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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL of SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY Vol. 24, No.

2
April 1974, p. 294-300 Pvin ted in U.S.A .
Copyright 0 1974 International Association of Microbiological Societies

Taxonomic Validity of Pseudomonas denitrificans (Christensen)


Bergey et al.
Request for an Opinion
M. DOUDOROFF, R. CONTOPOULOU, R. KUNISAWA, and N. J. PALLERONI’

Department o f Bacteriology and Immunology, University of California,Berkeley, California 94 720

Eighteen strains of gram-negative, aerobic, denitrifying bacteria that are either


presently classified as Pseudomonas denitrificans or that might conform to the
species description have been examined in some detail. On the basis of
phenotypic characterization and of limited deoxyribonucleic acid and ribosomal
ribonucleic acid homology studies, they appear to belong to several species and
to at least two genera. Some of the strains are described without assigning them
new specific names. It is recommended that the name Pseudomonas denitrificans
be abandoned as a nomen ambiguum.

Pseudomonas denitrificans was named by in the earlier studies (16, 18) in which their sources
Bergey et al. (2), who attributed the specific are listed. All strains obtained subsequently from
epithet to Christensen (3). Christensen had other collections are named and numbered as received
applied the name Bacillus denitrificans fluores- by us. The prefix PJ is common to all strains of Jessen,
whose assignment of these strains to his groups and
cens (not validly published) to two organisms, biotypes is included in the listing (9). These strains
designated as A and B, which differed from were received from H. Lautrop. Where possible,
each other in minor respects but both of which type-culture collection numbers are included in the
were characterized by their ability t o denitrify, listing.
their inability to liquefy gelatin and, as implied P. denitrificans NCIB 10465 (ATCC 19244; NCTC
in the name, by the production of soluble 1656). Strain proposed by Lysenko as neotype of the
fluorescent pigment(s). In the past 20 years, species (12).
several biochemical studies have been carried P. denitrificans NCIB 9496 (ATCC 13867). Isolated
out with strains identified as P. denitrificans by Sachs and Barker (17) and later studied by
Delwiche (6).
and deposited as such in different culture col- P. denitrificans NCIB 8376.
lections. Because we have rarely encountered P. denitrificans “Iwasaki” strain, isolated and
strains of Pseudomonas conforming to the studied by Iwasaki and Mori (8) and received from
description by Bergey et al. of Pseudomonas them.
denitrificans (2) and because we had reason to P. denitrificans “Merck” strain. This strain was
suspect that different workers have studied isolated by Demain et al. (7) and is in the Merck,
different species under the same name, we Sharp and Dohme Laboratories collection. It was not
examined a number of strains from our own available to us, but was kindly examined for some
and from other collections. We present here our characters by J. Birnbaum.
P. denitrificans 62 FC (ATCC 17688) received from
arguments for abandoning the specific name P. M. Vkron under this designation and listed by us as
denitrificans to avoid further confusion in the strain 322 of the “unclassified fluorescent pseudom-
literature. Two strains received as P. denitrifi- onads” (see Tables 34 and 35 of reference 18).
cans are described in some detail and other P. fluorescens (biotype C) 205 (ATCC 17572; PJ
strains are partially described, but no new 686-biotype 49, group IV).
specific names are proposed. P. fluorescens (biotype B) 93 (ATCC 17467).
P. fluorescens (biotype B) 407 (ATCC 17822).
Other strains of fluorescent pseudomonads studied
MATERIALS AND METHODS by Jessen (9) and examined in our laboratories:
Strains PJ 238 and PJ 706 (both biotype 50, group
Bacterial strains. The strains used in the present IVYPJ 706 from sea water).
study are designated as follows. Those strains de- Strain PJ 761 (biotype 51, group IV from sea
scribed previously by us are named and numbered as water).
Strains PJ 890 (from boring), PJ 894 (from brook),
’ Present address: Hoffman-La Roche, Research and PJ 967 (from soil) are all in Jessen’s biotype 36.
Pivision, Nutley, N.J. 07110. Strain PJ 976 (biotype 29, group 11, from soil).
294
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VOL. 24,1974 REQUEST FOR AN OPINION 295
Strains PJ 944 and PJ 979 (both isolated from the King et al. (1 0), accumulates poly-/3-hydroxy-
same soil sample and assigned to biotype 41). butyrate, hydrolyzes gelatin, forms levan on
The methods for phenotypic characterization of the
strains were those used by Stanier et al. (18) and
complex media with sucrose, or ferments
