Genus Methanococcus
Warning: In the List of Prokaryotic names with Standing in Nomenclature, an arrow (→) only indicates the sequence of valid publication of names and does not mean that the last name in the sequence must be used (see: Introduction).
Number of species, including synonyms, cited in this file: 14
Number of subspecies, including synonyms, cited in this file: 0
Classification (Warning: see also the file "Classification of prokaryotes: Introduction").
For a detailed description of this taxon see Bergey’s Manual of Systematics of Archaea and Bacteria (BMSAB).
Methanococcus Kluyver and van Niel 1936 emend. Barker 1936, genus. (Type genus of the order ¤ Methanococcales Balch and Wolfe 1981; type genus of the family ¤ Methanococcaceae Balch and Wolfe 1981).
Type species: ¤ Methanococcus mazei Barker 1936 (Approved Lists 1980).
Etymology: N.L. n. methanum [from French n. méth(yle) and chemical suffix -ane], methane; N.L. pref. methano-, pertaining to methane; N.L. masc. n. coccus (from Gr. masc. n. kokkos, grain, seed), coccus; N.L. masc. n. Methanococcus, methane coccus.
Approved Lists reference: SKERMAN (V.B.D.), McGOWAN (V.) and SNEATH (P.H.A.) (editors): Approved Lists of Bacterial Names. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1980, 30, 225-420 (Approved Lists of Bacterial Names in IJSEM Online - Approved Lists of Bacterial Names Amended edition).
Original publication: 1 KLUYVER (A.J.) and Van NIEL (C.B.): Prospects for a natural system of classification of bacteria. Zentralblatt fur Bakteriologie Parasitenkunde Infektionskrankheiten und Hygiene. Abteilung II, 1936, 94, 369-403. 2 BARKER (H.A.): Studies upon the methane-producing bacteria. Archiv fur Mikrobiologie, 1936, 7, 420-438.
→ Methanococcus Kluyver and van Niel 1936 emend. Barker 1936 (Approved Lists 1980), nom. cons., emend. Mah and Kuhn 1984.
New type species: ¤ Methanococcus vannielii Stadtman and Barker 1951 (Approved Lists 1980).
Etymology: N.L. n. methanum [from French n. méth(yle) and chemical suffix -ane], methane; N.L. pref. methano-, pertaining to methane; N.L. masc. n. coccus (from Gr. masc. n. kokkos, grain, seed), coccus; N.L. masc. n. Methanococcus, methane coccus.
References:
1 MAH (R.A.) and KUHN (D.A.): Transfer of the type species of the genus Methanococcus to the genus Methanosarcina naming it Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) comb. nov. et emend. and conservation of the genus Methanococcus (Approved Lists, 1980) with Methanococcus vannielii (Approved Lists, 1980) as the type species. Request for an opinion. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1984, 34, 263-265.
Original article in IJSEM Online
2 JUDICIAL OPINION 62: Transfer of the type species of the genus Methanococcus to the genus Methanosarcina as Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) comb. nov. et emend. Mah and Kuhn 1984 and conservation of the genus Methanococcus (Approved Lists, 1980) emend. Mah and Kuhn 1984 with Methanococcus vannielii (Approved Lists, 1980) as the type species. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1986, 36, 491.
Original article in IJSEM Online
3 WAYNE (L.G.): Actions of the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology on requests for opinions published in 1983 and 1984. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1986, 36, 357-358.
Original article in IJSEM Online
Note: The species Methanococcus mazei Barker 1936 (Approved Lists 1980) is transferred to the genus Methanosarcina Kluyver and van Niel 1936 emend. Barker 1956 (Approved Lists 1980) as Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) Mah and Kuhn 1984, comb. nov.
Methanococcus aeolicus Kendall et al. 2006, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) Nankai-3 = DSM 17508 = OCM 812.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: DQ195164.
Etymology: L. masc. adj. aeolicus, Æolian, referring to the Lipari Islands near Sicily, the source of the first isolated strain.
Valid publication: KENDALL (M.M.), LIU (Y.), SIEPRAWSKA-LUPA (M.), STETTER (K.O.), WHITMAN (W.B.) and BOONE (D.R.): Methanococcus aeolicus sp. nov., a mesophilic, methanogenic archaeon from shallow and deep marine sediments. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 2006, 56, 1525-1529.
