Abstract
Haloferax alexandrinus [Asker & Ohta, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 52 (2002), 729738] was included in the list given by Euzéby & Tindall [Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54 (2004), 293301] of names proposed that are not in accordance with Rules 27(3) and 30 of the Bacteriological Code, as the type strain (JCM 10717T, IFO 16590T) was deposited only in two Japanese culture collections. B. J. Tindall will contact T. Itoh at the JCM and request a culture for deposition in the DSMZ.
Halosimplex carlsbadense gen. nov., sp. nov. [Vreeland et al., Extremophiles 6 (2002), 445452], with type strain ATCC BAA-75T, JCM 11222T, has been validly published [Validation List no. 92, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53 (2003), 935937].
Haloferax lucentense sp. nov. [originally published with the name Haloferax lucentensis; Gutierrez et al., Extremophiles 6 (2002), 479483], with type strain JCM 9276T, DSM 14919T, NCIMB 13854T, CIP 107410T, CECT 5871T, CCM 7023T, has been validly published [Validation List no. 95, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54 (2004), 12].
Halorubrum terrestre sp. nov. [Ventosa et al., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54 (2004), 389392], with type strain VKM B-1739T, JCM 10247T.
Haloferax sulfurifontis sp. nov. [Elshahed et al., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54 (2004), 22752279], with type strain JCM 12327T, CCM 7217T, DSM 16227T.
Halorubrum xinjiangense sp. nov. [Feng et al., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 54 (2004), 17891791], with type strain AS 1.3527T, JCM 12388T.
Halorubrum alkaliphilum sp. nov. [Feng et al., Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 55 (2005), 149152], with type strain AS 1.3528T, JCM 12358T.
Halobacterium noricense sp. nov. will soon be described, with type strain DSM 15987T, ATCC BAA-852T, NCIMB 13967T, together with an emended description of Halobacterium salinarum and classification of Halobacterium sp. NRC-1 as a strain of Halobacterium salinarum [Gruber et al., Extremophiles, in press].
The flat, square, gas-vacuolated organism first described by Walsby [Nature 283 (2000), 6971] has been isolated in pure culture independently by the groups of M. Dyall-Smith and H. Bolhuis, and will probably be described as Haloquadratum walsbyi gen. nov., sp. nov.
Minute 4. Taxonomic rearrangements within the genera Haloterrigena and Natrinema.
B. J. Tindall clarified the present status of the classification of strains within the genera Haloterrigena and Natrinema [Tindall, Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53 (2003), 16971698]. R. H. Vreeland plans to perform a comparative study of all available strains of these genera.
Minute 5. Identification of genes relevant for multilocus gene comparison studies.
S. DasSarma called upon the subcommittee to assist scientists involved in the study of the Halobacteriaceae in the identification of a suitable set of genes to be included in multilocus gene comparison studies, enabling a rapid comparison of members of the Halobacteriaceae based on a number of genes in addition to the 16S rRNA gene. Availability of such a set of genes would be helpful to resolve questions on halobacterial taxonomy, including establishment of criteria for assignment of families and genera within the Halobacteriaceae. It would also permit the community to guide those conducting genome sequencing projects by providing valid criteria for selection of halobacterial genomes in the future. B. J. Tindall pointed out that multilocus sequence typing studies have been developed for strain typing and population genetics studies, and that care should be taken when applying this approach to the delineation of species and higher taxa. In particular, such data should not be taken out of context of the biology of the organisms as a whole. The subcommittee will appoint an ad hoc committee to identify relevant genes.
Minute 6. Guidance/leadership to authors of papers discussing 16S rRNA sequences in relation to existing taxa of Halobacteriaceae.
M. L. Dyall-Smith described a problem where an ASM journal reviewer of his submitted manuscript objected to the use of terms like Haloferax-related group to describe a set of 16S rRNA gene sequences that were closely related to that of Haloferax volcanii. The issue was whether one should refer to a validly published name of a genus when describing isolates that are not formally classified or environmental 16S rRNA gene clones from organisms that had not been isolated or formally classified. The subcommittee agreed that using a term like Haloferax-related group was reasonable, and that having to add a statement that no formal taxonomic proposals was being made should not be necessary.
Minute 7. Culture collections and their policy on distribution of micro-organisms.
B. J. Tindall outlined changes in policy on the distribution of micro-organisms that are being implemented by a number of culture collections. This includes the introduction of a formal Material Transfer Agreement, which takes the form of a contract. The consequences may be far-reaching, with the first court case being brought in the USA. The form of Material Transfer Agreements or a discussion of their implementation may be found at and . Comments on the consequences of the wording and nature of Material Transfer Agreements may be found at , and . The issue is of particular concern to the taxonomic community because of the importance of the continued wide availability of type strains. The subcommittee shares B. J. Tindall's concerns on this issue.
Minute 8. Adjournment.
The meeting was adjourned at 19 : 40 on 5 September 2004.