further detailed by Palleroni and Doudoroff (15). In carbohydrates (in the strict sense of fermenta-
doubtful cases, the replica plate method of nutritional tion). They d o not grow at 4 C or at 40 C. Both
characterization was confirmed by repeated subcul- strains can grow aerobically in mineral media
tures in liquid media. with ammonium salts as the sole source of
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-DNA hybridizations nitrogen and with single sources of carbon, and
were carried out at 25 C below the melting tempera- can denitrify under anaerobic conditions. Strain
ture of the immobilized reference DNA as previously NCIB 10465, however, grows much more
described (1).
Ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA)-DNA hybridiza-
slowly than NCIB 9496 and denitrifies much
tions were performed as described previously (16). less vigorously. The addition of casein hy-
drolysate greatly increases the rate of growth of
NCIB 10465. DL-Lactate is the best carbon
RESULTS source for denitrification by both strains.
Carbon sources used by both strains for
The “Iwasaki” strain has peritrichous cells, aerobic growth are acetate, butyrate, iso-
produces no soluble pigments, does not liquefy butyrate, valerate, caproate, caprate, succinate,
gelatin or ferment carbohydrates, causes vigor- fumarate, azelate, sebacate, lactate, pyruvate,
ous denitrification, and accumulates poly-p- D-malate, DL-0-hydroxybutyrate, citrate,
hydroxybutyrate as a reserve material. Its aconitate, levulinate, itaconate, mesaconate,
nutritional spectrum, which will not be detailed benzoate, a-L-alanine, a-D-alanine, 0-alanine,
here, has been compared with those of Alcali- y-aminobutyrate, proline, and betaine.
genes faecalis and Alcaligenes eutrophus ( 5 ) , The following compounds are used by
neither of which it resembles closely. neither strain: n-dodecane, n-hexadecane, iso-
The “Merck” strain, which was not available propanol, isobutanol, ethylene glycol,
to us for study, was reported by J. Birnbaum of propylene glycol, 2,3-butylene glycol, glycerol,
Merck, Sharp and Dohme Research Labora- erythritol, mannitol, sorbitol, meso-inositol,
tories to denitrify and to accumulate poly-p- adonitol, ribose, xylose, L-arabinose, mannose,
hydroxybutyrate but to produce neither solu- galactose, L -rhamnose, D -fucose, trehalose,
ble pigments nor gelatin hydrolysis (personal maltose, lactose, cellobiose, starch, inulin,
communication). Unfortunately, the mode of salicin , 2-ke t ogluconat e, saccharate, mucat e,
flagellar insertion was not determined. formate, malonate, glycollate, glycerate, D-, L-,
Strain 62 FC has already been described by and meso-tartrate, poly-0-hydroxybutyrate,
us as strain 322 and placed among the citraconate, hydroxymethylglutarate, D-
“unclassified” fluorescent pseudomonads ( 18). mandelate, ortho- and meta-hydroxybenzoate,
It has cells with a number of flagella at the p hthala te, p henylacet ate, naphthalene, phenol,
poles, produces soluble fluorescent pigment(s), quinate, glycine, L-serine, L-threonine, norleu-
and does not hydrolyze gelatin or accumulate cine, valine, citrulline, a-aminobutyrate, L-
poly-0-hyd rox y but yra t e . All attempts, how ever, phenylalanine, L-tryptophan, D-tryptophan, L-
to cause it t o denitrify or even to grow kynurenine, kynurenat e, anthranilate, hist a-
reasonably well under anaerobic conditions in mine, bu tylamine, creatine, acet amid e, nico-
media with nitrate met with failure. The tina t e , and trig onelline.
guanine plus cytosine ( G + C ) content of the The compounds used well by strain NCIB
DNA is about 62 mol% (by buoyant density). 9496 but not used by NCIB 10465 are:
Strain NCIB 8376 possesses cells with a geraniol, D-arabinose, glucose, fructose, glucon-
number of polar flagella, produces soluble ate, propionate, isovalerate, heptonoate, cap-
fluorescent pigment(s), denitrifies, and does not rylate, pelargonate, glutarate, adipate, pimelate,
ferment carbohydrates, accumulate poly-0- a-ke toglutarate, benzoylformate, para-hydroxy-
hydroxybutyrate, or produce levan from benzoate , leu cine, isoleucine, aspartate,
sucrose. It hydrolyzes gelatin. In the above asparagine, glutamate, lysine, arginine, orni-
respects and in its nutritional spectrum, which thine, a- and &aminovalerate, histidine, putres-
we have characterized extensively, it can be cine, spermine, a-amylamine, and sarcosine.
readily recognized as a member of P. fluores- Sucrose, suberate, and pantothenate are good
cens biotype C (1966). carbon sources for strain NCIB 10465, which
The cells of strains NCIB 10465 and NCIB can also use ethanol, propanol, butanol, L-
9496 bear single, polar flagella. Neither strain mandelate, and hippurate poorly. None of the
produces any pigments on media A and B of above compounds is used by NCIB 9496.

