Pathogenicity and its implications in Taxonomy: The Brucella and Ochrobactrum Case
The intracellular pathogens of the genus Brucella are phylogenetically close to Ochrobac- trum, a diverse group of free-living bacteria with a few species occasionally infecting medically compromised patients. A group of taxonomists recently included all Ochrobactrum organisms in the genus Bruc...
Autores Principales: | Moreno, Edgardo, Blasco, José María, Letesson, Jean Jacques, Gorvel, Jean Pierre, Moriyón, Ignacio |
---|---|
Formato: | Artículo |
Idioma: | Inglés |
Publicado: |
MDPI
2023
|
Materias: | |
Acceso en línea: |
http://hdl.handle.net/11056/25850 https://doi.org/10.3390/ pathogens11030377 |
Sumario: |
The intracellular pathogens of the genus Brucella are phylogenetically close to Ochrobac-
trum, a diverse group of free-living bacteria with a few species occasionally infecting medically
compromised patients. A group of taxonomists recently included all Ochrobactrum organisms in
the genus Brucella based on global genome analyses and alleged equivalences with genera such as
Mycobacterium. Here, we demonstrate that such equivalencies are incorrect because they overlook the
complexities of pathogenicity. By summarizing Brucella and Ochrobactrum divergences in lifestyle,
structure, physiology, population, closed versus open pangenomes, genomic traits, and pathogenicity,
we show that when they are adequately understood, they are highly relevant in taxonomy and not
unidimensional quantitative characters. Thus, the Ochrobactrum and Brucella differences are not
limited to their assignments to different “risk-groups”, a biologically (and hence, taxonomically)
oversimplified description that, moreover, does not support ignoring the nomen periculosum rule, as
proposed. Since the epidemiology, prophylaxis, diagnosis, and treatment are thoroughly unrelated,
merging free-living Ochrobactrum organisms with highly pathogenic Brucella organisms brings evi-
dent risks for veterinarians, medical doctors, and public health authorities who confront brucellosis,
a significant zoonosis worldwide. Therefore, from taxonomical and practical standpoints, the Brucella
and Ochrobactrum genera must be maintained apart. Consequently, we urge researchers, culture
collections, and databases to keep their canonical nomenclature. |
---|