This article publishes Validation List No. 49 of the International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology, formally validating 17 new bacterial names and combinations that were previously published in other scientific journals. The list includes new genera such as Dolosigranulum, Desulfomicrobium, Tetragenococcus, Weissella, and Thermoanaerbium, along with their associated species. New species like Corynebacterium propinquum, Helicobacter canis, and Rarobacter incanus are also validated. Additionally, several previously named bacteria are given new combinations, such as species formerly classified as Lactobacillus, Pediococcus, and Leuconostoc now reassigned to the new genus Weissella. The validation process ensures these names are officially recognized in bacterial nomenclature, with the validation date being the publication date of this list rather than the original publication date. The article emphasizes that validation is a nomenclatural act and does not imply taxonomic acceptance. Reference strains from various international culture collections are designated for each validated name.

Key findings

• Seventeen new bacterial names and combinations were formally validated, including five new genera and multiple new species
• Weissella, a newly validated genus, encompasses seven species reclassified from Lactobacillus and Leuconostoc
• The validation date is the publication date of this list, not the date of original publication in other journals
• All validated names include designated reference strains maintained in international culture collections
• Validation is strictly a nomenclatural action and does not constitute taxonomic acceptance of the organisms