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296 DOUDOROFF ET AL. INT. J . SYST. BACTERIOL.

The G + C content of the DNA (by buoyant to hydrolyze gelatin. Three of these strains had
density) was found to be about 62.8 mol% for been included in our previous studies (1 8), and
strain NCIB 10465 and 66.3 mol% for NCIB one of them was used in some DNA hybridiza-
9496. Results of in vitro DNA-DNA and tion experiments (14). We had assigned strains
DNA-rRNA hybridization experiments are 93 and 407 to P. fluorescens biotype B and
shown in Table 1. Selected strains belonging to strain 205 to biotype C of the same species.
different DNA and rRNA homology groups The absence of gelatin hydrolysis was not
(1 6 ) of pseudomonads (including Xanthornonas considered to be of sufficient importance t o bar
campestris) were used in the studies. them from these assignments in view of other
Twelve strains of fluorescent pseudomonads specific and varietal characters possessed by
that we have examined conformed to our them. Nine other strains from Jessen's collec-
interpretation of the organism designated as P. tion were subsequently analyzed by us. Two of
denitrificans by Bergey et al. (2) in the these, PJ 706 and PJ 238, could best be
pigmentation, ability to denitrify, and inability classified as slightly atypical strains of P.
TABLE 1. DNA and rRNA homologies of strains NCIB 1406 and NCIB 9496 with other
Pseudomonas species

Competitiona (%)

DN A-DNA DNA-rRNA

Species, biotype, and DNA NCIB NCIB NCIB NCIB


strain no. (% G + C) 10465 9496 10465 9496

NCIB 10465 63 (1 00) 0 (100)


NCIB 9496 66 0 (100) (100)
P. aeruginosa 1 3 1 67 4 31 84 86
P. fluorescens A1 92 6Ib 20 18
A1 84 61b 36 28
B9 3 61b 0 2
B400 61 13
B413 61b 17 10
C18 61 0 0
D390' 64 6 27 88 84 1
E3 8 64 0 8
P. putida A90 63 4 13
B5 3 61 0 0
P. phaseolicola 760 59b 0 0
P. cichorii 1 36 58b 0 0
P. stutzeri 220 62 0 0
P. mendocina CH120 64 9 10
P. alcaligenes 142 66 5 13
P. pseudoalcaligenes 63 63 0 0

