RECLASSIFICATION OF BACTEROIDES-LEVII (HOLDEMAN, CATO, AND MOORE) IN THE GENUS PORPHYROMONAS, AS PORPHYROMONAS-LEVII COMB-NOV

The genus Bacteroides was recently redefined to include only the type species Bacteroides fragilis and closely related taxa. Most other spec ies that were previously designated Bacteroides have been reclassified in new genera. The taxonomic position of Bacteroides levii (Holdeman, Cato, and Moore) has remained incertae sedis, On the basis of biochem ical, chemical and comparative 16S rRNA sequence analyses, this specie s shares a high degree of similarity with members of the genus Porphyr omonas. We therefore formally propose that Bacteroides levii (Holdeman , Cato, and Moore) be reclassified in the genus Porphyromonas, as Porp hyromonas levii comb, nov.