Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 7, 2025

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Curtobacterium spp. and Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens: Phylogeny, Genomics-Based Taxonomy, Pathogenicity, and
Peter Evseev1,2, Anna Lukianova1, Rashit Tarakanov3
1Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, Miklukho-Maklaya Str., 16/10, 117997 Moscow, Russia.
Abstract:
The genus of Curtobacterium, belonging to the Microbacteriaceae family of the Actinomycetales order, includes economically significant pathogenic bacteria of soybeans and other agricultural crops. Thorough phylogenetic and full-genome analysis using the latest genomic data has demonstrated a complex and contradictory taxonomic picture within the group of organisms classified as the Curtobacterium species. Based on these data, it is possible to delineate about 50 new species and to reclassify a substantial part of the Curtobacterium strains. It is suggested that 53 strains, including most of the Curtobacterium flaccumfaciens pathovars, can compose a monophyletic group classified as C. flaccumfaciens. A genomic analysis using the most recent inventory of bacterial chromosomal and plasmid genomes deposited to GenBank confirmed the possible role of Microbacteriaceae plasmids in pathogenicity and demonstrated the existence of a group of related plasmids carrying virulence factors and possessing a gene distantly related to DNA polymerase found in bacteriophages and archaeal and eukaryotic viruses. A PCR diagnostic assay specific to the genus Curtobacterium was developed and tested. The presented results assist in the understanding of the evolutionary relations within the genus and can lay the foundation for further taxonomic updates.
Related Concept Videos
Modern Molecular Taxonomy
Applications of Molecular Taxonomy
Bacterial Phylum Bacteroidota
Methods of Classification and Identification
Evolutionary Relationships through Genome Comparisons
Microbial Classification System

