Oligella, a New Genus Including Oligella urethralis comb. nov. (Formerly Moraxella urethralis) and Oligella ureolytica sp. nov. (Formerly CDC Group IVe): Relationship to Taylorella equigenitalis and Related Taxa

Abstract

The taxonomic relationships of Moraxella urethralis, the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) group IVe, Taylorella equigenitalis, and other gram-negative bacteria were studied by deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)-DNA polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of cellular proteins, and serological, biochemical, and auxanographic analyses. A high relationship was detected between M. urethralis and the CDC group IVe strains. However, no relationship of M. urethralis and CDC group IVe with genuine Moraxella species was observed. We describe a new genus, Oligella, containing two species: Oligella urethralis (to accommodate Moraxella urethralis) and Oligella ureolytica (to accommodate CDC group IVe strains). The type species is Oligella urethralis, with type strain ATCC 17960T. The type strain of Oligella ureolytica is CDC C379 (ATCC 43534, CCUG 1465, LMG 6519). Oligella is a member of rRNA superfamily III, containing, e.g., the Pseudomonas acidovorans and Pseudomonas solanacearum complexes and Chromobacterium, Janthinobacterium, and Neisseria species. The closest relatives of Oligella species are Taylorella equigenitalis and the Alcaligenaceae family.