Judicial Opinion 131

Opinion 131 addresses a Request for an Opinion asking the Judicial Commission to conserve the genus name Proteus Hauser 1885 (Approved Lists 1980) over its earlier homonym, the protozoan genus name Proteus Müller 1786. The Judicial Commission agrees that the later homonym is illegitimate and that the replacement of the prokaryotic name Proteus would be undesirable. It is also concluded that Proteus Müller 1786 is an objectively invalid name under the International Code of Zoological Nomenclature. Judicial Opinions 9, 12 and 130 serve as precedents for the conservation of Proteus Hauser 1885 (Approved Lists 1980) over Proteus Müller 1786. This action is taken here and makes the prokaryotic name Proteus legitimate.

New Insights into the Modification of the Non-Core Metabolic Pathway of Steroids in Mycolicibacterium and the Application of Fermentation Biotechnology in C-19 Steroid Production

Androsta-4-ene-3,17-dione (AD), androsta-1,4-diene-3,17-dione (ADD), and 9α-hydroxy-4-androstene-3,17-dione (9-OHAD), which belong to C-19 steroids, are critical steroid-based drug intermediates. The biotransformation of phytosterols into C-19 steroids by Mycolicibacterium cell factories is the core step in the synthesis of steroid-based drugs. The production performance of engineered mycolicibacterial strains has been effectively enhanced by sterol core metabolic modification. In recent years, research on the non-core metabolic pathway of steroids (NCMS) in mycolicibacterial strains has made significant progress. This review discusses the molecular mechanisms and metabolic modifications of NCMS for accelerating sterol uptake, regulating coenzyme I balance, promoting propionyl-CoA metabolism, reducing reactive oxygen species, and regulating energy metabolism. In addition, the recent applications of biotechnology in steroid intermediate production are summarized and compared, and the future development trend of NCMS research is discussed. This review provides powerful theoretical support for metabolic regulation in the biotransformation of phytosterols.

Genome-based phylogeny of the genera Proteus and Cosenzaea and description of Proteus terrae subsp. terrae subsp. nov. and Proteus terrae subsp. cibarius subsp. nov

The genera Proteus and Cosenzaea are closely related members of the family Morganellaceae. The genus Cosenzaea consists of the species Cosenzaea myxofaciens originally separated from the genus Proteus by rpoB gene analysis. Due to the high similarity of the 16S rRNA genes between species of both genera, the taxonomic status is here re-evaluated by a genome-based approach. Based on a core genome phylogeny and genome relatedness indices, it is shown that the taxonomy and nomenclature given for the basonym Proteus myxofaciens is more appropriate. Therefore, we propose to use this name in preference. Furthermore, the species status of Proteus terrae and Proteus cibarius was reassessed. Both species are related at subspecies level by digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) analysis. Additionally, average amino acid identity (AAI) and average nucleotide identity (ANI) do not support a separate species status, and therefore it is proposed to classify P. cibarius as a subspecies of P. terrae. Consequently, both species are being renamed Proteus terrae subsp. cibarius subsp. nov. and Proteus terrae subsp. terrae subsp. nov., respectively. The genome relatedness indices revealed a close relationship of the Proteus genomospecies 5 with P. terrae subsp. terrae. Thus, it has been assigned to the same subspecies.

Phylogenomic analyses of the Staphylococcaceae family suggest the reclassification of five species within the genus Staphylococcus as heterotypic synonyms, the promotion of five subspecies to novel species, the taxonomic reassignment of five Staphylococcus species to Mammaliicoccus gen. nov., and the formal assignment of Nosocomiicoccus to the family Staphylococcaceae

Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences of members of the family Staphylococcaceae showed the presence of para- and polyphyletic genera. This finding prompted a thorough investigation into the taxonomy of the Staphylococcaceae family by analysing their core genome phylogeny complemented with genome-based indices such as digital DNA–DNA hybridization, average nucleotide identity and average amino acid identity. The resulting data suggested the following proposals: Auricoccus indicus was reduced in taxonomic rank as a later heterotypic synonym of Abyssicoccus albus ; Staphylococcus petrasii subsp. jettensis as a later heterotypic synonym of Staphylococcus petrasii subsp. petrasii ; the unification of Staphylococcus aureus subsp. anaerobius and Staphylococcus aureus subsp. aureus as Staphylococcus aureus ; the unification of Staphylococcus carnosus subsp. utilis and Staphylococcus carnosus subsp. carnosus as Staphylococcus carnosus ; the unification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus subsp. bovis and Staphylococcus saprophyticus subsp. saprophyticus as Staphylococcus saprophyticus ; Staphylococcus succinis subsp. casei as the novel species Staphylococcus casei; Staphylococcus schleiferi subsp. coagulans as the novel species Staphylococcus coagulans; Staphylococcus petrasii subsp. croceilyticus as the novel species Staphylococcus croceilyticus; Staphylococcus petrasii subsp. pragensis as the novel species Staphylococcus pragensis; Staphylococcus cohnii subsp. urealyticus as the novel species Staphylococcus urealyticus; the reassignment of Staphylococcus sciuri , Staphylococcus fleurettii , Staphylococcus lentus , Staphylococcus stepanovicii and Staphylococcus vitulinus to the novel genus Mammaliicoccus with Mammaliicoccus sciuri as the type species; and the formal assignment of Nosocomiicoccus as a member of the family Staphylococcaceae .

