PHYLOGENETIC ANALYSIS OF THE GENUS CORYNEBACTERIUM BASED ON 16S RIBOSOMAL-RNA GENE-SEQUENCES

The 16S rRNA gene sequences of 30 strains representing 23 validated Co rynebacterium species and 7 currently non-valid Corynebacterium specie s were determined, These sequences were aligned with the sequences of other Corynebacterium species and related actinomycete taxa, A compara tive sequence analysis revealed that there is considerable phylogeneti c depth and internal structure in the genus Corynebacterium. Turicella otitidis and the amycolate species Corynebacterium amycolatum were lo cated at the periphery of the genus Corynebacterium., It was evident t hat the species of the genus Corynebacterium form a monophyletic assoc iation and, together with other chemotype IV and mycolic acid-containi ng taxa (including the genera Dietzia, Gordona, Mycobacterium, Nocardi a, Rhodococcus, and Tsukamurella), form a natural suprageneric group.