The best-known ML tree had a log likelihood of -12,054.61, whereas the best trees found under the constraint had a log likelihood of -12,209.39 and were significantly worse in the SH test as implemented http://www.selleckchem.com/products/ganetespib-sta-9090.html in RAxML [15] (p < 0.01). The best-known MP trees had a score of 2,018 whereas the best trees found under the constraint had a score of 2,076 and were significantly worse in the KH test as implemented in PAUP* [17] (p < 0.0001). Accordingly, the current classification of the group is in significant conflict with the 16S rRNA data and apparently does not reflect its natural relationships. The classification could be improved if combinations of phenotypic character states were found which characterize a set of appropriately rearranged, then monophyletic genera.

However, it might also be that the goal to ‘define’ each genus in terms of unique combinations of few, potentially arbitrarily selected character states is over-ambitious, if not misleading in this group of organisms. Apparently a taxonomic revision of the family appears to be necessary which focuses more strongly on the genealogy of the organisms than previous treatments. Cells of strain FlGlyRT are Gram-positive, spore forming and slightly curved rods of 2.5-3.5 by 0.5 ��m in size [3] (Figure 2). Though the organism is reported to be non-motile, numerous genes associated with flagellar motility are present in the genome (see below). Growth occurs between 15��C and 37��C with an optimum at 28��C, and in a pH range of 6.7 to 8.3, with an optimum at pH 7.3 [3] (Table 1).

The reported habitat for this strain is sewage sludge and anoxic freshwater sediments [3]. Initial isolation condition was from defined co-cultures of fermenting bacteria with homoacetogenic or methanogenic bacteria which converted glycolate completely to CO2 and H2, with concomitant reduction of CO2 to either acetate or methane [3,8]. Later strain FlGlyRT was identified as the primary fermenting partner in these co-cultures and glyoxylate was the substrate [3]. Strain FlGlyRT grows optimally in freshwater medium although growth also occurred in brackish-water medium with 110 mM NaC1 and 5 mM MgCl [3]. Strain FlGlyRT is strictly anaerobic, growing chemotrophically in pure culture by fermentative oxidation of glyoxylate AV-951 [3]. In pure culture, glyoxylic acid is fermented to carbon dioxide, hydrogen, and glycolic acid [3]. However, in syntrophic co-culture with, e.g., Methanospirillum hungatei or Acetobacterium woodii as a partner, glycolic acid is converted to carbon dioxide and hydrogen [3].