A Co-operative Numerical Analysis of Scotochromogenic Slowly Growing Mycobacteria

Abstract

SUMMARY: A co-operative numerical taxonomic analysis of slowly growing scotochromogenic mycobacteria of Runyon′s group II with no restrictions on numbers of characters contributed by individual participants, or on techniques employed to derive these characters, is reported. Of four scotochromogen clusters defined in this study, three were of named species (Mycobacterium flavescens, M. gordonae and M. scrofulaceum) and one, a small cluster of four strains, may represent a new species. Results from pooled data are compared to results obtained with data from individual participating laboratories. Immunologic data were treated separately and showed good correlation with the numerical analyses.