title: [Advances in classification and biodiversity of spiroplasmas--a review].
abstract: Spiroplasma spp. are helical, motile bacteria that lack cell wall and flagellum, and are enclosed within a single membrane with their genomes ranging from approximately 0.78-2.20 Mb in size, the smallest among known self-replicating prokaryotes. So they have been used as model organisms for studying movement, metabolisms and sex ratio. Currently, 34 serological groups are recognized; three of these groups encompass 15 subgroups of inter-related strains. To date, 37 species among all serogroups and subgroups have been given binomial names. Complete characterization of a new species involves numerous phenotypic and genotypic tests as outlined in the minimal standards document, including phylogenetic data and a reevaluated set of required phenotypic and genotypic tests. Spiroplasma spp. are most often found in association with insects and plants flowers, and the interactions of Spiroplasma/host can be classified as commensal, pathogenic or mutualistic. Investigation of spiroplasma resources in China and research on their biodiversity will undoubtedly improve our understanding of these important microbial resources.
authors.affiliation: Key Laboratory of Microbiological Engineering of Agricultural Environment, Ministry of Agriculture, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China. yuhans@njau.edu.cn
authors.forename: Hanshou
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Shuyuan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Kangqin
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ruan
authors.forename: Yongxuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Zhiwei
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D044822:Biodiversity; D002681:China; D035264:Flowers / Q000382:microbiology*; D007313:Insecta / Q000382:microbiology*; D010802:Phylogeny; D012703:Serotyping; D013149:Spiroplasma / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics