Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1961 Nomenclature of taxa of the order Actinomycetales (Schizomycetes) Erwin Francis Lessel Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Microbiology Commons Recommended Citation Lessel, Erwin Francis, "Nomenclature of taxa of the order Actinomycetales (Schizomycetes) " (1961). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 2440. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/2440 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been (J 1-3042 microfilmed exactly as received LESSEL, Jr., iJrxvin Francis, 1U3U- NOMENCLATURE OF TAXA OF THE ORUEIR AC TINO M YC E TA LE S (SCIIIZO M YC ETES). Iowa State University of Science and Technology Ph.D., 1001 Bacteriology University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mic hi g NOMENCLATURE OF TAXA OF THE ORDKR ACTINOMYCETALES (SCHIZOMYCETES) oy Erwin Francis Lessel, Jr. A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Ma-'or Subject: Bacteriology Approved: Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Head of Major Department Signature was redacted for privacy. Dean çp Graduât^|Co ;llepe Iowa State University of Science and Technology Ames, Iowa 1961 ii TABLE OF CONTENTS Page INTRODUCTION 1 APPLICATION OF NOMENCLATURAL CODES 3 SPECIAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE USE OF THE BACTERIOLOGICAL CODE 5 Publication of Names 5 Case 1: Status of names proposed in patent literature 5 Cr.se 2: Incomplete description of taxon 5 Case 3: Incomplete reference to an earlier description 7 Case 4: Subspecies names proposed in unconventional form 8 Legitimacy of Names 8 Case 5: Suprageneric names based on illegitimate generic names 9 Case 6: Suprageneric names with alternative or faulty suffixes 9 Case 7: Status of specific epithets in illegitimate combinations 11 Designation of Nomenclature! Types 12 Case 8: Failure to designate a type 12 Case 9: Designation of a type for a genus which includes the type of an earlier generic name 13 Case 10: Designation of the type of a subgenus formed by the alteration in rank of a »enus or by the division of a genus into subgenera 14 Citation of Authors 15 Case 11: Ascription of scientific names to authors who did not propose them 15 Case 12: Inconvenience of multiple-author citations 1,6 Miscellaneous 17 Case 13: Names of subspecies proposed without prior publication of the species name 17 ill Page FORMAT USED FOR ENTRIES 18 Annotations 19 Abbreviations 21a NOMENCLATURE OF TAXA OF THE ORDER ACTINOMYCETALES BUCHANAN 22 SUMMARY 206 LITERATURE CITED 207 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS 26l INTRODUCTION Systematic bacteriology treats of the classification and nomencla­ ture of the microorganisms (bacteria) included in the class Schizomycetes von Naegeli. Heretofore so little emphasis has been placed on the nomen­ clature of bacteria that recently it was stated by St. John (1958, 6-7) in a listing of plant nomenclatural indices that there are no useful publications available for the bacteria. An attempt is made herein to present the nomenclature of most of the taxa of the rather large bacterial order Actinomycetales Buchanan,.whose species have considerable signifi­ cance in the fields of antibiotic production, plant and animal pathology and soil microbiology. Much information has accumulated relative to the organisms (antino­ my ce tes) in this order ; much.of it, however, is confused and difficult . to assess as to its value. Similarly, the classification of the actino- mycetes is in need, of revision. In an attempt to supply some semblance of order to our knowledge of these organisms, studies are in progress by two groups of bacteriologists, one a Subcommittee on the Actinoznycetes sponsored by the Committee or. Bacterial Taxonomy of the American Society for Microbiology, the other a Subcommittee on Taxonomy of the Actinozny­ cetes sponsored by the International Committee en Bacteriological Nomen­ clature of the International Association of Microbiological Societies-. Among the aims of these subcommittees are: the designation and mainte­ nance of type cultures, the selection and evaluation of the criteria most useful in describing and segregating the taxa, the standardization of the techniques used to determine these criteria, and the establishment oi greater uniformity and stability in nomenclature. By emphasizing nomenclatural status, the present contribution is designed to serve as a guide (l) in the selection of the correct name of a taxon in a given position and with a given circumscription and (2) in the creation of names for new taxa of the order Actinomycetales. -3 APPLICATION OF NOMENCLATURAL CODES The classification of biological taxa is a dynamic process. It is hardly conceivable that rules governing the delimitation and relationships of these taxa can be formulated. On the