Abstract
Abbreviations: ICNP, International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes
The number of microbiologists who have sufficient knowledge of Latin to form correct Latin names for newly isolated micro-organisms appears to decrease steadily. Therefore, I contacted the International Association of Neo-Latinist Studies (IANLS) before their XIIIth International Congress in Budapest 2006 and asked their secretary, Professor Dr Marianne Pade, to inquire whether there were members of this association who would be interested and willing to help microbiologists in the formation of Latin/Neo-Latin genus names and specific epithets for newly found prokaryotes that are ready to be properly described following the Rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (formerly: of Bacteria), ICNP. The results of this approach were very positive and you will find a list of nineteen names and addresses below.
When microbiologists ask Latinists for help, they should be aware, however, that they are dealing with excellent language experts who have probably never seen the ICNP and are therefore not familiar with the rules that govern the formation of names and epithets in microbiological nomenclature. In the past, I have published several papers (Trüper, 1996, 1999, 2001) which may be useful to bridge this gap in understanding and which should be within reach for most microbiologists. I have also published such a paper aimed at Neo-Latinists (Trüper, 2004).
The last printed edition of the ICNP, the so-called 1990 revision, appeared in 1992 (Lapage et al., 1992). A new edition of the ICNP that will contain all changes since 1990 is currently in preparation. The changes since 1990 are listed in the Minutes of the Meetings of the Judicial Commission and the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (formerly: on Systematic Bacteriology), ICSP, which are regularly published in the International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM).
Of central importance for microbiological name giving is Appendix 9 of the ICNP. Although Appendix 9 of the 1992 edition has been completely replaced and rewritten, the new wording of Appendix 9 is not yet available anywhere in print or on the internet. To facilitate access to the full text of the new Appendix 9 (until it appears in print), I have made it available at via the homepage of the Institute for Microbiology & Biotechnology, University of Bonn, Germany.
When a microbiologist plans to name a newly isolated prokaryote genus, he/she has to make sure that the chosen name does not already exist as a validly published prokaryote name. This may be checked easily in the List of Prokaryotic Names with Standing in Nomenclature provided by Jean P. Euzéby at As specific epithets can only exist once within a genus, this may also be verified by consulting this database.
In addition, a check has to be made to ensure that a new prokaryote genus name (not specific epithet!) has not been used previously under the Botanical or the Zoological Code. To avoid such homonyms, new genus names may be checked with an appropriate search engine on the internet (e.g. ) and in J.P. Euzéby's Biological Nomenclature site (). These databases are, however, not exhaustive.
When the new name is finally published, the assistance of the person(s) who helped in the formation of the correct names for the new isolates should be properly acknowledged in the publication.
The names, addresses and e-mail addresses of Neo-Latinists willing to help microbiologists are (alphabetically):
Reuben P. BELL, DO, MS, Mdiv
Associate Professor of Family Medicine
Director of Medical Humanities
University of New England College of Osteopathic Medicine
11 Hills Beach
Biddeford, Maine 04005, USA
e-mail RBell{at}une.edu
