RECLASSIFICATION OF THE MEMBERS OF THE GENUS TETRATHIOBACTER GHOSH ET AL. 2005 TO THE GENUS ADVENELLA COENYE ET AL. 2005

The taxonomic position of the genera Advenella and Tetrathiobacter was examined. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed that the two genera are closely related, representing a monophyletic cluster with high sequence similarity (98.1-99.7 %) within the family Alcaligenaceae. The phenotypic characteristics of the type strains of Advenella incenata, Tetrathiobacter kashmirensis and Tetrathiobacter mimigardefordensis were re-examined using the API 20NE, API ZYM and API 50CH systems. Phylogenetic data together with similarities in phenotypic characteristics, G+C content and cellular acid composition suggest that they should be classified in the same genus. On the basis of the data presented, the two species of the genus Tetrathiobacter should be transferred to the genus Advenella, since this genus has nomenclatural priority. Therefore, Tetrathiobacter kashmirensis and Tetrathiobacter mimigardefordensis should be transferred to the genus Advenella as Advenella kashmirensis comb. nov. (type strain WT001T 5LMG 22695T 5MTCC7002T) and Advenella mimigardefordensis comb. nov. (type strain DPN7T 5DSM 17166T 5LMG 22922T). Emended descriptions of Advenella incenata and the genus Advenella are also presented.