Pseudomonas--An attempt at a general classification

Abstract

SUMMARYOn the basis of the characterization of 126 strains representing 46 different species of Pseudomonas and 6 species of Aeromonas obtained from different culture collections, a proposal for the taxonomy of the genus Pseudomonm is made. By using various old and new diagnostic methods some 90 different morphological and cultural characters, many obtained by modification of methods and media, were investigated. The iodoacetate test was developed to distinguish between oxidative and fermentative utilization of glucose.Results were evaluated by the use of punched cards and by the method of strips. The relationships between the established species of Pseudomoltas and Aeromonas were shown by using an Adansonian principle and by taxonomic models. On the basis of the results obtained proposals for the definition of the genus Pseudomonas and for re-descriptions of Pseudomonas species are given and the relations to related genera are shown. In the definition of the genus Pseudomonm an attempt to find a more general principle for subdivision within the genus was based on the type of glucose utilization and on the relationships of the species expressed in some other features. This proposal about the taxonomy of pseudomonads is compared with that of Rhodes (1959).

Diagnostic tables for the common medical bacteria

“…Our experience of Aeromonas spp. is limited and we have used Lysenko's (1961) data to supplement our observations. Pasteurella septica appears in 368 S. T. COWAN AND K. J.…”

“…P. haemolytica has been divided into two varieties (Henriksen & Jyssum, 1960), both of which are shown in Table 2 e. The oxidizing Gram-negative rods (columns f, f2 andf3 of Table 2) are combined in Table 2f. Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. pyocyanea) and P. fluorescens are the only two species of Pseudomonas of medical significance; a wider survey of this genus is contained in the monograph by Lysenko (1961), from which some of our data are taken. Whitmore's bacillus (Loefflerella pseudomallei) has many characters of Pseudomonas (Brindle & Cowan, 1951) and is included in that genus by Haynes in Bergey's Manual (1957, p. 100) and by Lysenko (1961).…”

“…Pseudomonas aeruginosa (P. pyocyanea) and P. fluorescens are the only two species of Pseudomonas of medical significance; a wider survey of this genus is contained in the monograph by Lysenko (1961), from which some of our data are taken. Whitmore's bacillus (Loefflerella pseudomallei) has many characters of Pseudomonas (Brindle & Cowan, 1951) and is included in that genus by Haynes in Bergey's Manual (1957, p. 100) and by Lysenko (1961). In Bergey's Manual (p. 417) the glanders bacillus is included by Haupt in the genus Actinobacillus, but as A. lignieresi attacks glucose by fermentation and the glanders bacillus attacks it by oxidation, a fundamental distinction, we feel that this is a misguided move.…”

Decarboxylase and other Reactions of some Gram-negative Rods

“…Phenylalanine deaminase activity was not found in any other genus tested in our work, after 1 or 7 days of incubation. The absence of phenylalanine deaminase activity has been reported for Chromobacterium (Sneath, 1960), Pasteurella (Henriksen & Jyssum, 1961; Mollaret, 1961), Pseudomonas (Lysenko, 1961) and Vibrio choleraeasiaticae (Hugh & Ryschenkow, 1961 a).…”

Phylogenetic Analysis of Bacterial Populations Found in Groundwater and an Acidic Stream Draining from an Abandoned Coal Mine.

“…Indole production was observed by growing cells in DNB with 0.03% tryptophan for 3-7 days and then adding Kovac's reagent 3) . The Oxidation/fermentation test was performed by the method of Lysenko 10) , using DNB medium supplemented with filter-sterilized 0.2% glucose.…”