P. cepacia 382 68 0 0 49 54
P. caryophylli b c l l 3 66 0 11
P. pseudomallei 163 69 0
P. pickettii K300 64 0 0

P. acidovorans 14 67 0 0 38
P. testosteroni 78 62 0 0

P. diminuta 501 67 0 6

P. maltophilia 67 67 0 0 50
X. campestris XC-I 68b 60 47

a DNA-DNA hybridizations were carried out with DNA from NCIB 10465 and NCIB 9496 as reference DNA
at 70.5 C and 72.2 C, respectively. DNA-rRNA hybridizations were performed at 65 C with immobilized DNA
and reference rRNA of the species listed and with competitor rRNA from strains NCIB 10465 and NCIB 9496.
DNA composition determined with related strains.
'Closely related strain 31 was used as reference in DNA-rRNA hybridizations.

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VOL. 24, 1974 REQUEST FOR AN OPINION 297
TABLE 2. Properties of some fluorescent denitrifying Pseudomonas strains that d o not
hydrolyze gelatin

Determin- PJ PJ PJ P. jluores- P. fluores- P. pu-


ation 894 107 976 9791 c e n s e cens Ba rida Ba

Levan from
sucrose
Egg Yolk
reaction
Growth with:
Trehalose
Inositol
D-Xylose
L-Arabinose
Saccharate
Sorbitol
Erythritol
Hydroxymeth-
ylglutarate
Trigonelline
Pant ot henat e
Adipate
Sebacate
Histamine
Benzylamine
Glycine
Hippura te
Creatine

a Some properties of related fluorescent Pseudomonas biotypes (typical P. jluorescens liquefy gelatin, and
biotypes B and C denitrify, whereas P. putida does not hydrolyze gelatin or denitrify). The following symbols
are used for group characterization: + or -, universally or almost universally positive and negative characters of
the group; (+) or (-), generally but not universally positive and negative for the group; V, variable characters
that may or may not be useful in recognizing strain affinities.

fluorescens biotype C . Their placement in this discussed above are listed in Table 2, together
group was supported by their ability to utilize with the corresponding properties of P. j7uores-
higher decarboxylic acids (e.g., adipate, seba- cens biotypes B and C and of P. putida biotype
cate), which are used by many strains of this B, which is the most closely related P. putida
biotype but by almost no fluorescent pseudo- biotype.
monads other than P. aeruginosa. Four strains
(PJ 761, PJ 967, PJ 890, and PJ 894) had some
characteristics of both biotypes B and C of P. DISCUSSION
fluorescens. Three strains (PJ 976, PJ 944, and
PJ 979) could not be placed in any biotype The present confusion in the bacteriological
previously circumscribed by us, since they have and biochemical literature, as well as in culture
some characteristics of both P. fluorescens and collections, regarding the identity of Pseudom-
P. putida. They resemble P. fluorescens in their onas denitrificans may in part be attributed to
ability to denitrify and t o use trehalose, but the attempt by Bergey et al. to preserve
resemble P. putida in their inability to liquefy Christensen’s specific epithet in the assignment
gelatin or to use inositol and in their growth of the species to the genus Pseudomonas.
with a number of substrates rarely utilized by Bergey et al. (2) followed Christensen’s descrip-
P. fluorescens (see Table 12 of reference 18). It tion (3) of Bacillus denitrificans jluorescens, for
should be noted that strains PJ 944 and PJ 979 which the production of soluble fluorescent
were isolated from the same sample and may pigment, the ability to denitrify, and the
represent the same strain. They are the only inability to liquefy gelatin are the principal
representatives assigned by Jessen to his bio- distinguishing characters described or implied.
type 4 1. Although motility was attributed to the species
Some selected differential characteristics of by Christensen, the mode of flagellar insertion
the 12 strains of fluorescent pseudomonads was not described.

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298 DOUDOROFF ET AL. INT. J. SYST. BACTERIOL.

