The taxonomic positions of members within the family
Pseudonocardiaceae
were assessed based on phylogenomic trees reconstructed using core-proteome and genome blast distance phylogeny approaches. The closely clustered genome sequences from the type strains of validly published names within the family
Pseudonocardiaceae
were analysed using overall genome-related indices based on average nucleotide identity, average amino acid identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values. The family
Pseudonocardiaceae
consists of the type genus
Pseudonocardia
, as well as the genera
Actinoalloteichus
,
Actinocrispum
,
Actinokineospora
,
Actinomycetospora
,
Actinophytocola
,
Actinopolyspora
,
Actinorectispora
,
Actinosynnema
,
Allokutzneria
, Allosaccharopolyspora gen. nov.,
Amycolatopsis
,
Bounagaea
,
Crossiella
,
Gandjariella
,
Goodfellowiella
,
Haloactinomyces
,
Haloechinothrix
,
Halopolyspora
, Halosaccharopolyspora gen. nov.,
Herbihabitans
,
Kibdelosporangium
,
Kutzneria
,
Labedaea
,
Lentzea
,
Longimycelium
,
Prauserella
,
Saccharomonospora
,
Saccharopolyspora
,
Saccharothrix
,
Salinifilum
,
Sciscionella
,
Streptoalloteichus
,
Tamaricihabitans
,
Thermocrispum
,
Thermotunica
and
Umezawaea
. The G+C contents of the
Pseudonocardiaceae
genomes ranged from 66.2 to 74.6 mol% and genome sizes ranged from 3.69 to 12.28 Mbp. Based on the results of phylogenomic analysis, the names Allosaccharopolyspora coralli comb. nov., Halosaccharopolyspora lacisalsi comb. nov. and Actinoalloteichus caeruleus comb. nov. are proposed. This study revealed that
Actinokineospora mzabensis
is a heterotypic synonym of
Actinokineospora spheciospongiae
,
Lentzea deserti
is a heterotypic synonym of
Lentzea atacamensis
,
Prauserella endophytica
is a heterotypic synonym of
Prauserella coralliicola
, and
Prauserella flava
and
Prauserella sediminis
are heterotypic synonyms of
Prauserella salsuginis
. This study addresses the nomenclature conundrums of
Actinoalloteichus cyanogriseus
and
Streptomyces caeruleus
as well as
Micropolyspora internatus
and
Saccharomonospora viridis
.
After the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP) had voted to include the rank of phylum in the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP), and following publication of the decision in the IJSEM, we here present names and formal descriptions of 42 phyla to effect valid publication of their names, based on genera as the nomenclatural types.
Huanglongbing (HLB) disease, also known as citrus greening disease, was first reported in the US in 2005. Since then, the disease has decimated the citrus industry in Florida, resulting in billions of dollars in crop losses and the destruction of thousands of acres of citrus groves. The causative agent of citrus greening disease is the phloem limited pathogen Candidatus Liberibacter asiaticus. As it has not been cultured, very little is known about the structural biology of the organism. Liberibacter are part of the Rhizobiaceae family, which includes nitrogen-fixing symbionts of legumes as well as the Agrobacterium plant pathogens. To better understand the Liberibacter genus, a closely related culturable bacterium (Liberibacter crescens or Lcr) has attracted attention as a model organism for structural and functional genomics of Liberibacters. Given that the structure of lipopolysaccharides (LPS) from Gram-negative bacteria plays a crucial role in mediating host-pathogen interactions, we sought to characterize the LPS from Lcr. We found that the major lipid A component of the LPS consisted of a pentaacylated molecule with a β-6-GlcN disaccharide backbone lacking phosphate. The polysaccharide portion of the LPS was unusual compared to previously described members of the Rhizobiaceae family in that it contained ribofuranosyl residues. The LPS structure presented here allows us to extrapolate known LPS structure/function relationships to members of the Liberibacter genus which cannot yet be cultured. It also offers insights into the biology of the organism and how they manage to effectively attack citrus trees.
The status Candidatus was introduced to bacterial taxonomy in the 1990s to accommodate uncultured taxa defined by analyses of DNA sequences. Here I review the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) associated with the status Candidatus in the light of a quarter century of use, twinned with recent developments in bacterial taxonomy and sequence-based taxonomic discovery. Despite ambiguities as to its scope, philosophical objections to its use and practical problems in implementation, the status Candidatus has now been applied to over 1000 taxa and has been widely adopted by journals and databases. Although lacking priority under the International Code for Nomenclature of Prokaryotes, many Candidatus names have already achieved de facto standing in the academic literature and in databases via description of a taxon in a peer-reviewed publication, alongside deposition of a genome sequence and there is a clear path to valid publication of such names on culture. Continued and increased use of Candidatus names provides an alternative to the potential upheaval that might accompany creation of a new additional code of nomenclature and provides a ready solution to the urgent challenge of naming many thousands of newly discovered but uncultured species.
Abstract
Many biotechnological applications deal with nitrification, one of the main steps of the global nitrogen cycle. The biological oxidation of ammonia to nitrite and further to nitrate is critical to avoid environmental damage and its functioning has to be retained even under adverse conditions. Bacteria performing the second reaction, oxidation of nitrite to nitrate, are fastidious microorganisms that are highly sensitive against disturbances. One important finding with relevance for nitrogen removal systems was the discovery of the mainly cold-adapted Cand. Nitrotoga, whose activity seems to be essential for the recovery of nitrite oxidation in wastewater treatment plants at low temperatures, e.g., during cold seasons. Several new strains of this genus have been recently described and ecophysiologically characterized including genome analyses. With increasing diversity, also mesophilic Cand. Nitrotoga representatives have been detected in activated sludge. This review summarizes the natural distribution and driving forces defining niche separation in artificial nitrification systems. Further critical aspects for the competition with Nitrospira and Nitrobacter are discussed. Knowledge about the physiological capacities and limits of Cand. Nitrotoga can help to define physico-chemical parameters for example in reactor systems that need to be run at low temperatures.
Key points
• Characterization of the psychrotolerant nitrite oxidizer Cand. Nitrotoga
• Comparison of the physiological features of Cand. Nitrotoga with those of other NOB
• Identification of beneficial environmental/operational parameters for proliferation