Adansonian Analysis and Deoxyribonucleic Acid Base Composition ofSerratia marcescens

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Abstract
Colwell, R. R. (Georgetown University, Washington, D.C.),and M. Mandel. Adansonian analysis and deoxyribonucleic acid base composition ofSerratia marcescens. J. Bacteriol.89:454–461. 1965.—A total of 33 strains ofSerratia marcescenswere subjected to Adansonian analysis for which more than 200 coded features for each of the organisms were included. In addition, the base composition [expressed as moles per cent guanine + cytosine (G + C)] of the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) prepared from each of the strains was determined. Except for four strains which were intermediate betweenSerratiaand theHafniaandAerobactergroup C of Edwards and Ewing, theS. marcescensspecies group proved to be extremely homogeneous, and the different strains showed high affinities for each other (mean similarity, ¯S = 77%). The G + C ratio of the DNA from theSerratiastrains ranged from 56.2 to 58.4% G + C. Many species names have been listed for the genus, but only a single clustering of the strains was obtained at the species level, for which the species nameS. marcescenswas retained.S. kiliensis, S. indica, S. plymuthica, andS. marinorubracould not be distinguished fromS. marcescens;it was concluded, therefore, that there is only a single species in the genus. The variety designationkiliensisdoes not appear to be valid, since no subspecies clustering of strains with negative Voges-Proskauer reactions could be detected. The characteristics of the species are listed, and a description ofS. marcescensis presented.

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