Proteobacteria classis nov., a Name for the Phylogenetic Taxon That Includes the "Purple Bacteria and Their Relatives"

Abstract

Proteobacteria classis nov. is suggested as the name for a new higher taxon to circumscribe the a, β, γ, and δ groups that are included among the phylogenetic relatives of the purple photosynthetic bacteria and as a suitable collective name for reference to that group. The group names (alpha, etc.) remain as vernacular terms at the level of subclass pending further studies and nomenclatural proposals.