Phylogeny of Legionellaceae Based on Small-Subunit Ribosomal DNA Sequences and Proposal of Legionella lytica comb. nov. for Legionella-Like Amoebal Pathogens

Abstract

The 16s rRNA-encoding gene sequences from strains of the family Legionellaceae, Sarcobium lyticum, and Coxiella burnetii were determined. Phylogenetic relationships revealed that all Legionella spp. were members of a coherent monophyletic family. The blue-white autofluorescent species formed a defined cluster bounded by Legionella bozemanii and Legionella tucsonensis. The strains of Legionella pneumophila subsp. pneumophila and Legionella pneumophila subsp. fraseri shared 99.2% sequence identity. A legionella-like amoeba1 pathogen (LLAP-3) showed 99.4% sequence identity to the obligate intracellular bacterial parasite Sarcobium lyticum. A proposal is made for the transfer of Sarcobium lyticum from the genus Sarcobium to the genus Legionella as Legionella lytica comb. nov. On the basis of serology and phenetic and phylogenetic comparisons, the taxa Legionella erythra and Legionella rubrilucens may be regarded as subspecies.

Identification of Legionella spp. in Environmental Water Samples by ScanVIT-Legionella™ Method in Spain

“…The causative agent of Legionnaires 0 disease, L. pneumophila, was first characterised in 1977 following an epidemic of acute pneumonia among veterans of the American Legion in Philadelphia [1,2] and since then, 47 species and more than 60 serogroups have been isolated [3][4][5][6][7]. The bacterium is a Gram-negative, aerobic, non-spore-forming, unencapsulated bacillus.…”

Legionella drozanskii sp. nov., Legionella rowbothamii sp. nov. and Legionella fallonii sp. nov.: three unusual new Legionella species.

“…There is also serological evidence associating LLAPs with respiratory disease in humans (Rowbotham, 1993 ;Benson et al, 1995). The grouping together of members of the genus Legionella is based on phenotypic similarities and is supported by molecular techniques (Brenner et al, 1985 ; Brenner, 1986 ;Fry et al, 1991 ;Harrison & Saunders, 1994 ;Hookey, 1995 ;Benson et al, 1996 ;Hookey et al, 1996 ;Ratcliff et al, 1997Ratcliff et al, , 1998. There are few discriminatory phenotypic tests for the differentiation of Legionella species (Benson & Fields, 1998 ;Harrison & Saunders, 1994).…”

Legionella busanensis sp. nov., isolated from cooling tower water in Korea

“…However, tests were negative for b-lactamase and browning of tyrosine-supplemented agar. The results of biochemical tests such as gelatinase, hippurate, oxidase and b-lactamase activities indicated that these strains did not belong to any currently described Legionella species (Hookey et al, 1996). No autofluorescence was observed when colonies of the three isolates were exposed to UV light.…”

“…At the time of writing, 47 species have been described (Euzéby, 1997;Lo Presti et al, 2001), including four Legionella-like amoebal pathogens (Hookey et al, 1996;Adeleke et al, 2001). Twenty-one species are pathogenic to humans (Winn, 1999).…”

“…The fatty acid composition also demonstrated that these strains did not correspond to any previously described Legionella species (Diogo et al, 1999). According to Hookey et al (1996) and Diogo et al (1999), Legionella adelaidensis, L. feeleii, Legionella geestiana, Legionella moravica, Legionella quateirensis, Legionella quinlivanii, Legionella santicrucis, Legionella worsleiensis, Legionella sp. Montbeliard A1 and Legionella sp.…”