Proposals on the Classification of ^Microorganisms 591 



gests (17) that the latter contains a high concentration of A 

 carrageenan. Humm conchided that these bacteria form a physio- 

 logical rather than a natural group and could be designated as 

 "seavveed-gel-digesters." 



The approach used in the seventh edition of Bergey's Manual 

 of Determinative Bacteriology emphasizes the utilization of a 

 particular polysaccharide ( Table 3 ) . Thus only the species which 

 utilize alginic acid are placed in Alginomonas. In tliis genus the 

 three marine species also utilize agar. It is proposed that the 

 description of this genus should be broadened so as to include 

 the bacteria which can use other algal polysaccharides. Thus the 

 first agar-digester to be isolated Bacillus gelaiicus Gran at present 

 classified as Pseiidomonas gelatica should be renamed Algino- 

 monas gelatica. 



TABLE 3 



Bacteria which Utilize Agar and Alginic Acid as 

 Listed in Bergey's Manual of Determinative Bacteriology Seventh Edition 



Order I. — Pseudomonadales Order IV. — Eubacteriales 



Suborder — Pseudomonadineae Family III- — Achromobacteraceae 



Family IV — Pseudomonadaceae Genus IV — Agarbacterium 



Genus I — Pseudomonas Family IV — Enterobacteriaceae 



Ps. gelatica Tribe I — Escherichieae 



Genus IX — Alginomonas Genus 5 — Alginobacter 



(soil and water bacteria that are Order V. — Actinomycetales 



known to dissimilate alginic acid) Family II — Actinomycetaceae 



5 species Genus 1 — Nocardia 

 Family VII — Spirillaceae 

 Genus I — Vibrio 



5 species 



In the key to the Achromobacteraceae, tlic l^acteria which 

 can attack agar and/or alginic acid are placed in the genus Agar- 

 bacterium. The description of this genus states that agar is 

 digested. The hydrolysis of alginic acid was not determined for 

 any of the species. This genus should include bacteria which can 

 use either agar or alginic acid. Thus Adams et al. (!) are justified 

 in suggesting that Agarbacterium alginicum is the appropriate 

 name for Alginomonas alginica, an organism which hydrolyzes 

 alginates and is not known to utilize agar. 



