A re-evaluation of the taxonomy of the genus Anaerovibrio, with the reclassification of Anaerovibrio glycerini as Anaerosinus glycerini gen, nov., comb, nov., and Anaerovibrio burkinabensis as Anaeroarcus burkinensis [corrig.] gen. nov., comb. nov.

Chemotaxonomic, electron microscopic and 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses of the three described species of the genus Anaerovibrio demonstrated only re mote similarities to each other. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarities be tween Anaerovibrio lipolytica, Anaerovibrio glycerini and Anaerovibrio burk inakensis and the derived phylogenetic relationships of the three species s tudied fell below genus level. All three species clustered within the Sporo musa-Pectinatus-Selenomonas phyletic group. Each species showed a distinct phospholipid pattern and whole-cell fatty acid distribution. Several isopre nologues of the lipoquinone 'lipid F' were found to differ in their quantit ative distribution in the Anaerovibrio species. On the basis of these resul ts, the new genera Anaerosinus gen. nov. and Anaeroarcus gen, nov. are prop osed. The type species of Anaerosinus is Anaerosinus glycerini comb. nov., and the type species of Anaeroarcus is Anaeroarcus burkinensis [corrig,] co mb. nov. The genus Anaerovibrio is consequently restricted to a single spec ies, namely Anaerovibrio lipolyticus [corrig.].