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Spiroplasma alleghenense sp. nov., a New Species from the Scorpion Fly Panorpa helena (Mecoptera: Panorpidae)

Jean R. Adams¹, Robert F. Whitcomb^2,*, Joseph G. Tully³, Edward A. Clark¹, David L. Rose^3,, Patricia Carle⁴, M. Konai^1,, Joseph M. Bove⁴, Roberta B. Henegar² and D. L. Williamson⁵

¹Insect Biocontrol Laboratory, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
²Vegetable Laboratory, U. S. Department of Agriculture, Beltsville, Maryland 20705
³Mycoplasma Section, Laboratory of Molecular Microbiology, National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, Frederick Cancer Research Facility, Frederick, Maryland 21702
⁴Laboratoire de Biologie Cellulaire et Moléculaire, Institut Nationale de Recherche Agronomique, 33883 Villenave d'Ornon Cedex, France
⁵Department of Anatomical Sciences, State University of New York, Stony Brook, New York 11794

^* Corresponding author. Mailing address: Vegetable Laboratory, Range 2, HH3, BARCW, Beltsville, MD 20705. Phone: (301) 504-8339. Fax: (301) 504-6017.

ABSTRACT

Spiroplasma strain PLHS-1^T from the gut of a common scorpion fly (Panorpa helena) collected in the West Virginia Allegheny Mountains was distinct from other spiroplasma species, groups, and subgroups as determined by reciprocal serological metabolism inhibition and deformation tests. However, when this strain was used as an antigen, it cross-reacted extensively with representatives of other groups. Light microscopy and/or electron microscopy of cells of strain PLHS-1^T revealed helical motile cells surrounded by a single cytoplasmic membrane. The strain was resistant to penicillin, which confirmed that it had no cell wall. The organism grew well in M1D and SP-4 liquid media, in 1% serum fraction medium, and in conventional horse serum medium. The optimum temperature for growth was 30°C, at which the doubling time was 6.4 h. Multiplication occurred at temperatures from 10 to 32°C. Strain PLHS-1^T catabolized glucose, hydrolyzed arginine but not urea, and required sterol for growth. The guanine-plus-cytosine content of the DNA was 31 ± 1 mol%, and the genome size was 1,465 kbp. Strain PLHS-1 (= ATCC 51752) is designated the type strain of a new species, Spiroplasma alleghenense.

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