Conference paper

Publication year: 1995

Pages: 42-48

Journal: Binary: Computing in Microbiology

Volume number: 7

Issue number: 2

ISSN: 0266-304X

Conference: Workshop on the Future of Numerical Taxonomy

Publisher: BioLine

Abstract: 

At present two trends are visible in microbial taxonomy. First, technological advances, especially the refinement of moleculargenetic techniques, have opened new dimensions in microbial classification. Secondly, automation and miniaturization are integrated in almost all fields of microbiology. The identification of various groups of microorganism, for example, seems to be possible by wing commercially available test systems. However the uncritical application of automated methods without an appropriate scientific background may lead to wrong conclusions. In the study the application of miniaturized and automated tests in numerical taxonomy and numerical identification at the species level is discussed for two bacterial genera, the genus Acinetobacter and the genus Streptomyces, on the basis of two previously published studies. The results of the numercial classification and identification show, that miniaturized biochemical tests (which can be read automatically) are very useful for the differentiation of Acinetobacter genomospecies. In contrast to the genus Acinetobacter, classification of the genomically complex genus Streptomyces is based on extensive numerical taxonomic studies. To evaluate the value of miniaturized biochemical tests, 821 strains of the genus Streptomyces were physiologically characterized wing 329 biochemical tests and the numerical techniques described above. It could be shown that the phenetic data in most cases confirm the major phena obtained previously. A revised probability matrix of positive results for the phena was constructed Although the results indicate, that the identification of Streptomyces species or species groups is possible, it should not be overlooked that the taxonomy of the genus is still unsatisfactory. A polyphasic approach including data obtained from different method; is required to provide a sound basis of streptomycete taxonomy.

Harvard Citation style: Kämpfer, P. (1995) Automation and miniaturization of physiological tests - some applications in numerical taxonomy and numerical identification, Binary: Computing in Microbiology, 7(2), pp. 42-48

APA Citation style: Kämpfer, P. (1995). Automation and miniaturization of physiological tests - some applications in numerical taxonomy and numerical identification. Binary: Computing in Microbiology. 7(2), 42-48.