Publications

4426

Summary Twelve strains of filamentous bacteria morphologically identified as ‘ Microthrix parvicella ’ were isolated from industrial activated sludge wastewater treatment plants. 16S rRNA gene sequences analysis showed that these strains were all closely related to ‘ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella’. Six of them, however, had a 16S rRNA gene similarity of only 95.7% and 96.7% to ‘ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella’ suggesting the presence of a new species. The name ‘ Candidatus Microthrix calida’ is proposed for this new microorganism. The physiological properties of these six isolates supported the description of a new taxon. The ‘ Candidatus Microthrix calida’ strains produced thin filaments (0.3–0.7 µm diameter), they did not grow on the media supporting the growth of ‘ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella’ and could be cultivated at higher temperature (up to 36.5°C). Preliminary data on substrate uptake were obtained by microautoradiography on pure culture. Two new fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) probes, Mpa‐T1‐1260 specific for ‘ Candidatus Microthrix calida’ and Mpa‐all‐1410 targeting both Microthrix species, were designed. The presence of Microthrix spp. was investigated in 114 activated sludge plants. ‘ Microthrix parvicella ’ morphotype was detected in 23% of the analysed samples and FISH analysis revealed that ‘ Candidatus Microthrix calida’ was present in 5% of them. The remaining ‘ M. parvicella ’ filaments were positive with probe Mpa‐all‐1410 but could not all be identified as ‘ Candidatus Microthrix parvicella’ suggesting the presence of more hitherto undescribed biodiversity within this morphotype.

The purpose of this announcement is to effect the valid publication of the following new names and new combinations under the procedure described in the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision). Authors and other individuals wishing to have new names and/or combinations included in future lists should send three copies of the pertinent reprint or photocopies thereof to the IJSEM Editorial Office for confirmation that all of the other requirements for valid publication have been met. It is also a requirement of IJSEM and the ICSP that authors of new species, new subspecies and new combinations provide evidence that types are deposited in two recognized culture collections in two different countries (i.e. documents certifying deposition and availability of type strains). 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. Inclusion of a name on these lists validates the publication of the name and thereby makes it available in bacteriological nomenclature. The inclusion of a name on this list is not to be construed as taxonomic acceptance of the taxon to which the name is applied. Indeed, some of these names may, in time, be shown to be synonyms, or the organisms may be transferred to another genus, thus necessitating the creation of a new combination.

Bacteria-like endosymbionts of females of the plant-parasitic nematodes Globodera rostochiensis and Heterodera goettingiana and juveniles of Heterodera glycines were first observed during transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies conducted in the 1970s. These organisms were characterized as being rod-shaped, ranging in size from 0.3 to 0.5 μm in diameter and 1.8 to 3 μm in length and containing structures labelled as striated inclusion bodies or tubular structures. A population of H. glycines was obtained from the soybean field where infected nematodes were first discovered in order to conduct TEM studies of females and males and to determine the phylogenetic position of the H. glycines endosymbiont among bacteria by studying the 16S rRNA and gyrB gene sequences. The bacterium was observed in the pseudocoelom and intestine of juveniles, females and males, in hypodermal chords of juveniles and males, in ovary walls and in oocytes and spermatozoa. The bacterium was polymorphic, measuring 0.4–0.8×2.5–4.5 μm, and many specimens contained an array of microfilament-like structures similar to those observed in ‘Candidatus Cardinium hertigii’, the endosymbiont of Encarsia spp. wasps. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA and gyrB genes of the H. glycines-infecting bacterium revealed 93 % and 81 % sequence identity, respectively, to the homologous genes in ‘Candidatus C. hertigii’. Thus, the name ‘Candidatus Paenicardinium endonii’ is proposed for the bacterial endosymbiont of the plant-parasitic nematode H. glycines.