THE PHYLOGENY OF THE GENUS YERSINIA BASED ON 16S RDNA SEQUENCES

The inter- and intrageneric relationships of the genus Yersinia were i nvestigated by sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene. A stretch of ap proximately 1450 nucleotides was sequenced from representatives of ten of the eleven validly described species. Phylogenetic analysis reveal ed that yersinae form a coherent cluster within the gamma subgroup of Proteobacteria. The intrageneric relationship was characterized by fiv e sublines with Y. enterocolitica, Y. rohdei, and Y. ruckeri forming s eparate sublines each represented by a single species. A separate subl ine was formed by Y. pestis, Y pseudotuberculosis and Y. kristensenii, while Y. mollaretii, Y. intermedia, Y. bercovieri, Y. aldovae, and Y. kristensenii formed a fifth subline. The phylogenetic distinctness of the yersiniae sublines is compared to published phenotypic properties and results of DNA-DNA similarity studies.