Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 28, 2026
06:34
Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Revised group classification of the genus Spiroplasma
D L Williamson1, R F Whitcomb, J G Tully
1Department of Anatomical Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook 11794-8081, USA. dwmson@mail.som.sunysb.edu
International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology
|May 2, 1998
Summary
This revision details significant updates to Spiroplasma systematics, introducing new species and group designations. Research continues to uncover novel Spiroplasma strains primarily in insect reservoirs.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Systematics
- Insect-borne Pathogens
Background:
- The genus Spiroplasma, belonging to the class Mollicutes, has undergone substantial taxonomic revisions since 1987.
- Previous updates included the addition of new groups and subgroups, and the assignment of species names to existing designations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a comprehensive revision of Spiroplasma systematics.
- To incorporate newly identified Spiroplasma strains and propose new group designations.
- To document taxonomic descriptions and species names for previously ungrouped organisms.
Main Methods:
- Taxonomic classification and species naming of newly isolated Spiroplasma strains.
- Grouping of novel Spiroplasma strains based on phenotypic and genotypic characteristics.
- Serological analysis to investigate intergroup relationships.
Main Results:
- Six new Spiroplasma species have been formally described and assigned group numbers: S. alleghenense (XXVI), S. lineolae (XXVII), S. platyhelix (XXVIII), S. montanense (XXXI), S. helicoides (XXXII), and S. tabanidicola (XXXIII).
- New group designations are proposed for 10 Spiroplasma strains, including three unnamed strains (TIUS-1 in XXIX, BIUS-1 in XXX, BARC 1901 in XXXIV).
- Strain BARC 2649 has been proposed as a new subgroup of group VIII, and intergroup serological relationships were identified.
Conclusions:
- The ongoing discovery of Spiroplasma strains, particularly from Diptera: Tabanidae, highlights the importance of insect reservoirs.
- This revision expands the known diversity within the genus Spiroplasma and refines its taxonomic framework.
- Further research into Spiroplasma systematics and their ecological roles is warranted.
Related Concept Videos
01:24Microbial Classification System
Classification is the process of organizing organisms into hierarchically inclusive groups based on their phenotypic similarities or evolutionary relationships. A species comprises one or more strains, and closely related species are grouped into genera. Genera are further classified into families, families into orders, orders into classes, and so forth, up to the domain level, which is the broadest taxonomic rank derived from a combination of phenotypic and genotypic data.The nomenclature of...
01:26Bacterial Phylum Planctomycetes
Planctomycetes are a group of morphologically distinct bacteria predominantly classified into two orders: Planctomycetales and Brocadiales. These gram-negative bacteria exhibit unique features, including division by budding and the presence of stalks or appendages. Their cells are often found in rosette arrangements, and they are notable for possessing an S-layer in their cell envelope, which is relatively uncommon among bacteria. Additionally, Planctomycetes frequently exhibit intracellular...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Spirochaetes
Spirochetes, unique bacteria in the phylum Spirochaetes, are gram-negative, motile, tightly coiled, slender, and flexible. They inhabit aquatic sediments and animals, with some causing diseases like syphilis. Spirochetes are classified into eight genera based on habitat, pathogenicity, phylogeny, and characteristics.Their distinctive motility arises from endoflagella, located within the cell’s periplasm. These endoflagella anchor at the cell poles and extend along the cell length, encased by a...
01:30Bacterial Phylum Actinobacteria
Coryneform bacteria are gram-positive, aerobic, nonmotile rods that exhibit irregular, club-shaped, or V-shaped arrangements. Their V-shape results from snapping division, where the inner cell wall layer forms the cross-wall, while the outer layer remains intact until it ruptures on one side, causing the daughter cells to bend away.The primary genera are Corynebacterium and Arthrobacter. Corynebacterium includes diverse species, ranging from saprophytes to pathogens like Corynebacterium...
01:24Bacterial Phylum Tenericutes
The phylum Tenericutes, which includes the single class Mollicutes, comprises bacteria that lack cell walls. The term "Mollicutes" derives from the Latin word mollis, meaning "soft." These organisms are among the smallest known and are commonly referred to as mycoplasmas due to the prominence of the genus Mycoplasma, which includes well-known human pathogens. Despite their inability to stain gram-positively (a result of their lack of cell walls), mycoplasmas are phylogenetically related to the...
01:28Fungal Phylum Microsporidia
Microsporidia are a group of obligate intracellular fungi that were initially classified as protists but were later reclassified based on phylogenetic, molecular, and structural evidence linking them to the Chytridiomycota. These unicellular, non-motile organisms are highly specialized parasites that infect a wide range of animal hosts, including humans. They have evolved extensive genomic and metabolic reductions, making them highly dependent on their hosts for survival.Morphology and Genomic...