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Title: BACILLUS APIARIUS SP. NOV. NOM. REV.

Author
item Nakamura, Lawrence

Submitted to: International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 2/1/1996
Publication Date: N/A
Citation: N/A

Interpretive Summary: The validity of the innocuous bacterium called Bacillus apiarius has been questioned because its description has been based on the study of two strains and its distinction from a related bacterium has not been clearly established. B. apiarius has been isolated from dead honey bee larvae. It is of academic and practical interest to determine exactly how the organism should be classified. Academically, the relationship of B. apiarius to the other Bacillus species would be important to know, and practically, knowing the kinds of innocuous organisms associated would be helpful in making correct diagnosis of disease in bees. Extensive study of their genetic and biochemical characteristics showed that B. apiarius is distinctively different from other Bacillus, especially those that have been associated with honey bees. Therefore, it was proposed that B. apiarius be accepted as a legitimate and valid species.

Technical Abstract: Because the name Bacillus apiarius Katznelson 1955 was not included in the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, it has lost standing in bacterial nomenclature. The genetic homogeneity of "Bacillus apiarius" strains was assessed determining the G+C content by the buoyant density method and by measuring DNA relatedness by spectrophotometric reassociation procedures. Among 14 strains examined, the G+C content ranged from 53-54 mol%. DNA reassociation revealed the presence of two groups, each with high (60 to 100%) intragroup relatedness. One group consisted of five strains highly related to B. thiaminolyticus and the other of nine strains related to the designated type strain of "B. apiarius." The strains in the second group were not closely related genetically to the type strains of organisms frequently associated with honey bees, namely B. alvei, B. larvae, B. laterosporus, and B. pulvifaciens. The "B. apiarius" found in the second group were also phenotypically homogeneous and distinguishable from the listed known species. Based on these findings, revival of the name Bacillus apiarius is proposed. The type strain is NRRL NRS-1438.