Spiribacter aquaticus Leon et al. 2017 is a later heterotypic synonym of Spiribacter roseus Leon et al. 2016. Reclassification of Halopeptonella vilamensis Menes et al. 2016 as Spiribacter vilamensis comb. nov

A comparative taxonomic study of Spiribacter and Halopeptonella species was carried out using a phylogenomic approach based on comparison of the core genome, orthologous average nucleotide identity (OrthoANIu), Genome-to-Genome Distance Calculator (GGDC) and average amino acid identity (AAI). Phylogenomic analysis based on 976 core translated gene sequences obtained from their genomes showed that Spiribacter aquaticus SP30T, S. curvatus UAH-SP71T, S. roseus SSL50T, S. salinus M19-40T and Halopeptonella vilamensis DSM 21056T formed a robust cluster, clearly separated from the remaining species of closely related taxa. AAI between H. vilamensis DSM 21056T and the species of the genus Spiribacter was ≥73.1 %, confirming that all these species belong to the same single genus. On the other hand, S. roseus SSL50T and S. aquaticus SP30T showed percentages of OrthoANIu and digital DNA–DNA hybridization of 98.4 % and 85.3 %, respectively, while these values among those strains and the type strains of the other species of Spiribacter and H. vilamensis DSM 21056T were ≤80.8 and 67.8 %, respectively. Overall, these data show that S. roseus SSL50T and S. aquaticus SP30T constitute a single species and thus that S. aquaticus SP30T should be considered as a later, heterotypic synonym of S. roseus SSL50T based on the rules for priority of names. We propose an emended description of S. roseus , including the features of S. aquaticus . We also propose the reclassification of H. vilamensis as Spiribacter vilamensis comb. nov.

An Update on the Novel Genera and Species and Revised Taxonomic Status of Bacterial Organisms Described in 2016 and 2017

Recognition and acknowledgment of novel bacterial taxonomy and nomenclature revisions can impact clinical practice, disease epidemiology, and routine clinical microbiology laboratory operations. The Journal of Clinical Microbiology (JCM) herein presents its biannual report summarizing such changes published in the years 2016 and 2017, as published and added by the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology Noteworthy discussion centers around descriptions of novel Corynebacteriaceae and an anaerobic mycolic acid-producing bacterium in the suborder Corynebacterineae; revisions within the Propionibacterium, Clostridium, Borrelia, and Enterobacter genera; and a major reorganization of the family Enterobacteriaceae. JCM intends to sustain this series of reports as advancements in molecular genetics, whole-genome sequencing, and studies of the human microbiome continue to produce novel taxa and clearer understandings of bacterial relatedness.

Bacterial Anaerobic Synthesis Gas (Syngas) and CO2+H2 Fermentation

Anaerobic bacterial gas fermentation gains broad interest in various scientific, social, and industrial fields. This microbial process is carried out by a specific group of bacterial strains called acetogens. All these strains employ the Wood-Ljungdahl pathway but they belong to different taxonomic groups. Here we provide an overview of the metabolism of acetogens and naturally occurring products. Characteristics of 61 strains were summarized and selected acetogens described in detail. Acetobacterium woodii, Clostridium ljungdahlii, and Moorella thermoacetica serve as model organisms. Results of approaches such as genome-scale modeling, proteomics, and transcriptomics are discussed. Metabolic engineering of acetogens can be used to expand the product portfolio to platform chemicals and to study different aspects of cell physiology. Moreover, the fermentation of gases requires specific reactor configurations and the development of the respective technology, which can be used for an industrial application. Even though the overall process will have a positive effect on climate, since waste and greenhouse gases could be converted into commodity chemicals, some legislative barriers exist, which hamper successful exploitation of this technology.

The current status on the taxonomy of Pseudomonas revisited: An update

The genus Pseudomonas described in 1894 is one of the most diverse and ubiquitous bacterial genera which encompass species isolated worldwide. In the last years more than 70 new species have been described, which were isolated from different environments, including soil, water, sediments, air, animals, plants, fungi, algae, compost, human and animal related sources. Some of these species have been isolated in extreme environments, such as Antarctica or Atacama desert, and from contaminated water or soil. Also, some species recently described are plant or animal pathogens. In this review, we revised the current status of the taxonomy of genus Pseudomonas and the methodologies currently used for the description of novel species which includes, in addition to the classic ones, new methodologies such as MALDI-TOF MS, MLSA and genome analyses. The novel Pseudomonas species described in the last years are listed, together with the available genome sequences of the type strains of Pseudomonas species present in different databases.

