The genotypic and phenotypic diversity among isolates of the Lactobacillus curvatus/Lactobacillus graminis/Lactobacillus sakei group was evaluated by comparing RAPD data and results of biochemical tests, such as hydrolysis of arginine, D-lactate production, melibiose and xylose fermentation, and the presence of haem-dependent catalase. Analyses were applied to five type strains and to a collection of 165 isolates previously assigned to L. sakei or L. curvatus. Phenotypic and RAPD data were compared with each other and with previous DNA-DNA hybridization data. The phenotypic and genotypic separation between L. sakei, L. curvatus and L. graminis was clear, and new insights into the detailed structure within L. sakei and L. curvatus were obtained. Individual strains could be typed by RAPD and, after the elimination of similar or identical isolates, two sub-groups in both L. curvatus and L. sakei were defined. The presence or absence of catalase activity further distinguished the two L. curvatus sub-groups. By cloning and sequencing specific RAPD products, pairs of PCR primers were developed that can be used to specifically detect L. curvatus, L. sakei and each of the L. sakei sub-groups.

Eleven strains of a hitherto undescribed Gram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium from human sources and medical care products were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. The phenotypic properties of the bacterium were consistent with its assignment to the genus Lactobacillus but it was readily distinguished from all currently described species of this genus by its biochemical characteristics and by SDS-PAGE analysis of its cellular proteins. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the unknown bacterium was a member of rRNA group I Lactobacillus which includes Lactobacillus delbrueckii, the type species of the genus, and close relatives. Lactobacillus gasseri and Lactobacillus johnsonii were the nearest phylogenetic relatives of the unknown bacterium, but 16S rRNA sequence divergence values of > 4% clearly showed that it represents a distinct species. Based on both phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium should be classified in the genus Lactobacillus, as Lactobacillus iners sp. nov. The type strain of Lactobacillus iners is CCUG 28746T.

With reference to the first Principle of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria, which emphasizes stability of names, it is proposed that the original names Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus rattus, Streptococcus cricetus, Erwinia ananas, Eubacterium tarantellus, Lactobacillus sake, Nitrosococcus oceanus, Pseudomonas betle, Rickettsia canada and Streptomyces rangoon, all included in the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, be conserved. Request for an Opinion.

Together with 31 other incorrectly formed (i.e. as nominative nouns in apposition) specific epithets, the epithet of Streptomyces scabies was corrected to Streptomyces scabiei in Taxonomic Notes published in 1997 and 1998. A subsequent Request for an Opinion, published in 2001, to reinstate the incorrect epithets for ten of these species was denied by the Judicial Commission in 2002. In 2007, a further Request for an Opinion was submitted to the Judicial Commission which proposed the conservation of the incorrect epithet of Streptomyces 'scabies' over the corrected one, scabiei. After having stated once that the corrections made to the epithets were performed according to the correct application of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (now 'of Prokaryotes', ICNP), the Judicial Commission would lose authority and credibility if it were to follow a request to abandon even one of the now correct 32 epithets in favour of its incorrectly formed predecessor. Microbiologists who accept changes in names of genera should also accept the correction of grammatical or orthographical changes in specific epithets.