A member of the delta subgroup of proteobacteria from a pyogenic liver abscess is a typical sulfate reducer of the genus Desulfovibrio

Strain PH26001/95 (ATCC 700045) was previously isolated from a pyogenic liv er abscess from a human. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed that this strain is related to members of the delta subgroup of the proteo bacteria, within a cluster of sulfate-reducing bacteria (Desulfovibrio spp. ) and non-sulfate-reducing bacteria (Bilophila wadsworthia and Lawsonia spp .). The phenotype of strain FH26001/95 was found to be typical of members o f the genus Desulfovibrio. Growth and substrate transformations were possib le at oxygen concentrations of 2 to 5% (vol/vol) but not at oxygen concentr ations of 21% (vor/vol) in air. Its isolation from an infection in a human suggests that some members of the genus Desulfovibrio can be considered opp ortunistic pathogens.