Mobiluncus Spiegel and Roberts 1984
General information
Description and emendation
cells are anaerobic, gram variable or gram negative, curved, nonsporing, and rod shaped with tapered ends, occurring singly or in pairs with a gullwing appearance. They are motile by means of multiple subpolar flagella and possess a multilayered Gram-positive type of cell wall. Weakly (terminal pH, 5.5 to 6.5) or strongly (terminal pH, <5.5) saccharolytic. Fermentation products include succinic and acetic acids, with or without lactic acid. Growth is stimulated by rabbit serum. Growth is not stimulated by formate-fumarate. Oxidase and catalase are not produced. The described species are found in human vaginae associated with bacterial vaginosis (nonspecific vaginitis). The G+C content ranges from 49 to 52 mol% (Tm).
1: Genus description is based on [17, 39] and this study. Cells are Gram-variable or Gram-negative curved rods with tapered ends, occurring singly or in pairs with a gullwing appearance, of 1-5 by 0.4-0.6 μm. Cells are motile by means of multiple subpolar flagella (exact number of flagella has yet to be determined, but is thought to be between one and eight) and possess a multi-layered Gram-positive cell-wall type. Endospores are not formed. Grow at 35 and 42°C but not at 45°C. Growth is stimulated by horse or rabbit serum and by whole blood. Growth is not stimulated by formate/fumarate. Anaerobic, growing best in an enriched CO2 atmosphere. Some strains become micro-aerotolerant after several passages, being able to grow in a partially reduced atmosphere containing 5% O2. Slow growth on solid agar media. After 3 days anaerobic incubation at 37°C, colonies on peptone/ yeast extract/glucose/sheep blood or Columbia agar with human blood are white to grey, and pin-point to 1 mm in diameter. After 5 days, the colonies are larger, 1-2.5 mm in diameter and grey-white or slightly yellowish. Weakly (terminal pH 5.5-6.5) or strongly (terminal pH <5.5) saccharolytic. Fermentation products include succinic and acetic acids, with or without lactic acid. Members of the genus are negative for chymotrypsin, trypsin, catalase, oxidase, urease, α-arabinosidase, alkaline phosphatase, α-mannosidase, β-mannosidase, β-galactosidase-6-phosphate, β-glucosidase, N-acetyl-β-glucosaminidase, lipase (C14), valine arylamidase, cysteine arylamidase, pyroglutamic acid arylamidase and glutamyl glutamic acid arylamidase activity; positive for arginine arylamidase, proline arylamidase and phenylalanine arylamidase and leucine arylamidase activity. Do not produce acid from mannitol, sorbitol, lactose, D-arabitol, methyl β-D-galactopyranoside or L arabinose. Do not produce acetoin. Variable activity for alanyl phenylalanine arylamidase (weak- to strong-positive reaction). Acid phosphatase and pyrollydonyl arylamidase negative. Gelatin is not hydrolysed. Nitrate may or may not be reduced. Associated with the human vaginal flora and bacterial vaginosis. DNA G+C content is approximately 49-54 mol%.
Subdivision(s)
MID | Name | Rank | Taxon ID |
---|---|---|---|
M020202020106001 | Mobiluncus curtisii | Species | 2051 |
M020202020106002 | Mobiluncus holmesii | Species | 144178 |
M020202020106003 | Mobiluncus mulieris | Species | 2052 |