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Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 53 (2003), 1201-1205; DOI  10.1099/ijs.0.02514-0
© 2003 International Union of Microbiological Societies

Phylogenetic analysis identifies the ‘megabacterium’ of birds as a novel anamorphic ascomycetous yeast, Macrorhabdus ornithogaster gen. nov., sp. nov.

Elizabeth K. Tomaszewski1, Kathleen S. Logan2, Karen F. Snowden2, Cletus P. Kurtzman3 and David N. Phalen1,2

1 Department of Large Animal Medicine and Surgery, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
2 Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843, USA
3 Microbial Genomics and Bioprocessing Research Unit, National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research, USDA, Agricultural Research Service, Peoria, IL 61604-3999, USA

Correspondence
David N. Phalen
dphalen{at}cvm.tamu.edu

An organism commonly referred to as ‘megabacterium’ colonizes the gastric isthmus of many species of birds. It is weakly Gram-positive and periodic acid–Schiff-positive and stains with silver stains. Previous studies have shown that it has a nucleus and a cell wall similar to those seen in fungi. Calcofluor white M2R staining suggests that the cell wall contains chitin, a eukaryote-specific substance, and rRNA in situ hybridization demonstrates that it is a eukaryote. To characterize this organism phylogenetically, DNA was extracted from purified cells. rDNA was readily amplified by PCR with pan-fungal DNA primer sets and primer sets derived from the newly determined sequence, but not with bacteria-specific primer sets. Specific primer sets amplified rDNA from isthmus scrapings from an infected bird, but not from a non-infected bird or other control DNA. The sequence was confirmed to derive from the purified organism by in situ rRNA hybridization using a specific probe. Phylogenetic analysis of sequences of the 18S rDNA and domain D1/D2 of 26S rDNA showed the organism to be a previously undescribed anamorphic ascomycetous yeast representing a new genus. The name Macrorhabdus ornithogaster gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed for this organism. The type material is CBS 9251T (=NRRL Y-27487T).

Abbreviations: D1/D2, domains 1 and 2; PAS, periodic acid–Schiff; PNA, peptide nucleic acid

Published online ahead of print on 24 January 2003 as DOI 10.1099/ijs.0.02514-0.

The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession number for the partial 18S, ITS1, 5·8S, ITS2 and partial 26S rDNA sequence of Macrorhabdus ornithogaster is AF350243.






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