PHYLOGENETIC POSITIONING OF ACETOBACTER, GLUCONOBACTER, RHODOPILA ANDACIDIPHILIUM SPECIES AS A BRANCH OF ACIDOPHILIC BACTERIA IN THE ALPHA-SUBCLASS OF PROTEOBACTERIA BASED ON 16S RIBOSOMAL DNA-SEQUENCES

16S rRNA gene (rDNA) sequences from Acetobacter europaeus, Acetobacter xylinum, Acetobacter hansenii, Acetobacter liquefaciens, Acetobacter diazotrophicus, Acetobacter aceti, Acetobacter pasteurianus and Glucon obacter oxydans were determined. Phylogenetic trees were constructed t hat reflected the distant and close relationships. All investigated sp ecies had unique 16S rDNA sequences by demonstrated high sequence simi larities (99.6 to 94.2%, corresponding to 7 to 83 base differences). T herefore, the studied species are closely related and represent togeth er with other acidophilic bacteria (Rhodopila globiformis and the Acid iphilium species) a distinct line of descent within the alpha-subclass of Proteobacteria.