In the first edition of Bergey’s Manual (2), only a few strains that denitrify, produce
where the name P. denitrificans first appears, fluorescent pigment(s), and d o not hydrolyze
the genus Pseudomonas is characterized by the gelatin. Some strains of P. caryophylli do
production of green, blue, or yellowish-green, produce a greenish-yellow, soluble pigment
water-soluble pigments that diffuse into the under some conditions and in the two other
medium and by cells which, when motile, are respects conform to the description of P.
monotrichous or peritrichous. The species is denitrificans, but the pigment is not fluorescent
described as being “peritrichous (?).” In the in ultraviolet light. In any case, P. caryophylli is
second ( 1 9 2 9 , third (1930), and fourth (1934) an unlikely candidate for synonymy with P.
editions, the generic description is repeated, but denitrificans because of its apparently special-
the question mark disappears after “peri- ized habitat as a phytopathogen.
trichous” in the species description. In the fifth Of the fluorescent, denitrifying, gelatinase-
edition (1939), the generic description for the negative strains that we have encountered, some
first time specifies polar flagellation (some had already been placed in P. Jlruurescens
nonmotile species are included, as in previous biotype B and C, and most others can be
editions). P. denitrificans is described as being regarded as somewhat aberrant representatives
motile and appears in the determinative key in of the same species. Although the loss of ability
a section with other species for which the mode to hydrolyze gelatin has not been observed in
of flagellar insertion has not been reported. In our own cultures, there is no reason to believe
the sixth edition (1948), polar flagellation and that it does not occur in nature or in culture
the usual production of bluish-green or yellow- collections, and may, indeed, be the result of a
ish-green diffusible pigments are listed as single mutational event. The fact that some of
generic characters, whereas in the seventh the strains do not entirely conform to our
edition (1 957) many more colors are listed. The previous descriptions of different P. fluurescens
species description appears unchanged in the biotypes (18) cannot be used as an argument
last three editions, but in the last edition P. for creating new biotypes or species, because it
denitrificans is listed in the determinative key should be recognized that our approach to
among species for which soluble pigments are classification has been a very coarse one, with
“not produced or not reported.” an emphasis on “lumping” rather than on
In view of the changes in the generic and “splitting” taxa. No pretense is made that the
specific descriptions mentioned above, it is not species and biotypes as previously circum-
surprising that peritrichous and polarly flagel- scribed do not include a number of what may
lated, fluorescent and nonfluorescent organisms be eventually recognized as “true” bacterial
have been identified as P. denitrificans by species. The three strains PJ 976, PJ 944, and
different workers. PJ 979, the last two of which may represent
The Iwasaki strain of “P. denitrificans, ” separate isolates of the same strain, are the only
which we have examined, has peritrichous cells ones that may deserve a separate specific
and does not produce soluble pigments or epithet, but we are not prepared t o propose one
hydrolyze gelatin. According to our proposal until additional similar strains are isolated. The
for the circumscription of the genus Alcaligenes affinity of these strains to both P. fluurescens
(4), it should be regarded as a representative of and P. putida (as defined by us) may simply
an apparently unnamed species of this genus. mean that our distinction between the two
This strain differs in at least 15 characters from species was too rigidly conceived. This was
the non-denitrifying species A . faecalis (unpub- already suggested by our DNA homology and
lished data) and from the denitrifying hydrogen immunological studies, which indicate that P.
bacterium A . eutrophus. We have not compared putida biotype B may include representatives of
it with the illegitimately named A . denitrificans P. fhorescens (15). In any case, we see no
Leifson and Hugh (1 l), nor have we examined reason for resurrecting the epithet denitrificans
any strains of A . denitrificans Monias (13); for these strains, because they are no more
indeed, original strains of the latter organism identifiable with this nomen species than are
may not even be available, Our meager informa- any of the other strains studied.
tion about the Demain strain indicates that it The strains NCIB 10465 and NCIB 9496,
does not conform to Christensen’s specific neither of which produces soluble pigments, are
description of Bacillus denitrificans fluorescens. clearly members of two distinct Pseudomonas
Without knowledge of its mode of flagellation, species that have not been previously studied
we cannot say whether it belongs t o the genus by us. Although both are monotrichous and do
Pseudom o nas or A Ecaligenes, not accumulate po1y-P-hydroxybutyrate, they
In our experience with several hundred differ from each other in at least 40 phenotypic
strains of Pseudornonas, we have encountered characters, including overall DNA composition.

