Synonymy of Mycobacterium simiae Karasseva et al. 1965 and Mycobacterium habana Valdivia et al. 1971

Abstract

On the basis of their physiological and biochemical properties and their antigenic structures, as revealed by gel diffusion systems, Mycobacterium simiae Karasseva et al. 1965 and Mycobacterium habana Valdivia et al. 1971 are regarded as belonging to the same'species. The correct name of this species, i.e. , the legitimate name which has priority, is M . simiae. M . habana is thus a later subjective synonym of M . simiae. Karasseva et al. (6) investigated spontaneous mycobacterial infections of monkeys and isolated numerous mycobacteria which differed in several properties from the known species of Mycobacterizim. The isolates were identified as belonging to a new species, Mycobacterium simiae. M . simiae grows slowly and does not form pigment in the dark, but it has proved to be more or less photochromogenic. Representative strains caused severe lesions in mice. Further investigations (16) The investigation of the antigenic structure of mycobacteria by the gel-precipitation method has proved to be a very reliable method for demonstrating common antigenic components in different strains and for establishing the degree of relationship between strains (7, 15, 16). The identities of strains can be demonstrated by cross-absorption of the common antigens, and monospecific sera can be obtained by absorption with heterologous antigens. Based on these experiments, it seemed justified to apply the gel diffusion method to a comparative antigen analysis of M , simiae and M . habana. Methods. The strains were grown in liquid Sauton medium. The harvested pellicle was collected on filter paper, washed with 0.9% NaCl solution, stirred with silicium carbide, extracted by cold (4°C) saline, and centrifuged at 4,000 rpm for 15 min. The supernatant was used as the cell-free antigen. It was standardized, with bovine serum protein as the standard, to contain 1% protein. Serum absorption and gel diffusion were performed as described previously (18). MATERIALS AND METHODS 474

Epidemiology of Infection by Nontuberculous Mycobacteria

“…M. simiae isolates grow over the pH range 5.5 to 7.5 (400). M. simiae produces niacin, unlike other nontuberculous mycobacteria, and has urease but lacks phosphatase and nitrate reductase activities (541). The pattern of cell-free antigens of M. simiae is unique, although approximately half are shared with members of the M. avium complex (540).…”

“…The pattern of cell-free antigens of M. simiae is unique, although approximately half are shared with members of the M. avium complex (540). There appear to be two serotypes represented among the M. simiae strains collected and serotyped to date (541). M. simiae and Mycobacterium habana are synonymous (358,490,541).…”

“…simiae is a photochromogenic mycobacterium that grows on standard mycobacterial culture media without additional growth factors (541). It grows optimally at 37ЊC and slowly at 25ЊC, and it fails to grow at 40 and 20ЊC (540).…”

Analysis of the structure of mycolic acids of Mycobacterium simiae reveals a particular composition of α-mycolates in strain ‘habana’ TMC 5135, considered as immunogenic in tuberculosis and leprosy

“…Although the synonymy between M. simiae and 'M. habana' has been clearly demonstrated (Weiszfeiler & Karczag, 1976), the epithet 'habana' is maintained for the original collection of strains, in particular because a series of investigations has suggested a vaccine potential for strain 'M. habana' TMC 5135 in tuberculosis and leprosy (reviewed by Mederos et al, 2006).…”

Clinical relevance of Mycobacterium simiae in pulmonary samples

“…In 1975, WEISZFEILER and KARCZAG [2] found that the previously described species M. habana was in reality also M. simiae.…”