gluconobacter sphaericus (Ameyama 1975) comb. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NBRC 12467(T), which is also deposited as BCC 14448(T).     

Heterogeneity of strains assigned to Gluconobacter frateurii Mason and Claus 1989 based on restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer regions

Twenty-three strains, which were assigned to Gluconobacter frateurii and maintained at Culture Collection NBRC, were re-identified at the species level on the basis of restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA ITS regions by digestion with six restriction endonucleases: Bsp1286I, MboII, AvaII, TaqI, BsoBI, and BstNI. The strains examined were divided into six groups, Group III-1, Group III-2, Group III-3, Group III-4, Group III-5, and Group IV. Group III-1 and Group III-4 respectively were divided into two subgroups, Subgroup III-1a, Subgroup III-1b and Subgroup III-4a, Subgroup III-4b. Gluconobacter frateurii NBRC 3264(T) was included in Group III-2, along with strains NBRC 3265 and NBRC 3270, and G. thailandicus BCC 14116(T) was included in Group III-3, along with strains NBRC 3254, NBRC 3256, NBRC 3258, NBRC 3255, and NBRC 3257. These groupings were supported by a phylogenetic tree based on 16S-23S rDNA ITS sequences. Strains of group III-2 and Group IV were unequivocally re-identified as G. frateurii, but strains of Group III-3, Group III-4, and Group III-5 were not necessarily re-identified as G. frateurii. The results obtained indicate that the 23 strains have a taxonomically heterogeneous nature, and they are referred to as the G. frateurii complex.     

Identification of Thai isolates assigned to the genus Gluconobacter based on 16S-23S rDNA ITS restriction analysis

Forty-four Thai isolates phenotypically assigned to the genus Gluconobacter were examined for 16S-23S rDNA ITS restriction analysis by MboII and SduI (=Bsp1286I) digestions. The Thai isolates tested were divided into seven groups: Group I for fourteen isolates, Group IX for one isolate, Group X for two isolates, Group V-2 for four isolates, Group XI for three isolates, Group IV for one isolate, and Group III for nineteen isolates. There were no isolates of either Group II or Group V-1 that were identified as G. cerinus. The isolates of Group III, Group IV, and Group XI were subjected to an additional 16S-23S rDNA ITS restriction analysis by AvaII, TaqI, BsoBI, and BstNI digestions. The isolates of Group III were divided into three groups and two subgroups: Group III-2 for five isolates, Group III-6 for two isolates, and Group III-4, which was divided into two subgroups, Subgroup III-4a for four isolates and Subgroup III-4b for eight isolates. The fourteen isolates of Group I were identified as G. oxydans, and the two isolates of Group X were temporarily identified as G. oxydans. The five isolates of Group III-2 and the one isolate of Group IV were identified as G. frateurii. The remaining twenty-two isolates of Group V-2, Group III-4, Group III-6, Group IX, and Group XI were not identified but are candidates for several new species.     

16S rRNA gene and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer sequences analysis of the genus Myxococcus.

Phylogenetic relationships of the species belonging to the genus Myxococcus were elucidated based on the sequences of 16S rRNA genes and 16S-23S rRNA gene internal transcribed spacer (ITS) regions. The Myxococcus species were consequently classified into four distinct groups. The type strain of Myxococcus coralloides occupied an independent position (Group 1); it has been recently reclassified as Corallococcus coralloides. Group 2 comprised the type strains of both Myxococcus virescens and Myxococcus xanthus, and some strains assigned to Myxococcus flavescens. The type strain of M. flavescens was contained in Group 3 along with the strains of Myxococcus fulvus. Group 4 included the strains belonging to C. coralloides, M. fulvus, and M. stipitatus. The type strain of M. fulvus that was allocated outside Group 4 in the 16S rRNA gene tree belonged to Group 3 in the ITS tree. These results strongly suggest that the morphological characteristics of Myxococcus species are not consistent with the phylogenetic relationships. The Myxococcus species must therefore be redefined according to the phylogenetic relationships revealed in this study.     