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VOL. 24, 1974 REQUEST FOR AN OPINION 295,
TABLE 3. Some phenotypic characters distinguishing strains N U B I0465 and N U B 9496
from other well - charac terized den itrif y ing species of Pseudo mo nasa

Species NCIB 10469 NCIB 9496

P. aeruginosa c--; e-; g-; i-; j - ; I-; p-; r- c--’ e - . i-, I-. r-
* I , ,

P. fluorescensb a+; d-; e-; i-; j-; 1-; p - a+; d-; e-; g+; i-; 1-
P. stutzeric c - - ‘ f - . h - . j - . q+
, > I , c-; f - ; g-; h-; p+; q+
P. mendocina c-.g-. j - . k - . l - . m - . o -
, , , , I I c--; k-; I-; m -
P. pseudomallei a+; b-; c-; e-; f - ; i-; j - ; a+; b-; e-; f - ; g+; i-; I-;
1-;n+; o+;p - n+; o+
P. caryophylli a+; b-; c-; i-; j-; k-; 1-; a+; b-; c-; g+; i-; k-; I-;
m-; n+;o+;p- m-; n+; o+
P. pickettii b-; c-; j - ; k-; I-; m-; n+; b-; c-; g+; k-; 1-; m-; n+;
o+;q+ o+;p+; q+
P. solanacearum b-; j - ; k-; n+; Ot; q+ b -;g+; k-; n+; o+; p+; q+
a + or - refers to positive or negative character of the strain described as compared with all or almost all
strains that we have examined and assigned t o the species listed. The differential characters are listed below
(characters g through r refer to ability to use various compounds as sole sources of carbon for aerobic growth); a,
monotrichous cells; b , accumulation of poly-P-hydroxybutyrate granules as reserve material; c, growth at 4 0 C; d ,
growth at 4 C; e , hydrolysis of gelatin; A hydrolysis of starch; g, geraniol; h , ethylene glycol; i, mannitol; j ,
glucose; k , saccharate; I, malonate; m , glycollate; n, itaconate; 0, mesaconate; p, arginine; q , betaine; r,
acetamide.
Biotypes B and C and P. chlororaphis (P. fluorescens biotype D).
Includes P. stanieri.

TABLE 4. Summary o f taxonomic status of strains designated as P. denitrificans and o f other


possible candidates for the specific assignment

Strains Description

Strains not conforming t o our interpretation


of the species description
“Iwasaki” Peritrichous cells; probably unnamed species
of Alcaligenes
“Mer ck” No pigments; may be Pseudomonas or Alcaligenes
NCIB 10465 No pigments; unnamed Pseudomonas species
NCIB 9496 No pigments; Pseudomonas species distinct from
NCIB 10465
NCIB 8376 Liquefies gelatin; P. fluorescens biotype C (1 8)
6 2 FC No denitrification; unclassified fluorescent
pseudomonad (1 8)

Strains not received as P. denitrificans


conforming to our interpretation of the
species description
9 3 ; 407 Atypical P. fluorescens biotype B (1 8)
205; PJ 706; PJ 238 Atypical P. fluorescens biotype C
P J 7 6 1 ; P J 9 6 7 ; P J 890;PJ 894 Atypical P. jluorescens near bio types B and C
PJ 976; PJ 944; PJ 979 Representative of one or two unclassified
Pseudomonas species with some characters of
P. fluorescens and of P. putida

