Mycobacterium europaeum sp. nov., a scotochromogenic species related to the Mycobacterium simiae complex.
Four strains isolated in the last 15 years were revealed to be identical in their 16S rRNA gene sequences to MCRO19, the sequence of which was deposited in GenBank in 1995. In a polyphasic analysis including phenotypic and genotypic features, the five strains (including MCRO19), which had been isolated in four European countries, turned out to represent a unique taxonomic entity. They are scotochromogenic slow growers and are genetically related to the group that included Mycobacterium simiae and 15 other species. The novel species Mycobacterium europaeum sp. nov. is proposed to accommodate these five strains. Strain FI-95228(T) ( = DSM 45397(T)  = CCUG 58464(T)) was chosen as the type strain. In addition, a thorough revision of the phenotypic and genotypic characters of the species related to M. simiae was conducted which leads us to suggest the denomination of the 'Mycobacterium simiae complex' for this group.
Tortoli
Enrico
E
Regional Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Böttger
Erik C
EC
Institute of Medical Microbiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland.
Fabio
Anna
A
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Modena University Hospital, Modena, Italy.
Falsen
Enevold
E
Culture Collection University of Göteborg, Department of Clinical Bacteriology, Göteborg, Sweden.
Gitti
Zoe
Z
Clinical Microbiology Laboratory, Mycobacteriology Department, University Hospital of Crete, Herakleon, Greece.
Grottola
Antonella
A
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Modena University Hospital, Modena, Italy.
Klenk
Hans-Peter
HP
DSMZ, German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
Mannino
Roberta
R
Regional Reference Center for Mycobacteria, Microbiology and Virology Laboratory, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Mariottini
Alessandro
A
Cytogenetics and Genetics Unit, Careggi University Hospital, Florence, Italy.
Messinò
Massimino
M
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Modena University Hospital, Modena, Italy.
Pecorari
Monica
M
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Modena University Hospital, Modena, Italy.
Rumpianesi
Fabio
F
Laboratory of Microbiology and Virology, Modena University Hospital, Modena, Italy.
D000328:Adult; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002473:Cell Wall / Q000737:chemistry; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D005060:Europe; D005260:Female; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009164:Mycobacterium Infections / Q000382:microbiology; D009171:Mycolic Acids / Q000737:chemistry; D009170:Nontuberculous Mycobacteria / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification; D010641:Phenotype; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA
D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D009171:Mycolic Acids; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S