title: 'Candidatus Rhabdochlamydia porcellionis', an intracellular bacterium from the hepatopancreas of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber (Crustacea: Isopoda).
abstract: Intracellular bacteria were observed in the hepatopancreas of the terrestrial isopod Porcellio scaber. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and electron microscopic observations were used to determine the taxonomic position of these intracellular bacteria. Phylogenetic analysis and a complex developmental cycle affiliate these bacteria to the order Chlamydiales, within which they form a distinctive lineage, close to the family Simkaniaceae. They share <92 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity with their closest relative and <88 % similarity with other members of the order Chlamydiales. A specific signature oligonucleotide sequence was identified and used as a probe, enabling the identification of intracellular bacteria in infected hepatopancreatic tissue. According to the distinctive morphology of their elementary bodies, which are rod-shaped rather than spherical and contain translucent oblong structures, their genomic properties and their crustacean host, the name 'Candidatus Rhabdochlamydia porcellionis' is proposed for intracellular bacteria in the hepatopancreas of P. scaber.
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Biological Department, Večna pot 111, 1111 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Rok
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kostanjšek
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Biological Department, Večna pot 111, 1111 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Jasna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Štrus
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Biological Department, Večna pot 111, 1111 Ljubljana, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Damjana
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Drobne
authors.affiliation: University of Ljubljana, Biotechnical Faculty, Zootechnical Department, Groblje 3, 1230 Domžale, Slovenia.
authors.forename: Gorazd
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Avguštin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001483:Base Sequence; D002693:Chlamydiaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000254:growth & development / Q000302:isolation & purification; D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D043143:Hepatopancreas / Q000382:microbiology*; D033321:Isopoda / Q000382:microbiology*; D008018:Life Cycle Stages; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015183:Restriction Mapping
chemical_list: D017931:DNA Primers; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S