No DNA homology was detected between the group I (16). Like P. m e n d o c i n a , both strains
two strains, but significant homology was show a slightly lower rRNA homology with the
found between each of them and several species two fluorescent species than d o the fluorescent
of the “P. fluorescens complex” (Table 1). That members of the complex. Although strains
both strains are nonfluorescent members of this NCIB 10465 and NCIB 9496 are interesting
complex was even more convincingly shown by organisms, rep resenting apparently two hit he rt o
their high rRNA homology with P. aeruginosa unnamed species, we d o not believe in assigning
and P. chlororaphis (P. fluorescens biotype D), them new specific names until more strains that
which both belong t o the rRNA homology resemble them are discovered or until a large

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300 DOUDOROFF ET AL. INT. J. SYST. BACTERIOL.

enough body of literature dealing with either of Bakteriol. Parasitenk. Infektionskr. Hyg. Abt. 2.
them has accumulated to make a specific name 11: 190-194.
worth establishing. We have, however, described 4. Davis, D. H., M. Doudoroff, R. Y. Stanier, and M.
Mandel. 1969. Proposal to reject the genus
their properties in some detail for other Hydrogenomonas: taxonomic implications. Int. J.
workers who may use them in their studies and Syst. Bacteriol. 19:375-390.
who may find other similar strains. Table 3 5. Davis, D. H., R. Y. Stanier, M. Doudoroff, and M.
gives some diagnostic, phenotypic characters Mandel. 1970. Taxonomic studies on some Gram
that may be used to distinguish them from negative polarly flagellated “hydrogen bacteria”
other denitrifying Pseudomonas species. and related species. Arch. Mikrobiol. 70: 1-1 3.
Table 4 summarizes our observations on the 6. Delwiche, C. C. 1959. Production and utilization
strains that we have studied and our opinion of of nitrous oxide by Pseudomonas denitrificans. J.
their taxonomic position. Considering the ab- Bacteriol. 77:5 5-5 9.
7. Demain, A. L., H. J. Daniels, L. Schuable, and R.
sence of a type strain of P. denitrificans and the F. White. 1968. Specificity of the stimulatory
present confusion regarding the identity of effect of betaine on the vitamin B, fermenta-
existing named strains, we propose that the tion. Nature (London) 220: 1324-1325.
specific name Pseudomonas denitrificans be 8. Iwasaki, H., and T. Mori. 1955. Studies on
abandoned as a nomen ambiguum and request denitrification. I. Nitrogen production b y a strain
that the Judicial Commission of the Interna- of denitrifying bacteria using toluene blue as a
tional Committee on Systematic Bacteriology hydrogen carrier. J. Biochem. (Tokyo) 42:375-
so rule. 380.
9. Jessen, 0. 1965. Pseudomonas acruginosa and
other green fluorescent pseudomonads. A taxo-
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS nomic study. Munksgaard, Copenhagen.
10. King, E. O., M. K. Ward, and D. E. Raney. 1954.
We thank Manley Mandel for determining the DNA Two simple media for the demonstration of
composition of some of the strains studied and J. pyocyanin and fluorescein. J. Lab. Clin. Med.
Birnbaum for testing the “Merck” strain for several 44 :30 1-000.
phenotypic characters. 11. Leifson, E., and R. Hugh. 1954. Alcaligenes
These studies were supported by Public Health denitrificans n. sp. J . Gen. Microbiol. 11:5 12-5 13.
Service grant AI-1808 from the National Institute of 12. Lysenko, 0. 1961. Pseudornonas, An attempt at a
Allergy and Infectious Diseases. general classification. J . Gen. Microbiol. 25:379-
408.
13. Monias, B. L. 1928. Classification of Bacterium
REPRINT REQUESTS alcaligenes, pyocyaneum and jluorescens. J. In-
fect. Dis. 43:330-334.
Address reprint requests to: Dr. M. Doudoroff, 14. Palleroni, N. J., R. W. Ballard, E. Ralston, and M.
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