Jean-Louis CHARLET, Professor Dr (past president of IANLS)
Université de Provence
Résidence Beaumanoir, bâtiment 3
Allée des Lilas
F13100 Aix-en-Provence, France
Tel. +33 4 42 27 71 74
Fax +33 4 42 38 24 37
e-mail charlet{at}mmsh.univ-aix.fr
Olga Anna DUHL, PhD, Assoc. Professor and Ass. Dept. Head
Department of Foreign Languages and Literatures
Lafayette College
Easton, PA 18042, USA
Tel. +1 610 330 5231; +1 610 330 56546
e-mail duhlo{at}lafayette.edu
Nikolaus GROSS, Dr
Johann-Sebastian-Bach-Str. 8
D-89264 Weissenhorn, Germany
Tel. +49 7309 929203
e-mail spqr{at}leolatinus.com
Hubert W. HAWKINS, Mr
105 Hill Drive
Manquin, Virginia 23106, USA
Tel. +1 804 994 5229
e-mail uppinghamhouse{at}aol.com
Justo HERNANDEZ, MD, MA, PhD, FRSM
University of Laguna, Tenerife
Home address: Calle Doctor González Coviella 11
E-38004 Santa Cruz de Tenerife
Canary Islands, Spain
Tel. +34 922282609
Fax +34 922319279
e-mail justoh79{at}hotmail.com
Heinrich C. KUHN, Dr
Seminar für Geistesgeschichte und Philosophie der Renaissance
Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität/Hauspost 44
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
D-80539 München, Germany
Tel. +49 89 2180 2018
Fax +49 89 2180 2907
e-mail hck{at}lrz.uni-muenchen.de
Manuel LOPEZ-MUNOZ, Professor Dr
Departamento de Filologia: Filologia Latina
Universidad de Almeria
E-04120 Almeria, Spain
Tel. +34 950 015560
Fax +34 950 015466
e-mail manuel.lopez{at}ual.es or manuel.lopezmunoz{at}gmail.com
Karl August NEUHAUSEN, Dr
Institut für Griechische und Lateinische Philologie
Universität Bonn
Am Hof 1
D-53113 Bonn, Germany
Tel. +49 228 73 7488
e-mail k.a.neuhausen{at}uni-bonn.de
Florentina NICOLAE, Dr
Bd. Al. Lapusneanu 187, Bloc 6, Sc. C, Ap. 54, Cod 900489,
Constanta, Romania
Tel. 0722 833928 (mobile)
Fax +40 241 518228 (not optimal)
e-mail nicolae_flori{at}yahoo.com
Otto PLASSMANN, Dr
Alte Landstrasse 186
D-40489 Düsseldorf, Germany
Tel. +49 211 40 16 15
Fax: +49 211 405 88 42
e-mail oplassmann{at}tiscali.de
Marc T. RILEY, Dr
Department of Foreign Languages
California State University
Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
Home address during the summer
828 54th Street
Sacramento, CA 95819, USA
e-mail mtriley{at}csus.edu
Joaquín J. SÁNCHEZ GÁZQUEZ, Professor Dr
Área de Filología Latina
Departamento de Filología
Facultad de Humanidades y CCEE II
Universidad de Almería
Ctra. de Sacramento s/n
E-04120 La Cañada de San Urbano, Almería, Spain
Tel. +34 950 015436
Fax +34 950 015466
e-mail jjsanche{at}ual.es or jjsanche{at}wanadoo.es
Wilfried STROH, Professor Dr
Abteilung für Griechische und Lateinische Philologie
Universität München
Geschwister-Scholl-Platz 1
D-80539 München, Germany
Tel. +49 89 2180 5705
e-mail Stroh{at}klassphil.uni-muenchen.de
Marietta SZENDRÉNYI, Dr
Csiki u. 9
H-6753 Szeged, Hungary
Tel. +36 62 459 951
e-mail szundine{at}freemail.hu
Adrie H. VAN DER LAAN, Dr
Erasmus Center for Early Modern Studies
PO Box 22140
NL-3003 DC Rotterdam, The Netherlands
Tel. +31 10 2816 188
Fax +31 10 2816 181
e-mail vanderlaan{at}erasmus.org
The following microbiologists with a good knowledge of Latin also offer their help:
Jean P. EUZÉBY, Professor Dr
Ecole Nationale Veterinaire
23, chemin des Capelles
B.P. 87614
F-31076 Toulouse cedex 3, France
e-mail can be found at
Bernhard SCHINK, Professor Dr
Fachbereich Biologie, Universität Konstanz
Universitätsstr. 10
D-78457 Konstanz, Germany
Tel. +49 7531 882140
Fax +49 7531 884047
e-mail Bernhard.Schink{at}uni-konstanz.de
Hans G. TRÜPER, Professor em. Dr
Institut für Mikrobiologie & Biotechnologie
Universität Bonn
Meckenheimer Allee 168
D-53115 Bonn, Germany
Tel. +49 228 732320
Fax +49 228 737576
e-mail trueper{at}uni-bonn.de
Please support this initiative and name further Neo-Latinists who may be willing to assist microbiologists in the formation of new names.