A review of methods used for studying the molecular epidemiology of Brachyspira hyodysenteriae

Brachyspira (B.) spp. are intestinal spirochaetes isolated from pigs, other mammals, birds and humans. In pigs, seven Brachyspira spp. have been described, i.e. B. hyodysenteriae, B. pilosicoli, B. intermedia, B. murdochii, B. innocens, B. suanatina and B. hampsonii. Brachyspira hyodysenteriae is especially relevant in pigs as it causes swine dysentery and hence considerable economic losses to the pig industry. Furthermore, reduced susceptibility of B. hyodysenteriae to antimicrobials is of increasing concern. The epidemiology of B. hyodysenteriae infections is only partially understood, but different methods for detection, identification and typing have supported recent improvements in knowledge and understanding. In the last years, molecular methods have been increasingly used. Molecular epidemiology links molecular biology with epidemiology, offering unique opportunities to advance the study of diseases. This review is based on papers published in the field of epidemiology and molecular epidemiology of B. hyodysenteriae in pigs. Electronic databases were screened for potentially relevant papers using title and abstract and finally, Barcellos et al. papers were systemically selected and assessed. The review summarises briefly the current knowledge on B. hyodysenteriae epidemiology and elaborates on molecular typing techniques available. Results of the studies are compared and gaps in the knowledge are addressed. Finally, potential areas for future research are proposed.

Defining the taxonomic status of described subdivision 3 Acidobacteria: proposal of Bryobacteraceae fam. nov

The phylum Acidobacteria represents one of the highly diverse but poorly characterized phylogenetic groups of the domain Bacteria. The taxonomically described acidobacteria belong to 27 genera and 49 species, which represent subdivisions 1, 3, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 23 of this phylum. However, the corresponding family ranks have been defined only for some of these characterized micro-organisms. Here, we suggest the establishment of a novel family, Bryobacteraceae fam. nov., to accommodate taxonomically described members of subdivision 3 Acidobacteria. This family is characterized by Gram-stain-negative, non-spore-forming and non-motile rods, which divide by binary fission. Members of this family are mildly acidophilic, mesophilic, aerobic and facultatively anaerobic chemoheterotrophs that utilize various sugars and polysaccharides. The major fatty acids are iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 1ω7c; the cells also contain significant amounts of 13,16-dimethyloctacosanedioic (iso-diabolic) acid. Currently, the family comprises the genera Bryobacter and Paludibaculum.

Near complete genome sequence of the animal feed probiotic, Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57

Bacillus amyloliquefaciens H57 is a bacterium isolated from lucerne for its ability to prevent feed spoilage. Further interest developed when ruminants fed with H57-inoculated hay showed increased weight gain and nitrogen retention relative to controls, suggesting a probiotic effect. The near complete genome of H57 is ~3.96 Mb comprising 16 contigs. Within the genome there are 3,836 protein coding genes, an estimated sixteen rRNA genes and 69 tRNA genes. H57 has the potential to synthesise four different lipopeptides and four polyketide compounds, which are known antimicrobials. This antimicrobial capacity may facilitate the observed probiotic effect.

Scopulibacillus daqui sp. nov., a thermophilic bacterium isolated from high temperature daqu

A Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, thermophilic bacterium, designated ZQ18-1T, was isolated from a high temperature daqu sample collected from the sesame-flavour liquor-making process. Oval endospores were formed at the centre of cells with swollen sporangia. The isolate was able to grow at temperatures of 20-60 °C (optimum growth at 50 °C), at pH 4-9 (optimum growth at pH 8) and in the presence of 0-10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum growth with 2 % NaCl). Glucose and galactose were major cell-wall sugars, and meso-diaminopimelic acid was the diagnostic amino acid. The major polar lipids consisted of phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol and three glycolipids. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C17 : 0 and iso-C16 : 0, and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that strain ZQ18-1T was most closely related to Scopulibacillus darangshiensis DLS-06T, Pullulanibacillus pueri YN3T, Tuberibacillus calidus 607T, Pullulanibacillus naganoensis ATCC 53909T, Pullulanibacillus uraniitolerans UG-2T, Sporolactobacillus terrae DSM 11697T and Sporolactobacillus inulinus NRIC 1133T. Strain ZQ18-1T showed low DNA-DNA relatedness (40.7, 23.1, 46.5, 27.2, 45.6, 33.7 and 55.1 %) with the strains mentioned above. Based on morphological characteristics, chemotaxonomic characteristics, DNA-DNA hybridization data and physiological properties, strain ZQ18-1T represents a novel species of the genus Scopulibacillus, for which the name Scopulibacillus daqui sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Scopulibacillus daqui ZQ18-1T (=DSM 28236T=CICC 10824T). An emended description of the genus Scopulibacillus is provided.