Original article in IJSEM Online
Methanococcus deltae Corder et al. 1988, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) ΔRC = ATCC 35294= DSM 2771.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: U38485.
Etymology: L. gen. n. deltae, of/from the fourth letter of the Greek alphabet, delta.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 25. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1988, 38, 220-222.
Effective publication: CORDER (R.E.), HOOK (L.A.), LARKIN (J.M.) and FREA (J.I.): Isolation and characterization of two new methane-producing cocci: Methanogenium olentangyi, sp. nov., and Methanococcus deltae, sp. nov. Arch. Microbiol., 1983, 134, 28-32.
Validation List no. 25 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
→ ¤ Methanococcus maripaludis Jones et al. 1984.
Note: According to Keswani et al. 1996, Methanococcus deltae Corder et al. 1988 is a later heterotypic synonym of Methanococcus maripaludis Jones et al. 1984.
Reference: KESWANI (J.), ORKAND (S.), PREMACHANDRAN (U.), MANDELCO (L.), FRANKLIN (M.J.) and WHITMAN (W.B.): Phylogeny and taxonomy of mesophilic Methanococcus spp. and comparison of rRNA, DNA hybridization, and phenotypic methods. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1996, 46, 727-735.
Original article in IJSEM Online
Methanococcus fervens Jeanthon et al. 1999, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) AG86 = DSM 4213 = JCM 15782.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: AF056938.
Etymology: L. masc. adj. fervens, boiling hot, glowing, burning, referring to its high growth temperature.
Valid publication: JEANTHON (C.), L'HARIDON (S.), REYSENBACH (A.L.), CORRE (E.), VERNET (M.), MESSNER (P.), SLEYTR (U.B.) and PRIEUR (D.): Methanococcus vulcanius sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic methanogen isolated from East Pacific Rise, and identification of Methanococcus sp. DSM 4213T as Methanococcus fervens sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1999, 49, 583-589.
Original article in IJSEM Online
→ ¤ Methanocaldococcus fervens (Jeanthon et al. 1999) Whitman 2002, comb. nov.
Methanococcus frisius Blotevogel et al. 1986, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) C16 = ATCC 43340= DSM 3318.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: AY196685.
Etymology: N.L. masc. adj. frisius, pertaining to Frisia, a region of the Germany.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 22. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1986, 36, 573-576.
Effective publication: BLOTEVOGEL (K.H.), FISCHER (U.) and LÜPKES (K.H.): Methanococcus frisius sp. nov., a new methylotrophic marine methanogen. Can. J. Microbiol., 1986, 32, 127-131.
Validation List no. 22 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
→ ¤ Methanosarcina frisia (Blotevogel et al. 1986) Blotevogel and Fischer 1989, comb. nov.
→ ¤ Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) Mah and Kuhn 1984, comb. nov.
Methanococcus halophilus Zhilina 1984, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) INMI Z-7982 = DSM 3094 = OCM 160.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: FN870068.
Etymology: Gr. n. hals halos, salt; N.L. masc. adj. philus (from Gr. masc. adj. philos), friend, loving; N.L. masc. adj. halophilus, salt loving.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 14. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1984, 34, 270-271.
Effective publication: ZHILINA (T.N.): A new obligate halophilic methane-producing bacterium. Mikrobiologiya, 1983, 52, 375-382.
Validation List no. 14 in IJSEM Online
→ ¤ Methanohalophilus halophilus (Zhilina 1984) Wilharm et al. 1991, comb. nov.
Methanococcus igneus Burggraf et al. 1990, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) Kol 5 = DSM 5666.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: M59125, CP002737 (complete genome).
Etymology: L. masc. adj. igneus, belonging to the fire, denoting its high growth temperature.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 35. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1990, 40, 470-471.
Effective publication: BURGGRAF (S.), FRICKE (H.), NEUNER (A.), KRISTJANSSON (J.), ROUVIER (P.), MANDELCO (L.), WOESE (C.R.) and STETTER (K.O.): Methanococcus igneus sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic methanogen from a shallow submarine hydrothermal system. Syst. Appl. Microbiol., 1990, 13, 263-269.
Validation List no. 35 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
→ ¤ Methanotorris igneus (Burggraf et al. 1990) Whitman 2002, comb. nov.
