[The GC content of a group of H2S- enterobacterial related to the genus Citrobacter]

The deoxyribonculeic acid (DNA) of 106 strains of Enterobacteria was analysed for the guanine + cytosine (GC) content. These strains, whose origin and principal characters are described in the text, belong to the genera Citrobacter (C. freundii H2S-) and Levinea (L. malonatica and L. amalonatica). Four other groups or classes named C.D.E. and F. could not be classified on the base of the usual phenotypic criteria. DNA from the strains of Levinea has a GC% of 50.3 to 53.3, while DNA from the strains of C. freundii H2S- has a GC% of 48.6 to 51.7. The representative values from the new classes are C, 50.9%; D, 54%; E, 52.7%; F, 49.5%. For the latter a genomic heterogeneity was shown, expressing itself as two subpopulations whose average GC% are 51.7 and 48.6 respectively. Statistical analysis of the averages give a significant individuality to these new classes.