Proposal To Restrict the Genus Bacteroides (Castellani and Chalmers) to Bacteroides fragilis and Closely Related Species

Abstract

The genus Bacteroides (Castellani and Chalmers) as presently constituted is phenotypically and phylogenetically extremely heterogeneous. However, biochemical, chemical, and molecular biological data indicate that Bacteroides fragilis (the type species) and related species form a coherent taxonomic group. Therefore, we formally propose that the genus Bacteroides be restricted to the B. fragilis group of species, and the description of the genus is emended accordingly.