Identification of acetic acid bacteria isolated from Indonesian sources,especially of isolates classified in the genus Gluconobacter

Sixty-four strains of acetic acid bacteria were isolated from Indonesian sources such as fruits, flowers, and fermented foods by the enrichment culture at pH 3.5. Forty-five strains were routinely identified as Acetobacter strains because of their oxidation of acetate and lactate to carbon dioxide and water and their Q-9 isoprenolog, corresponding to 70% of all the 64 acetic acid bacteria isolated. Eight isolates were identified as Gluconacetobacter strains because of their oxidation of acetate and lactate and their Q-10 isoprenolog, occupying 13% of all the isolates. The remaining 11 isolates, accommodated in the genus Gluconobacter because of no oxidation of acetate and lactate and because of their Q-10 isoprenolog, accounted for 17% of all the isolates. They were divided into two groups based on DNA base compositions. One comprised the seven isolates, which had high G1C contents of DNA ranging from 60.3 to 63.5 mol% and of which DNAs hybridized with that of the type strain of Gluconobacter oxydans at values of 64-94% of DNA relatedness. The other comprised the remaining four isolates, which had low G+C contents of DNA ranging from 57.5 to 57.7 mol% and of which DNAs hybridized with that of the type strain of Gluconobacter frateurii at values of 63-77% of DNA relatedness. The high values of DNA relatedness, 84 to 96%, were obtained between the type strains of Gluconobacter cerinus and Gluconobacter asaii.     

Characterization of the genus Bifidobacterium by automated ribotyping and 16S rRNA gene sequences

In order to characterize the genus Bifidobacterium, ribopatterns and approximately 500 bp (Escherichia coli positions 27 to 520) of 16S rRNA gene sequences of 28 type strains and 64 reference strains of the genus Bifidobacterium were determined. Ribopatterns obtained from Bifidobacterium strains were divided into nine clusters (clusters I-IX) with a similarity of 60%. Cluster V, containing 17 species, was further subdivided into 22 subclusters with a similarity of 90%. In the genus Bifidobacterium, four groups were shown according to Miyake et al.: (i) the Bifidobacterium longum infantis-longum-suis type group, (ii) the B. catenulatum-pseudocatenulatum group, (iii) the B. gallinarum-saeculare-pullorum group, and (iv) the B. coryneforme-indicum group, which showed higher than 97% similarity of the 16S rRNA gene sequences in each group. Using ribotyping analysis, unique ribopatterns were obtained from these species, and they could be separated by cluster analysis. Ribopatterns of six B. adolescentis strains were separated into different clusters, and also showed diversity in 16S rRNA gene sequences. B. adolescentis consisted of heterogeneous strains. The nine strains of B. pseudolongum subsp. pseudolongum were divided into five subclusters. Each type strain of B. pseudolongum subsp. pseudolongum and B. pseudolongum subsp. globosum and two intermediate groups, which were suggested by Yaeshima et al., consisted of individual clusters. B. animalis subsp. animalis and B. animalis subsp. lactis could not be separated by ribotyping using Eco RI. We conclude that ribotyping is able to provide another characteristic of Bifidobacterium strains in addition to 16S rRNA gene sequence phylogenetic analysis, and this information suggests that ribotyping analysis is a useful tool for the characterization of Bifidobacterium species in combination with other techniques for taxonomic characterization.     

Molecular characterization of DNA encoding 16S-23S rRNA intergenic spacer regions and 16S rRNA of pectolytic Erwinia species

Sequences of 16S rDNAs and the intergenic spacer (IGS) regions between the 16S and 23S rDNA of bacterial strains from genus Erwinia were determined. Comparison of 16S rDNA sequences from different species and subspecies clearly revealed intraspecies-subspecies homology and interspecies heterogeneity. Phylogenetic analyses of 16S rDNA sequence data revealed that Erwinia spp. formed a discrete monophyletic clade with moderate to high bootstrap values. PCR amplification of the 16S-23S rDNA regions using primers complementary to the 3' end of 16S and 5' end of 23S rRNA genes generated two DNA fragments. The small 16S-23S rDNA IGS regions of Erwinia spp. examined in this study varied considerably in size and nucleotide sequence. Multiple sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis of small IGS sequence data showed a consistent relationship among the test strains that was roughly in agreement with the 16S rDNA data that reflected the accepted species and subspecies structure of the taxon. Sequence data derived from the large IGS resolved the strains into coherent groups; however, the sequence information would not allow any phylogenetic conclusion, because it failed to reflect the accepted species structure of the test strains.     

