The determination of ubiquinone profiles by reversed-phase high-performance thin-layer chromatography as an aid to the speciation of Legionellaceae

Abstract

Ubiquinones extracted from 24 strains of Legionella pneumophila (including the type strains of serogroups 1–14 and one proposed new serogroup) and from 44 strains of other Legionella species (including 28 type strains and strains of five proposed new species) were analysed by reversed-phase thin-layer chromatography. Ubiquinone profiles as determined by this method were reproducible, both qualitatively and semi-quantitatively, and provided information to aid in the identification of species of Legionella. Results of ubiquinone profiles determined by different laboratories were compared. Some quantitative differences in results between laboratories were observed, which may be due to different analytical procedures. For this reason laboratories should establish their own library of ubiquinone profiles. New information is presented on the ubiquinone profiles of seven Legionella species: L. birminghamensis, L. brunensis, L. cincinnatiensis, L. moravica, L. quinlivanii, L. tucsonensis and proposed new species no. 1347, ‘L. worsleiensis’