Fluviicola taffensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel freshwater bacterium of the family Cryomorphaceae in the phylum 'Bacteroidetes'

A novel, strictly aerobic, Gram-negative, yellow–orange-pigmented, motile, catalase-positive, oxidase-negative bacterium, RW262T, was isolated from water of the River Taff, Cardiff, UK, during January 2000. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain RW262T was a member of the family Cryomorphaceae within the phylum ‘Bacteroidetes’. The DNA G+C content of strain RW262T was 37·2 mol%. The predominant fatty acid was the branched-chain saturated fatty acid i15 : 0 (44·2 %). On the basis of polyphasic analysis of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic, genotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, it is proposed that this freshwater bacterium represents a novel genus and species within the family Cryomorphaceae, Fluviicola taffensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is RW262T (=NCIMB 13979T=DSM 16823T)

Culturable phylogenetic diversity of the phylum 'Bacteroidetes' from river epilithon and coastal water and description of novel members of the family Flavobacteriaceae: Epilithonimonas tenax gen. nov., sp. nov. and Persicivirga xylanidelens gen. nov., sp. nov

Members of the phylum ‘Bacteroidetes’ are important heterotrophs involved in cycling organic carbon in aquatic habitats. Their diversity has been studied by molecular methods in both freshwater and marine habitats and many novel genera and species within this phylum have been characterized in recent years. In this study, we examined the diversity of members of the ‘Bacteroidetes’ that could be readily isolated on solid media from river epilithon and coastal sea water. Most (93 %) of the 55 isolates confirmed as members of the ‘Bacteroidetes’ and examined by phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences belonged to the Flavobacteriaceae. Furthermore, most (62 %) of these were almost certainly members of the genus Flavobacterium and all but one were from river epilithon. Conversely, the sea-water isolates were more widely distributed in clades containing other genera. Some of the isolates were deep-branching within phylogenetic trees and so could not be assigned to putative genera. Two of these deep-branching isolates were characterized by polyphasic taxonomy and are proposed as novel species within two new genera of the family Flavobacteriaceae. These are Epilithonimonas tenax gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain EP105T=NCIMB 14026T=DSM 16811T) and Persicivirga xylanidelens gen. nov., sp. nov. (type strain SW256T=NCIMB 14027T=DSM 16809T)

Human pathogenic streptococcal proteomics and vaccine development

Gram-positive streptococci are non-motile, chain-forming bacteria commonly found in the normal oral and bowel flora of warm-blooded animals. Over the past decade, a proteomic approach combining 2-DE and MS has been used to systematically map the cellular, surface-associated and secreted proteins of human pathogenic streptococcal species. The public availability of complete streptococcal genomic sequences and the amalgamation of proteomic, genomic and bioinformatic technologies have recently facilitated the identification of novel streptococcal vaccine candidate antigens and therapeutic agents. The objective of this review is to examine the constituents of the streptococcal cell wall and secreted proteome, the mechanisms of transport of surface and secreted proteins, and describe the current methodologies employed for the identification of novel surface-displayed proteins and potential vaccine antigens