Phylogenetic Analysis of the Genus Bifidobacterium and Related Genera Based on 16S rDNA Sequences

The 16S rRNA gene sequences were determined for type strains of 21 Bifidobacterium species. A phylogenetic tree was constructed using the determined sequences and sequences from DNA databases, which contain the sequences of 11 type strains of Bifidobacterium species and 11 strains of related genera. All species of the genus Bifidobacterium and Gardnerella vaginalis ATCC 14018 belonged to a cluster phylogenetically distinct from the other genera. The cluster was divided into two subclusters: subcluster 1 composed of most species of Bifidobacterium and G. vaginalis, and subcluster 2 consisting of two species, B. denticolens and B. inopinatum; both of which were isolated from human dental caries. In the genus Bifidobacterium, four groups of species are known to be moderately to highly related by DNA-DNA hybridization. The four groups of species exhibited more than 99% similarity among their 16S rDNA sequences within each group. These results indicated that species with around 99% or more similarity in their 16S rDNA sequences should be confirmed for species identities.     

Phylogeny of green sulfur bacteria on the basis of gene sequences of 16S rRNA and of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein

The phylogeny of green sulfur bacteria was studied on the basis of gene sequences of the 16S rRNA and of the Fenna-Matthews-Olson (FMO) protein. Representative and type strains (31 strains total) of most of the known species were analyzed. On the basis of fmoA gene sequences from Chlorobium tepidum ATCC 49652(T) and Chlorobium limicola DSM 249(T) available from the EMBL database, primers were constructed that allowed sequence analysis of a major part of the fmoAgene. The largely congruent phylogenetic relationship of sequences of the fmoA gene and of 16S rDNA gives considerable support to the phylogeny of green sulfur bacteria previously suggested on the basis of 16S rDNA sequences. Distinct groups of strains were recognized on the basis of 16S rDNA and FMO sequences and supported by characteristic signature amino acids of FMO. Marine strains formed clusters separate from freshwater strains. The resulting phylogenetic grouping and relationship of the green sulfur bacteria do not correlate with their current taxonomic classification.     

16S ribosomal DNA sequencing confirms the synonymy of Vibrio harveyi and V. carchariae

Seventeen bacterial strains previously identified as Vibrio harveyi (Baumann et al. 1981) or V. carchariae (Grimes et al. 1984) and the type strains of V. harveyi, V. carchariae and V. campbellii were analyzed by 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) sequencing. Four clusters were identified in a phylogenetic analysis performed by comparing a 746 base pair fragment of the 16S rDNA and previously published sequences of other closely related Vibrio species. The type strains of V. harveyi and V. carchariae and about half of the strains identified as V. harveyi or V. carchariae formed a single, well-supported cluster designed as 'bona fide' V. harveyi/carchariae. A second more heterogeneous cluster included most other strains and the V. campbellii type strain. Two remaining strains are shown to be more closely related to V. rumoiensis and V. mediterranei. 16S rDNA sequencing has confirmed the homogeneity and synonymy of V. harveyi and V. carchariae. Analysis of API20E biochemical profiles revealed that they are insufficient by themselves to differentiate V. harveyi and V. campbellii strains. 16S rDNA sequencing, however, can be used in conjunction with biochemical techniques to provide a reliable method of distinguishing V. harveyi from other closely related species.     

RNA polymerase beta subunit (rpoB) gene and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer region (ITS) as complementary molecular markers in addition to the 16S rRNA gene for phylogenetic analysis and identification of the species of the family Mycoplasmataceae

Conventional classification of the species in the family Mycoplasmataceae is mainly based on phenotypic criteria, which are complicated, can be difficult to measure, and have the potential to be hampered by phenotypic deviations among the isolates. The number of biochemical reactions suitable for phenotypic characterization of the Mycoplasmataceae is also very limited and therefore the strategy for the final identification of the Mycoplasmataceae species is based on comparative serological results. However, serological testing of the Mycoplasmataceae species requires a performance panel of hyperimmune sera which contains anti-serum to each known species of the family, a high level of technical expertise, and can only be properly performed by mycoplasma-reference laboratories. In addition, the existence of uncultivated and fastidious Mycoplasmataceae species/isolates in clinical materials significantly complicates, or even makes impossible, the application of conventional bacteriological tests. The analysis of available genetic markers is an additional approach for the primary identification and phylogenetic classification of cultivable species and uncultivable or fastidious organisms in standard microbiological laboratories. The partial nucleotide sequences of the RNA polymerase β-subunit gene (rpoB) and the 16S-23S rRNA intergenic transcribed spacer (ITS) were determined for all known type strains and the available non-type strains of the Mycoplasmataceae species. In addition to the available 16S rRNA gene data, the ITS and rpoB sequences were used to infer phylogenetic relationships among these species and to enable identification of the Mycoplasmataceae isolates to the species level. The comparison of the ITS and rpoB phylogenetic trees with the 16S rRNA reference phylogenetic tree revealed a similar clustering patterns for the Mycoplasmataceae species, with minor discrepancies for a few species that demonstrated higher divergence of their ITS and rpoB in comparison to their neighbor species. Overall, our results demonstrated that the ITS and rpoB gene could be useful complementary phylogenetic markers to infer phylogenetic relationships among the Mycoplasmataceae species and provide useful background information for the choice of appropriate metabolic and serological tests for the final classification of isolates. In summary, three-target sequence analysis, which includes the ITS, rpoB, and 16S rRNA genes, was demonstrated to be a reliable and useful taxonomic tool for the species differentiation within the family Mycoplasmataceae based on their phylogenetic relatedness and pairwise sequence similarities. We believe that this approach might also become a valuable tool for routine analysis and primary identification of new isolates in medical and veterinary microbiological laboratories.     

