Taxonomic considerations of Bartonella bacilliformis based on phylogenetic and phenotypic characteristics

Abstract

The 16S-rRNA gene of Bartonella bacciliformis was amplified using the polymerase-chain reaction (PCR). The amplification product was sequenced using a linear-PCR procedure and compared with other published 16S-rRNA sequences. The results of this analysis placed B. bacilliformis in the alpha subgroup of the photeobacteria, and more specifically demonstrated its close phylogenetic relationship to Rochalimaea quintana. This relationship is supported by similarities in the size and mean base composition of the genomes of the two species, and by shared phenotypic characteristics. © 1991.