other hand, the name of a taxon in a given position is governed by the rules found in one of several inter­ national codes of nomenclature. Although compliance with these rules is not mandatory, failure to accept them indicates a non-conformity, which may be ignored. The relationship of the actinomycetes to the bacteria on the one hand and to the filamentous fungi on the other hand has been much debated. The consensus, as indicated by the pertinent literature, is that the actino­ mycetes are much more closely related to the bacteria than to the fungi, Certain characteristics of the actinomycetes differentiate them from the fungi: (1) the small diameter (0.5 - l.Op. ) of hvphae or cells, (2) ab­ sence of nuclear membranes, (3) composition of the cell wall (Cummins and Harris 1958, 184), (4) phage sensitivity and (5) antibiotic sensitivity. Furthermore, a rather complete series of intergrading foiViS (the nocardiae, the mycobacteria and the corynebacteria) connects the actinomycetes with some of the bacterial taxa, but no such series connects them with the fungi, Agreement as to allocation of the actinomycetes to the bacteria or to the fungi is important, for if they are regarded as fungi, their names are governed by the International Code of Botanical Nomenclature. Article 34 of the Botanical Code states: 4 In order to be validly published, a name of a new taxon of re­ cent plants, the bacteria and algae excepted, published on or after 1 January 1935 must be accompanied by a Latin diagnosis or by reference to a previously and effectively published Latin diagnosis, Under the Botanical Code, therefore, almost all of the names of the taxa included in the order Actinomycetales would not be validly published and would be without standing in nomenclature, thus creating much confusion. No such rule for the valid publication of names exists in the Bacterio­ logical Code, and a large proportion of the names of the actinomycetes have been validly published under its rules. In the determination of the nomenclatural status of the names included in this study, the rules of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria and Viruses have been used as a guide. SPECIAL PROBLEMS ENCOUNTERED IN THE USE OF THE BACTERIOLOGICAL CODE Application of the rules of the Bacteriological Code to the names of the taxa of the order Actinomycetales occasionally led to some difficulties. In some instances interpretation of the rule was uncertain, in others no rule seemed adequately to cover the problem. Certain of the problems and the-manner in which they were treated are discussed below. Publication of Names Case 1: Status of names proposed in patent literature The practice of publishing the names of new species and subspecies of antibiotic-producing actinomycetes in patent literature raises the question whether these names are effectively published under the rules of the Bacteriological Code. Certainly there is no index or key which enables one to locate the name of an organism described in a patent. Patents issued in many countries (including the United States) consist of printed matter available to the general public or to bacteriological institutions by sale or distribution; the names of organisms included in these patents are regarded herein as effectively published (see Rule 11). Case 2; Incomplete description of taxon Determination of the validity of publication of some effectively pub­ lished names is frequently troublesome because of incomplete characteriza­ tion of the taxa. However even an incomplete characterization apparently validates the publication of the name inasmuch ?s the requirements of 6 Rule 12a of the Bacteriological Code are met. This rule str-tes that: A name of a taxonomic group (taxon) is not validly published unless it is both (1) effectively published (see Rule il) and (2) accompanied by a description of the taxon or by a refer­ ence to a previously and effectively published description of it. Confusion can readily result from the interpretation of this rule. For example Benedict et al. (1952, 591) validly published the name Streptomyces cinnamoneus when they described the organism as follows: On Bennett's agar and oatmeal agar the white aerial mycelium of young cultures gradually changes to a light cinnamon color. Globose spores are borne within the tough, leathery mycelium , and are readily wetted by water Since the growth of the culture in many of the differential media was charac­ terized by the production of a cinnamon color, we propose to name the organism Streptomyces cinnamoneus. Waksman (1957, 789) cited the name as a nomen nudum (hence not validly pub­ lished), apparently on the basis of what was regarded as an inadequate description. In numerous cases articles relating to the production of antibiotics by newly named species of Streptomyces have also led to confusion.