ABSTRACT
Laribacter hongkongensis is a facultative anaerobic gramnegative bacillus Šrst described in 2001 as a novel genus and species.1 Based on 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequence analysis, L. hongkongensis belongs to the Neisseriaceae family of β-subclass of the Proteobacteria (Figure 64.1).2 It is most closely related to Microvirgula aerodenitriƒcans, a novel bacterium described in 1998, recovered from an up³ow denitrifying Šlter inoculated with an activated sludge. Currently, the Neisseriaceae family contains 28 genera. Other important bacterial pathogens in the Neisseriaceae family include Neisseria gonorrhoeae, Neisseria meningitidis, Chromobacterium violaceum, Eikenella corrodens, and Kingella kingae. Among these, complete genome sequences are available for N. gonorrhoeae, N. meningitidis, and C. violaceum.
