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Diversity within the current algal species Prototheca zopfii: a proposal for two Prototheca zopfii genotypes and description of a novel species, Prototheca blaschkeae sp. nov.

¹ Institute of Animal Hygiene and Veterinary Public Health, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, University of Leipzig, An den Tierkliniken 1, D-04103 Leipzig, Germany
² Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, D-14195 Berlin, Germany

Correspondence
Uwe Roesler
roesler{at}vetmed.uni-leipzig.de

In order to clarify the intraspecies taxonomic position of the non-photosynthetic algal species Prototheca zopfii, as well as the aetiology of bovine mammary protothecosis, a selection of P. zopfii strains isolated from clinical cases of protothecal mastitis and from various environmental habitats was characterized using a polyphasic molecular approach. Based on sequence analysis of the 18S rRNA gene, which showed distinct differences between the three currently known biotypes or ‘variants’, specific oligonucleotides were designed and used in biotype-specific PCRs. Furthermore, the pattern of cellular fatty acids was evaluated. Typing by means of these techniques revealed that the previously defined biotypes of P. zopfii were clearly different. Based on sequence analysis, the pattern of fatty acids and physiological characteristics, it is proposed that biotype 3 should be reclassified as representing a novel species, Prototheca blaschkeae sp. nov. (type strain, RZIII-3^T=SAG 2064^T). Furthermore, it is proposed that P. zopfii merits reclassification as a species comprising at least two genotypes that in future could probably be considered to represent two subspecies.

The GenBank/EMBL/DDBJ accession number for the 18S rRNA gene sequence of Prototheca blaschkeae sp. nov. SAG 2064^T is AY973041.

A figure showing aligned target sequences of specific oligonucleotides for P. zopfii genotype 1, P. zopfii genotype 2 and P. blaschkeae sp. nov. is available as supplementary material in IJSEM Online.

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