Neoasaia chiangmaiensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel osmotolerant acetic acid bacterium in the alpha-Proteobacteria

An acetic acid bacterium, designated as isolate AC28(T), was isolated from a flower of red ginger (khing daeng in Thai; Alpinia purpurata) collected in Chiang Mai, Thailand, at pH 3.5 by use of a glucose/ethanol/acetic acid (0.3%, w/v) medium. A phylogenetic tree based on 16S rRNA gene sequences for 1,376 bases showed that isolate AC28(T) constituted a cluster along with the type strain of Kozakia baliensis. However, the isolate formed an independent cluster in a phylogenetic tree based on 16S-23S rDNA internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region sequences for 586 bases. Pair-wise sequence similarities of the isolate in 16S rRNA gene sequences for 1,457 bases were 93.0-88.3% to the type strains of Asaia, Kozakia, Swaminathania, Acetobacter, Gluconobacter, Gluconacetobacter, Acidomonas, and Saccharibacter species. Restriction analysis of 16S-23S rDNA ITS regions discriminated isolate AC28(T) from the type strains of Asaia and Kozakia species. Cells were non-motile. Colonies were pink, shiny, and smooth. The isolate produced acetic acid from ethanol. Oxidation of acetate and lactate was negative. The isolate grew on glutamate agar and mannitol agar. Growth was positive on 30% D-glucose (w/v) and in the presence of 0.35% acetic acid (w/v), but not in the presence of 1.0% KNO(3) (w/v). Ammoniac nitrogen was hardly assimilated on a glucose medium or a mannitol medium. Production of dihydroxyacetone from glycerol was weakly positive. The isolate did not produce a levan-like polysaccharide on a sucrose medium. Major isoprenoid quinone was Q-10. DNA base composition was 63.1 mol% G+C. On the basis of the results obtained, Neoasaia gen. nov. was proposed with Neoasaia chiangmaiensis sp. nov. The type strain was isolate AC28(T) (=BCC 15763(T) =NBRC 101099(T)).     

Evolutionary relationships among members of the genus Chlamydia based on 16S ribosomal DNA analysis.

Nucleotide sequences from strains of the four species currently in the genus Chlamydia, C. pecorum, C. pneumoniae, C. psittaci, and C. trachomatis were investigated. In vitro-amplified RNA genes of the ribosomal small subunit from 30 strains of C. pneumoniae and C. pecorum were subjected to solid-phase DNA sequencing of both strands. The human isolates of C. pneumoniae differed in only one position in the 16S rRNA gene, indicating genetic homogeneity among these strains. Interestingly, horse isolate N16 of C. pneumoniae was found to be closely related to the human isolates of this species, with a 98.9% nucleotide similarity between their 16S rRNA sequences. The type strain and koala isolates of C. pecorum were also found to be very similar to each other, possessing two different 16S rRNA sequences with only one-nucleotide difference. Furthermore, the C. pecorum strains truncated the 16S rRNA molecule by one nucleotide compared to the molecules of the other chlamydial species. This truncation was found to result in loss of a unilaterally bulged nucleotide, an attribute present in all other eubacteria. The phylogenetic structure of the genus Chlamydia was determined by analysis of 16S rRNA sequences. All phylogenetic trees revealed a distinct line of descent of the family Chlamydiaceae built of two main clusters which we denote the C. pneumoniae cluster and the C. psittaci cluster. The clusters were verified by bootstrap analysis of the trees and signature nucleotide analysis. The former cluster contained the human isolates of C. pneumoniae and equine strain N16. The latter cluster consisted of C. psittaci, C. pecorum, and C. trachomatis. The members of the C. pneumoniae cluster showed tight clustering and strain N16 is likely to be a subspecies of C. pneumoniae since these strains also share some antigenic cross-reactivity and clustering of major outer membrane protein gene sequences. C. psittaci and strain N16 branched early out of the respective cluster, and interestingly, their inclusion bodies do not stain with iodine. Furthermore, they also share less reliable features like normal elementary body morphology and plasmid content. Therefore, the branching order presented here is very likely a true reflection of evolution, with strain N16 of the species C. pneumoniae and C. psittaci forming early branches of their respective cluster and with C. trachomatis being the more recently evolved species within the genus Chlamydia.     

