Recent Taxonomic Changes and Terminology Update of Clinically Significant Anaerobic Gram-Negative Bacteria (Excluding Spirochetes)

• Published in: Clinical infectious diseases Vol. 35; no. Supplement-1; pp. S17 - S21
• Main Authors: Somer, Hannele Jousimies, Summanen, Paula
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL The University of Chicago Press 01.09.2002; University of Chicago Press
• Subjects: Bacteriology; Bacteroides; Bacteroides - classification; Bacteroides fragilis - classification; Biological and medical sciences; Biological taxonomies; Campylobacter; Campylobacter - classification; Capnocytophaga - classification; Clostridium; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Fusobacteria; Fusobacterium - classification; Gram-Negative Anaerobic Bacteria - classification; Microbiology; Microbiology Section; New genus; Phylogeny; Porphyromonas; Porphyromonas - classification; Prevotella; Prevotella - classification; Proteobacteria - classification; Selenomonas; Spirochaetales - classification; Systematics; Terminology; Terminology as Topic; Porphyromonas; Terminology; Flavobacteriaceae; Bacteroides fragilis; Fusobacterium; Taxonomy; Campylobacteraceae; Prevotella; Bacteroidaceae; Bacteria; Leptotrichia; Capnocytophaga; Gram negative bacteria; Campylobacter
• ISSN: 1058-4838; 1537-6591
• DOI: 10.1086/341915

Because of access to 16S rDNA sequencing, changes in the taxonomy and nomenclature of anaerobic gram-negative bacteria have occurred lately. New genera and species have been described, and existing taxa have been reclassified. The present article compiles a list of clinically relevant anaerobes and provides synonyms as well as the old nomenclature used for these bacteria. Although names and classifications of anaerobic bacteria are changing quickly, it is important to keep track of new bacterial names to work toward better description and recognition of bacterium-disease associations.