PORPHYROMONAS-MACACAE COMB-NOV, A CONSEQUENCE OF BACTEROIDES-MACACAE BEING A SENIOR SYNONYM OF PORPHYROMONAS-SALIVOSA

DNA-DNA hybridization studies were performed with members of the genus Porphyromonas. Porphyromonas salivosa NCTC 11632(T) (T = type strain) exhibited an average level of intraspecies DNA-DNA hybridization with VPB 3313 and VPB 3444 of 95% and an average level of DNA-DNA hybridization with Bacteroides macacae ATCC 33141(T) of 81%. However, while the cat strains and monkey strain which I studied exhibited sufficient hybridization to be considered members of a single species, the tight DNA hybridization clustering and phenotypic differences suggested that the biovars isolated from cats and monkeys are distinct and can be recognized by colonial and growth characteristics, lipase activity, sorbitol utilization, proteinase patterns, and whole-cell protein profiles on sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis gels. As B. macacae is a senior synonym of P. salivosa, Porphyromonas macacae comb. nov, is proposed.