Downloaded from www.microbiologyresearch.org by IP: 23.22.6.154 On: Sat, 06 Feb 2016 18:12:53 International Journal zyxwvutsrq of Systematic Bacteriology zyxwvuts (1 zyxwvuts 998), 48, 75-89 zyxwvut Printed in Great Britain Phylogeny of the family Moraxellaceae by 16s rDNA sequence analysis, with special emphasis on differentiation of MoraxeMa species Bertil Pettersson,' Angeli Kodjo,' Mostafa Ronaghi,l Mathias Uhlenl and Tone Tsnjum3t Author for correspondence : Tone Tsnjum. Tel : + zyxwv 47 22 86 95 10. Fax : + 47 22 86 94 90 e-mail : tone. tonjum@rh.uio.no Department of Biochemistry and Biotechnology, Royal Institute of Technology, 5-10044 Stockholm, Sweden Ecole Nationale Veterinaire de Lyon, Lyon, France Institute of Medical Microbiology, Department of Molecular Bioloqy, Thirty-three strains previously classified into 11 species in the bacterial family Moraxellaceae were subjected to phylogenetic analysis based on 165 rRNA sequences. The family Moraxellaceae formed a distinct clade consisting of four phylogenetic groups as judged from branch lengths, bootstrap values and signature nucleotides. Group I contained the classical moraxellae and strains of the coccal moraxellae, previously known as Branhamella, with 165 rRNA similarity of 295%. A further division of group I into five tentative clusters is discussed. Group II consisted of two strains representing Moraxella atlantae and Moraxella osloensis. These strains were only distantly related to each other (93.4%) and also to the other members of the Moraxellaceae (593%). University of Oslo, National Hospital, Oslo, Norway -- Therefore, reasons for reclassification of these species into separate and new genera are discussed. Group 111 harboured strains of the genus Psychrobacter and strain 752/52 of [Moraxella]phenylpyruvica. This strain of [M.] phenylpyruvica formed an early branch from the group 111 line of descent. Interestingly, a distant relationship was found between Psychrobacter phenylpyruvicus strain ATCC 23333T (formerly classified as [M.] phenylpyruvica) and [M.]phenylpyruvica strain 752/52, exhibiting less than 96% nucleotide similarity between their 165 rRNA sequences. The establishment of a new genus for [M.]phenylpyruvica strain 752/52 is therefore suggested. Group IV contained only two strains of the genus Acinetobacter. Strategies for the development of diagnostic probes and distinctive sequences for 165 rRNA-based species-specif ic assays within group I are suggested. Although these findings add to the classificatory placements within the Moraxellaceae, analysis of a more comprehensive selection of strains is still needed to obtain a complete classification system within this family. N-0027 Keywords : zyxwv Moraxella, 16s rDNA sequences, phylogeny, classification - INTRODUCTION Several fastidious Gram-negative bacterial species, other than established human pathogens such as Neisseria meningitidis, Neisseria gonorrhoeae and Hae- mophilus injuenzae, are emerging as being important t Present address: Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Uni- versity of Michigan Medical School, 5641 Medical Science Building II, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0620, USA. Tel: + 1 313 647 6765. Fax: + 1 313 764 3562. The GenBank accession numbers for the sequences reported in this paper are AF005160-AFOO5192. as causes of opportunistic infections, including species of the bacterial family Moraxellaceae. For example, all members of the classical moraxellae, that is Moraxella lacunata, Moraxella nonliquefaciens and Moraxella bovis, may cause eye infections (7, 9, 25, 45). M. nonliquefaciens, which may be part of the normal airway flora, has been found as a cause of septicaemia in leukaemic patients (3, 53). Moraxella (Branhamella) catarrhalis may cause eye, ear and sinus disease in children, a population displaying a high rate of colonization with this species (14, 15). This agent can also cause exacerbations of chronic bronchitis. 00536 zyxwvutsrqponmlk 0 1998 IUMS 75