Is characterization of a single isolate sufficient for valid publication of a new genus or species? Proposal to modify recommendation 30b of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision)

Christensen, Henrik; Bisgaard, Magne; Frederiksen, Wilhelm; Mutters, Reinier; Kuhnert, Peter; Olsen, John Elmerdahl (2001). Is characterization of a single isolate sufficient for valid publication of a new genus or species? Proposal to modify recommendation 30b of the Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision). International journal of systematic and evolutionary microbiology, 51(6), pp. 2221-2225. Reading, UK: Society for General Microbiology SGM 10.1099/00207713-51-6-2221

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From 1990 to 2000, the number of published named taxa based upon new isolates at species and genus levels in International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, formerly International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, have increased by approximately four- and sevenfold, respectively. New taxa based upon characterization of only a single isolate remained at around 40% for both categories. The Bacteriological Code (1990 Revision) has no recommendations on the number of strains required for definition of new taxa. For a few groups, a minimum number of 5-10 strains has been suggested in minimal standards. Since an exponential increase in new taxa can be expected in the future, the authors discuss problems related to naming new species and genera based upon descriptions of a single isolate and suggest that this practice is re-evaluated. It is proposed that the following should be added to Recommendation 30b of the Bacteriological Code: 'Descriptions should be based on as many strains as possible (minimum five), representing different sources with respect to geography and ecology in order to be well characterized both phenotypically and genotypically, to establish the centre (from which the type strain could be chosen) and the extent of the cluster to be named. In addition, comparative studies should be performed, including reference strains that represent neighbouring species and/or genera, in order to give descriptions that are sufficiently detailed to allow differentiation from these neighbours.'

Item Type:

Journal Article (Original Article)

Division/Institute:

05 Veterinary Medicine > Department of Infectious Diseases and Pathobiology (DIP) > Institute of Veterinary Bacteriology

UniBE Contributor:

Kuhnert, Peter

Subjects:

500 Science
500 Science > 570 Life sciences; biology
600 Technology > 630 Agriculture

ISSN:

1466-5026

Publisher:

Society for General Microbiology SGM

Language:

English

Submitter:

Peter Kuhnert-Ryser

Date Deposited:

26 Jan 2014 18:35

Last Modified:

05 Dec 2022 14:26

Publisher DOI:

10.1099/00207713-51-6-2221

PubMed ID:

11760965

Uncontrolled Keywords:

single-isolate description, minimal standards, bacterial nomenclature, Bacteriological Code

BORIS DOI:

10.7892/boris.39134

URI:

https://boris.unibe.ch/id/eprint/39134

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