Sverre Dick Henriksen

A new Moraxella species, Moraxella osloensis, and a revised description of Moraxella nonliquefaciens

ABSTRACT Organisms corresponding to the description of Moraxella nonliquefaciens can be subdivided into several taxa. A subgroup with comparatively fastidious growth requirements is retained in the species M. nonliquefaciens, and a revised description of this species is given. The strain 4663/62 is proposed as a neotype strain. A second, more robust subgroup is described and given the name M. osloensis. The strain A 1920 is designated as the type strain. The use in taxonomy of such criteria as DNA base composition and compatibility in transformation is briefly discussed.

A revised description of Moraxella polymorpha Flamm 1957, with a proposal of a new name, Moraxella phenylpyrouvica for this species

ABSTRACT Detailed studies of a group of strains, the 752/52 group, which was previously believed to belong to Moraxella nonlique-faciens show that these strains constitute a distinct entity deserving the status of a species. It is distinguishable from M. nonlique-faciens and M. osloensis as well as from a number of other strains of Moraxella or Moraxella-like organisms by strong urease activity and by deamination of phenylalanine and of tryptophan. It is practically incompatible with the two former species in streptomycin-resistance transformation. Among a large number of other strains tested for ability to deaminate phenylalanine and tryptophan, the strain 1078/55, described by Flamm in 1957 under the name Moraxella polymorpha, was exceptional in giving positive results. This strain was found to agree with the 752/52 group in all characters studied except urease production, and it is believed that this strain must be considered to belong to the same species. It is suggested that the epithet polymorpha in the combination Moraxella polymorpha will cause confusion, is illegitimate, and that the epithet should be rejected. It is proposed to rename the species Moraxella phenylpyrouvica. Since the first strain to be described, strain 1078/55, differs from the others in failing to split urea, it is suggested that a urease positive strain, 2863, should be designated the neotype strain of this species. The following two questions are referred to the Judicial Commission for Opinions.

Correction of the Specific Epithet kingii in the Combinations Moraxella kingii Henriksen and Bøvre 1968 and Pseudomonas kingii Jonsson 1970 to kingae

The specific epithets in the names Moraxella kingii Henriksen and Boovre 1968 and Pseudomonas kingii Jonsson 1970 should be in the feminine gender; they are here corrected to “kingae.”

Neisseria elongata subsp. glycolytica subsp. nov.

A rod-shaped, saccharolytic strain of Neisseria isolated from the throat of a patient with pharyngitis and considered to represent a new subspecies of Neisseria elongata is described. The strain differs from N. elongata subsp. elongata in producing acid from glucose, in giving a strong catalase reaction, and in the consistency of colonies on agar media. The name N. elongata subsp. glycolytica is proposed for the new subspecies, of which strain 6171/75 (= ATCC 29315 = NCTC 11050) is the type.

Characterization of a new group specific antigen ofStreptococcus sanguis

The new serological group ofStreptococcus sanguis provisionally ealled “group 10043” has been examined The group specific polysaccharide antigen was isolated and compared serologically and chemically with group H antigen fromS. sanguis strain 13843 and strain NCTC 7868 Challis. The results confirm thatS. sangruis strain 10043 (NCTC 11085, ATCC 29667) contains a new antigen which does not react in anti-group H serum, nor in other grouping sera against groups A through V. The group specific antigen isolated from strain 10043 does not contain rhamnose in contrast to the group H antigen. The new antigen appears to be analogous to the other streptococcal group antigens and to deserve recognition as such. The designation W is suggested for the new group antigen. All three antigens examined contain glucose.