Summary auto-generated
This study describes two novel Acinetobacter species isolated from human clinical specimens. Researchers examined 51 strains from European countries that were previously unclassified, comprising two phenotypically distinctive groups designated phenon 1 and phenon 2. Using a polyphasic taxonomy approach, they performed DNA-DNA hybridization, AFLP fingerprinting, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, amplified rDNA restriction analysis, and biochemical testing. These analyses confirmed that the two phenons represent separate genomic species distinct from all previously described Acinetobacter species. The researchers propose the names Acinetobacter ursingii sp. nov. for phenon 1 and Acinetobacter schindleri sp. nov. for phenon 2, with designated type strains for each. The two species are differentiable from each other and from other Acinetobacter species by specific biochemical characteristics and molecular patterns. Epidemiological data indicate that A. ursingii can cause bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients. Both species were isolated from diverse clinical samples including blood, urine, and respiratory specimens collected across multiple European regions from 1980-1999.
Key findings
- Two novel Acinetobacter species were described using polyphasic taxonomy: A. ursingii sp. nov. (29 strains) and A. schindleri sp. nov. (22 strains), both isolated from human clinical specimens
- DNA-DNA hybridization and AFLP analysis demonstrated that each phenon represents a distinct genomic species with characteristic %DR7 values and cluster separation from all previously described Acinetobacter species
- A. ursingii and A. schindleri form separate 16S rRNA gene lineages within the Acinetobacter genus with 95.4-98.0% sequence similarity to other species
- The two species can be differentiated from each other and other Acinetobacter species by specific biochemical traits, particularly growth at 41°C (A. schindleri) versus 37°C (A. ursingii) and utilization patterns of glutarate and L-aspartate
- A. ursingii shows clinical significance as a causative agent of bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients
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Abstract
The taxonomic status of two recently described phenetically distinctive groups within the genus Acinetobacter, designated phenon 1 and phenon 2, was investigated further. The study collection included 51 strains, mainly of clinical origin, from different European countries with properties of either phenon 1 (29 strains) or phenon 2 (22 strains). DNA--DNA hybridization studies and DNA polymorphism analysis by AFLP revealed that these phenons represented two new genomic species. Furthermore, 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of three representatives of each phenon showed that they formed two distinct lineages within the genus Acinetobacter. The two phenons could be distinguished from each other and from all hitherto-described Acinetobacter (genomic) species by specific phenotypic features and amplified rDNA restriction analysis patterns. The names Acinetobacter ursingii sp. nov. (type strain LUH 3792(T)=NIPH 137(T)=LMG 19575(T)=CNCTC 6735(T)) and Acinetobacter schindleri sp. nov. (type strain LUH 5832(T)=NIPH 1034(T)=LMG 19576(T)=CNCTC 6736(T)) are proposed for phenon 1 and phenon 2, respectively. Clinical and epidemiological data indicate that A. ursingii has the capacity to cause bloodstream infections in hospitalized patients.