Microbial Taxonomy

Charlie P. Cruz

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 Objectives
 Define classification, identification, species, genus, and
binomial nomenclature
 Properly use binomial nomenclature in the identification
of microorganisms including syntax, capitalization, and
punctuation
 Identify a microorganism’s characteristic as either
phenotypic or genotypic
 Define polyphasic taxonomy and chemotaxonomic
methods and how they are being applied to the
classification of microorganisms.
 Describe how the classification, naming, and
identification of organisms play a role in diagnostic
microbiology in the clinical setting
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 Taxonomy (1 of 2)
 Classification
 Nomenclature
 Identification of organisms

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 Taxonomy (2 of 2)
 Polyphasic
 Genotypic
• genomic sequences; epigenetic properties
 Phenotypic
• Morphologic or biochemical
• Chemotaxonomic
 Mass spectrometry (Protein studies)
 Fatty acid analysis
 Cell wall composition
 Phylogeny (evolutionary history of organisms)

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 Classification
 Taxa consist of similar morphologic, physiologic,
and genetic traits.
 Domains (Bacteria, Archaea, and Eukarya)
 Kingdom
 Phylum
• Class
 Order
– Family—Organisms have a common attribute.
• Genus—Contains different but similar species.
• Species—Is the most basic taxonomic group.

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 Family
 A family may contain multiple genera or a
specific group of bacteria with a common
attribute.
 The family name is formed by adding suffix -
aceae to the root name of one of the group’s
genera or type genus
 Type species are determined by the
International Committee for Systematics of
Prokaryotes.

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 Genus
 Genus (singular); Genera (plural)
 Contains species that are similar
 Genetic characteristics
 Phenotypic characteristics

 Because bacteria do not leave fossil records,

classification above this level is extremely
difficult.

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 Species and Subdivisions
 Species is the most basic taxonomic unit
 Collection of strains that share physiologic and
genetic features
 Subspecies may be recognized based on a consistent
minor phenotypic variation or genetic cluster of strains
in a given group
 Biotype
 May include a specific trait that is different but
insufficient to recognize as a distinct subspecies or
species
 These may be serologic (serotype) or genotypic
(genotype)
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 Binomial Nomenclature
 Nomenclature is limited to two taxa: genus and species
 First letter of the genus is capitalized and can be
abbreviated
 Streptococcus or S.
 Species name is lowercase and never abbreviated.
 pneumoniae
 Both components are italicized or underlined.
 Streptococcus pneumoniae or Streptococcus pneumoniae

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 Identification
 Microbial identification
 Is a process by which key features of a
microorganism are delineated
 An organism is classified into appropriate genus and
species

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 Methods and Criteria
 Genotypic characteristics
 Organism’s genetic makeup
 Nature of the organism’s genes and nucleic acids
 Phenotypic characteristics
 Features beyond the genetic level
 Observable characteristics
 Extensive analytic procedures that may
be required

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 Importance
 Microbiologists use phenotypic and genotypic
features to provide clinically relevant information
in a timely manner
 Identification is not always straightforward
 Clinical microbiology sometimes serves as a
sentinel for emerging causes of infectious
diseases

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