microbiology, Vol 142, 3525-3530, Copyright © 1996 by Society for General Microbiology

ARTICLES

Phylogenetic diversity of intra-amoebal legionellae as revealed by 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison

RJ Birtles, TJ Rowbotham, D Raoult and TG Harrison
Unite des Rickettsies, CNRS EP J 0054, Faculte de Medecine, Marseille, France.

Following a recent phylogenetic analysis of all 39 species of the genus Legionella and related organisms, the name Legionella lytica has been proposed for bacteria previously considered either as Sarcobium lyticum or as 'Legionella-like amoebal pathogens' (LLAPs). To investigate the phylogenetic integrity of this newly proposed species, we determined the 16S rRNA gene sequences of 10 LLAPs isolated from various environmental sources. All 10 isolates clustered within a monophyletic group containing all other members of the genus Legionella. Eight of the 10 isolates formed a monophyletic subgroup within the genus which also included the two previously characterized L. lytica strains. Four of these 10 isolates shared a specific and very close relationship with the L. lytica type strain (> 99% sequence similarity). However, although clearly legionellae, the remaining two LLAP strains bore no specific evolutionary relationship to either L. lytica or any other Legionella species (< 96% sequence similarity). Both isolates lay on their own relatively deep-rooted branches within the radiation of the Legionella cluster. LLAPs do not, therefore, represent a unique species or even a single line of descent within the genus, and investigation of more isolates may reveal them to be as evolutionarily diverse as the other presently recognized Legionella species.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				B. A. Wullings and D. van der Kooij Occurrence and Genetic Diversity of Uncultured Legionella spp. in Drinking Water Treated at Temperatures below 15{degrees}C Appl. Envir. Microbiol., January 1, 2006; 72(1): 157 - 166. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				M. Molmeret, M. Horn, M. Wagner, M. Santic, and Y. Abu Kwaik Amoebae as Training Grounds for Intracellular Bacterial Pathogens Appl. Envir. Microbiol., January 1, 2005; 71(1): 20 - 28. [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. L. Scola, R. J. Birtles, G. Greub, T. J. Harrison, R. M. Ratcliff, and D. Raoult Legionella drancourtii sp. nov., a strictly intracellular amoebal pathogen Int J Syst Evol Microbiol, May 1, 2004; 54(3): 699 - 703. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Greub and D. Raoult Microorganisms Resistant to Free-Living Amoebae Clin. Microbiol. Rev., April 1, 2004; 17(2): 413 - 433. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				L. A. Calvo-Bado, J. A. W. Morgan, M. Sergeant, T. R. Pettitt, and J. M. Whipps Molecular Characterization of Legionella Populations Present within Slow Sand Filters Used for Fungal Plant Pathogen Suppression in Horticultural Crops Appl. Envir. Microbiol., January 1, 2003; 69(1): 533 - 541. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				K. S. Ko, H. K. Lee, M.-Y. Park, K.-H. Lee, Y.-J. Yun, S.-Y. Woo, H. Miyamoto, and Y.-H. Kook Application of RNA Polymerase {beta}-Subunit Gene (rpoB) Sequences for the Molecular Differentiation of Legionella Species J. Clin. Microbiol., July 1, 2002; 40(7): 2653 - 2658. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Greub and D. Raoult Crescent Bodies of Parachlamydia acanthamoeba and Its Life Cycle within Acanthamoeba polyphaga: an Electron Micrograph Study Appl. Envir. Microbiol., June 1, 2002; 68(6): 3076 - 3084. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				B. La Scola, L. Mezi, P. J. Weiller, and D. Raoult Isolation of Legionella anisa Using an Amoebic Coculture Procedure J. Clin. Microbiol., January 1, 2001; 39(1): 365 - 366. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				M. Horn, M. Wagner, K.-D. Müller, E. N. Schmid, T. R. Fritsche, K.-H. Schleifer, and R. Michel Neochlamydia hartmannellae gen. nov., sp. nov. (Parachlamydiaceae), an endoparasite of the amoeba Hartmannella vermiformis Microbiology, May 1, 2000; 146(5): 1231 - 1239. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				A. Diogo, A. Veríssimo, M. F. Nobre, and M. S. da Costa Usefulness of Fatty Acid Composition for Differentiation of Legionella Species J. Clin. Microbiol., July 1, 1999; 37(7): 2248 - 2254. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				T. R. Fritsche, M. Horn, S. Seyedirashti, R. K. Gautom, K.-H. Schleifer, and M. Wagner In Situ Detection of Novel Bacterial Endosymbionts of Acanthamoeba spp. Phylogenetically Related to Members of the Order Rickettsiales Appl. Envir. Microbiol., January 1, 1999; 65(1): 206 - 212. [Abstract] [Full Text]

				O. S. Harb, C. Venkataraman, B. J. Haack, L.-Y. Gao, and Y. A. Kwaik Heterogeneity in the Attachment and Uptake Mechanisms of the Legionnaires' Disease Bacterium, Legionella pneumophila, by Protozoan Hosts Appl. Envir. Microbiol., January 1, 1998; 64(1): 126 - 132. [Abstract] [Full Text]