Adansonian classification of mycobacteria

Abstract

The physiological properties of 229 strains of mycobacteria (photochromogens, scotochromogens, non-photochromogens and rapid growers) and others already classified were analysed. According to their metabolic capacities and using the method proposed by Sneath, three branches were established. Branch I is formed by microorganisms with a high metabolic capacity and rapid rate of growth. It includes Mycobacterium smegmatis, M. phlei, M. peregrinum sp. nov. and many unnamed strains with great disparity in their char-acteristics, that were placed in a separate branch labelled "irregular". Branch II includes micro-organisms that utilize only a limited number of carbohydrates. Belonging to this branch are Mycobacterium fortuitum, M. marinum, M. piscium and M. thamnopheos. Three new species are described, two of them rapid growers, M. acapulcensis sp. nov. and M. runyonii sp. nov. and a scotochromogen, M. flavescens sp. nov. Branch III, formed by Mycobacterium kansasii (photochromogen), A. avium (non-photochromogen), M. marianum (scotochromogen) and M. gordonae sp. nov. (scotochromogen). All are slow growing microorganisms. Neotype strains of old species are proposed and holotypes of the new species are designated. A key for the identification of these species and a taxonomic tree of mycobacteria are described.