ABSTRACT
Forming part of the normal ³ora of all mucocutaneous surfaces, GPAC are often isolated from infections such as deep-organ abscesses, obstetric and gynecological sepsis, and intraoral infections. Previously, using phenotypic techniques, most GPAC isolates have been assigned to the genus Peptostreptococcus, family Peptostreptococcaceae, which once consisted of a large number of species (e.g., P. anaerobius, P. asaccharolyticus, P. barnesae, P. harei, P. heliotrinreducens, P. hydrogenalis, P. indolicus, P. ivorii, P. lacrimalis, P. lactolyticus, P. magnus, P. micros, P. octavius, P. prevotii, P. productus, P. tetradius, and P. vaginalis as well as the “trisimilis” group and the β GAL group).1,3-6
Following recent 16S rRNA gene sequencing analyses, it is clear that the various genera of the GPAC belong to distinct Clostridium rRNA groups.6,7 For example, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, the type species of the genus Peptostreptococcus, constitutes a member of Clostridium rRNA group XI, whereas other peptostreptococci are located in Clostridium rRNA group XIII and have been now assigned to separate genera (Anaerococcus, Finegoldia, Gallicola, Parvimonas, and Peptoniphilus).8,9 Notably, Peptostreptococcus magnus and Peptostreptococcus micros were reclassiŠed as Finegoldia magnus and Parvimonas micra, respectively8-10; Peptostreptococcus productus was transferred to the genus Ruminococcus.11 Furthermore, three new genera were created to accommodate former Peptostreptococcus spp.: Anaerococcus (an, “without”; aer, “air”; coccus, “berry”;
31.1 Introduction ..................................................................................................................................................................... 349 31.1.1 ClassiŠcation ........................................................................................................................................................ 349 31.1.2 Morphology and Biochemical Properties ............................................................................................................ 350 31.1.3 Clinical Features and Pathogenesis ..................................................................................................................... 352 31.1.4 Diagnosis ............................................................................................................................................................. 353
31.2 Methods ........................................................................................................................................................................... 354 31.2.1 Sample Preparation .............................................................................................................................................. 354 31.2.2 Detection Procedures ........................................................................................................................................... 354
31.2.2.1 Multiplex PCR for Genus-and Species-SpeciŠc IdentiŠcation ............................................................ 354 31.2.2.2 PCR-RFLP ........................................................................................................................................... 355 31.2.2.3 Real-Time PCR for Parvimonas micros ............................................................................................... 356 31.2.2.4 PCR for Peptoniphilus spp. and Peptoniphilus lacrimalis ................................................................... 357 31.2.2.5 Sequencing Analysis of 16S rRNA Gene ............................................................................................. 357
31.3 Conclusion ....................................................................................................................................................................... 358 References ................................................................................................................................................................................. 358
Anaerococcus, anaerobic coccus), Peptoniphilus (peptonum, “peptone”; philos “liking”; Peptoniphilus refers to the use of peptone as a major energy source), and Gallicola (gallus, “rooster or chicken”; cola, “inhabitant”).9,12,13 The genus Anaerococcus covers the saccharolytic, butyrate-producing species: A. hydrogenalis, A. lactolyticus, A. octavius, A. prevotii, A. tetradius, and A. vaginalis as well as A. murdochii. The genus Peptoniphilus comprises the nonsaccharolytic, butyrate-producing species: Pn. asaccharolyticus, Pn. harei, Pn. indolicus, Pn. ivorii, and Pn. lacrimalis as well as Pn. gorbachii and Pn. olsenii. The genus Gallicola contains a single species, G. barnesae.9,12,13 On the other hand, Sarcina forms a member of Clostridium rRNA group I, Coprococcus is related to Clostridium rRNA group XVI, and Ruminococcus is situated in two different rRNA lines.14
