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Interrelationships among Mycobacteria and Nocardiae
Abstract:
Manion, R. E. (Veterans Administration Hospital, Minneapolis, Minn.), S. G. Bradley, H. H. Zinneman, and W. H. Hall. Interrelationships among mycobacteria and nocardiae. J. Bacteriol. 87:1056-1859. 1964.-A total of 134 strains of mycobacteria and nocardiae were tested for susceptibility of 24 mycobacteriophages. On the basis of capability of diverse strains to serve as alternative propagating hosts for particular viruses, relationships among the actinomycetes were proposed. Cultures received as Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. ranae, M. butyricum, and M. chelonei were nearly identical, indicating that they are members of a single taxon. M. phlei and M. fortuitum strains constituted two distinct but related groups. Moreover, strains of M. smegmatis and Nocardia asteroides were susceptible to two variant actinophages originally isolated on N. brasiliensis.
Insights
This study explored relationships among mycobacteria and nocardiae using mycobacteriophages. Findings suggest Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. ranae, M. butyricum, and M. chelonei belong to a single taxon, with distinct groups for M. phlei and M. fortuitum.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Actinomycetes Taxonomy
Background:
- Mycobacteria and nocardiae are important groups of actinomycetes.
- Understanding their interrelationships is crucial for classification and research.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the taxonomic relationships among various strains of mycobacteria and nocardiae.
- To utilize bacteriophages as tools for elucidating these relationships.
Main Methods:
- Tested 134 strains of mycobacteria and nocardiae against 24 different mycobacteriophages.
- Assessed the susceptibility of bacterial strains to phage propagation.
- Proposed relationships based on host-virus interactions.
Main Results:
- Identified that Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. ranae, M. butyricum, and M. chelonei are nearly identical, suggesting they belong to a single taxon.
- M. phlei and M. fortuitum strains formed two distinct but related groups.
- Strains of M. smegmatis and Nocardia asteroides showed susceptibility to variant actinophages isolated from N. brasiliensis.
Conclusions:
- Bacteriophage susceptibility profiles can effectively reveal interrelationships among actinomycetes.
- The study provides evidence for reclassifying several Mycobacterium species into a single taxon.
- Distinct groupings were observed for M. phlei and M. fortuitum, indicating their unique taxonomic positions.