Nucleic acid hybridization of group N and group D streptococci

• DOI: 10.1007/bf01568807
• Publication Date: 2005-04-27T19:45:30Z
• Authors: Renate Kilpper-Bälz; Gabriele Fischer; Karl Heinz Schleifer
• Keywords: Subspecies; Enterococcus faecalis; Homology

Streptococci of serological groups N and D were found to belong to three different 23S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) homology clusters which are not closely related to each other. One cluster includes the group N streptococci:Streptococcus lactis, S. cremoris, “S. diacetylactis”, and, in addition, two lactobacilli, “Lactobacillus hordniae” andL. xylosus. The second one is composed ofStreptococcus faecium, “S. durans”, andS. faecalis with its subspecies. All are members of serological group D. The third group includes the group D streptococciStreptococcus bovis andS. equinus together withS. thermophilus andS. salivarius. DNA-DNA hybridization studies confirm the close genetic relationship within each of the rRNA homology clusters.