Phenotypic characterization of Astragalus glycyphyllos symbionts and their phylogeny based on the 16S rDNA sequences and RFLP of 16S rRNA gene

In this study, the nitrogen fixing Astragalus glycyphyllos symbionts were characterized by phenotypic properties, restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and sequences of 16S rDNA. The generation time of A. glycyphyllos rhizobia in yeast extract mannitol medium was in the range 4–6 h. The studied isolates exhibited a low resistance to antibiotics, a moderate tolerance to NaCl, assimilated di- and trisaccharides, and produced acid in medium containing mannitol as a sole carbon source. In the cluster analysis, based on 86 phenotypic properties of A. glycyphyllos symbionts and the reference rhizobia, examined isolates and the genus Mesorhizobium strains were placed on a single branch, clearly distinct from other lineages of rhizobial genera. By the comparative analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences and 16S rDNA–RFLP, A. glycyphyllos nodulators were also identified as the members of the genus Mesorhizobium. On the 16S rDNA sequence phylogram, the representatives of A. glycyphyllos nodule isolates formed a robust, monophyletic cluster together with the Mesorhizobium species at 16S rDNA sequence similarity of these bacteria between 95 and 99 %. Similarly, the cluster analysis of the combined RFLP–16S rDNA patterns, obtained with seven restriction endonucleases, showed that A. glycyphyllos rhizobia are closely related to the genus Mesorhizobium bacteria. The taxonomic approaches used in this paper allowed us to classify the studied bacteria into the genus Mesorhizobium.     

16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and inter- and intrageneric relationships of Xanthomonas species and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia

The nearly complete, PCR-amplified, 16S rRNA gene sequences have been determined from the representative type strains of eight xanthomonad phena, including six validly described species of the genus Xanthomonas and Stenotrophomonas maltophilia. Pairwise sequence comparisons and phylogenetic analysis demonstrated that the xanthomonads comprise a monophyletic lineage within the γ-subclass of the Proteobacteria. Although the genus Xanthomonas was observed to comprise a cluster of very closely related species, the observed species-specific primary sequence differences were confirmed through sequencing additional strains belonging to the respective species.     

Communities of green sulfur bacteria in marine and saline habitats analyzed by gene sequences of 16S rRNA and Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein.

Communities of green sulfur bacteria were studied in selected marine and saline habitats on the basis of gene sequences of 16S rRNA and the Fenna- Matthews-Olson (FMO) protein. The availability of group-specific primers for both 16S rDNA and the fmoA gene, which is unique to green sulfur bacteria, has, for the first time, made it possible to analyze environmental communities of these bacteria by culture-independent methods using two independent genetic markers. Sequence results obtained with fmoA genes and with 16S rDNA were largely congruent to each other. All of the 16S rDNA and fmoA sequences from habitats of the Baltic Sea, the Mediterranean Sea, Sippewissett Salt Marsh (Massachusetts, USA), and Bad Water (Death Valley, California, USA) were found within salt-dependent phylogenetic lines of green sulfur bacteria established by pure culture studies. This strongly supports the existence of phylogenetic lineages of green sulfur bacteria specifically adapted to marine and saline environments and the exclusive occurrence of these bacteria in marine and saline habitats. The great majority of clone sequences belonged to different clusters of the Prosthecochloris genus and probably represent different species. Evidence for the occurrence of two new species of Prosthecochloris was also obtained. Different habitats were dominated by representatives from the Prosthecochloris group and different clusters or species of this genus were found either exclusively or as the clearly dominant green sulfur bacterium at different habitats.