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Refined Systematics of the Genus Rhodococcus Based on Whole Genome Analyses

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Biology of Rhodococcus

Part of the book series: Microbiology Monographs ((MICROMONO,volume 16))

Abstract

The genus Rhodococcus has had a long and complicated taxonomic history. With the advent of 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and, subsequently, whole genome-based phylogenomic studies, the heterogeneity within the genus has become progressively more apparent and better resolved. We here review recent advances in the systematics of the genus, which currently contains more than 50 described species. Important developments include the proposed reclassifications of Rhodococcus equi and Rhodococcus kunmingensis into novel genera as Prescottella equi and Aldersonia kunmingensis, respectively. Notably, phylogenomic studies consistently resolve the genus Rhodococcus into multiple species-groups of coherent composition which thus likely merit separate genus status alongside Rhodococcus sensu stricto. In particular, a well-sampled group of plant-associated species we here define as the “Rhodococcus fascians assemblage” likely represents a novel genus.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Vartul Sangal, Amanda L. Jones & Iain C. Sutcliffe

  2. School of Natural and Environmental Science, University of Newcastle, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK

    Michael Goodfellow

  3. Department of Microbiology, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia

    Robert J. Seviour

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  1. Vartul Sangal
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  2. Michael Goodfellow
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  3. Amanda L. Jones
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  4. Robert J. Seviour
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  5. Iain C. Sutcliffe
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Correspondence to Iain C. Sutcliffe .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. INBIOP, Universidad Nacional de la Patagonia San Juan Bosco (UNPSJB) and CONICET, Comodoro Rivadavia, Chubut, Argentina

    Héctor M. Alvarez

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Sangal, V., Goodfellow, M., Jones, A.L., Seviour, R.J., Sutcliffe, I.C. (2019). Refined Systematics of the Genus Rhodococcus Based on Whole Genome Analyses. In: Alvarez, H. (eds) Biology of Rhodococcus. Microbiology Monographs, vol 16. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-11461-9_1

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