Proposal to restrict the genus Peptostreptococcus (Kluyver & van Niel 1936) to Peptostreptococcus anaerobius

The genus Peptostreptococcus (Kluyver & van Niel 1936) as presently constit uted is phylogenetically and phenotypically incoherent; biochemical, chemic al and molecular data indicate that the genus comprises a collection of ver y heterogeneous species. The type species Peptostreptococcus anaerobius is only distantly related to other Peptostreptococcus species and as such cann ot be considered a member of the same genus. We therefore propose that the genus Peptostreptococcus be restricted to P. anaerobius and emend the descr iption accordingly. (C) 2000 Academic Press.