Legionella taurinensis sp. nov., a new species antigenically similar to Legionella spiritensis

A group of 42 Legionella-like organisms reacting specifically with Legionel la spiritensis serogroup 1 antisera were collected throughout Europe by the Centre National de Reference (French National Reference Centre) for Legion ella. This group of isolates differed somewhat from L. spiritensis in terms of biochemical reactions, ubiquinone content and protein profile. The latt er two analyses revealed that one of these L. spiritensis-like isolates, Tu rin I no. 1(T), was highly related, but not identical to any of the red aut ofluorescent species of Legionella. In fact, this strain was the first of t hese particular isolates recognized to emit a red autofluorescence when exp osed to UV light. Profile analysis of randomly amplified polymorphic DNA es tablished that the red autofluorescent L. spiritensis-like isolates constit uted a homogeneous group distinct from Legionella rubrilucens and Legionell a erythra. DNA-DNA hybridization studies involving the use of S1 nuclease c onfirmed that the indicated group of isolates are a new species of Legionel la, for which the name Legionella taurinensis is proposed with strain Turin I no. 1(T) (deposited as ATCC 700508(T)) as the type strain.