Methanococcus infernus Jeanthon et al. 1998, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) ME = DSM 11812 = JCM 15783.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: AF025822.
Etymology: L. masc. adj. infernus, of the lower regions, referring to the place of isolation, deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Valid publication: JEANTHON (C.), L'HARIDON (S.), REYSENBACH (A.L.), VERNET (M.), MESSNER (P.), SLEYTR (U.B.) and PRIEUR (D.): Methanococcus infernus sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic lithotrophic methanogen isolated from a deep-sea hydrothermal vent. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1998, 48, 913-919.
Original article in IJSEM Online
→ ¤ Methanocaldococcus infernus (Jeanthon et al. 1998) Whitman 2002, comb. nov.
Methanococcus jannaschii Jones et al. 1984, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) JAL-1 = ATCC 43067= CIP 104961 = DSM 2661 = JCM 10045 = NBRC 100440 = OCM 168.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: L77117.
Etymology: N.L. gen. masc. n. jannaschii, of Jannasch; named for the marine microbiologist H.W. Jannasch.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 16. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1984, 34, 503-504.
Effective publication: JONES (W.J.), LEIGH (J.A.), MAYER (F.), WOESE (C.R.) and WOLFE (R.S.): Methanococcus jannaschii sp. nov., an extremely thermophilic methanogen from a submarine hydrothermal vent. Arch. Microbiol., 1983, 136, 254-261.
Validation List no. 16 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
Note: The strain CIP 104961 is not available.
Reference: BIZET (C.): Personal communication (June 28, 2005).
→ ¤ Methanocaldococcus jannaschii (Jones et al. 1984) Whitman 2002, comb. nov.
Methanococcus maripaludis Jones et al. 1984, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) JJ = ATCC 43000= DSM 2067 = JCM 10722 = NBRC 101831 = OCM 175.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: U38484.
Etymology: L. n. mare, sea; L. n. palus -udis, marsh; N.L. gen. n. maripaludis, of the sea marsh.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 14. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1984, 34, 270-271.
Effective publication: JONES (W.J.), PAYNTER (M.J.B.) and GUPTA (R.): Characterization of Methanococcus maripaludis sp. nov., a new methanogen isolated from salt marsh sediment. Arch. Microbiol., 1983, 135, 91-97.
Validation List no. 14 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
Note: According to Keswani et al. 1996, Methanococcus maripaludis Jones et al. 1984 is an earlier synonym of ¤ Methanococcus deltae Corder et al. 1988.
Reference: KESWANI (J.), ORKAND (S.), PREMACHANDRAN (U.), MANDELCO (L.), FRANKLIN (M.J.) and WHITMAN (W.B.): Phylogeny and taxonomy of mesophilic Methanococcus spp. and comparison of rRNA, DNA hybridization, and phenotypic methods. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1996, 46, 727-735.
Original article in IJSEM Online
Methanococcus mazei Barker 1936, species. (Old type species of the genus).
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) not cultivated.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: not available.
Etymology: N.L. gen. n. mazeii, of Mazé, named for P. Mazé, the French bacteriologist who first studied the organism.
Approved Lists reference: SKERMAN (V.B.D.), McGOWAN (V.) and SNEATH (P.H.A.) (editors): Approved Lists of Bacterial Names. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1980, 30, 225-420 (Approved Lists of Bacterial Names in IJSEM Online - Approved Lists of Bacterial Names Amended edition).
Original publication: BARKER (H.A.): Studies upon the methane-producing bacteria. Archiv fur Mikrobiologie, 1936, 7, 420-438.
→ Methanococcus mazei Barker 1936, species. (Old type species of the genus).
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) S-6 = DSM 2053 = OCM 26 = VKM B-1636.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: AJ012095.
Etymology: N.L. gen. n. mazeii, of Mazé, named for P. Mazé, the French bacteriologist who first studied the organism.
Note: After the publication of the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names, Methanococcus mazei was available in pure culture. Upon analysis of the partial sequence of the 16S rRNA of methanogens it became apparent that the pure culture of Methanococcus mazei was related to the genus ¤ Methanosarcina Kluyver and van Niel 1936 emend. Barker 1956.
→ ¤ Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) Mah and Kuhn 1984, comb. nov.
Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus Huber et al. 1984 (complete authorship reads: Huber, Thomm and Stetter), sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) SN-1 = ATCC 35097= DSM 2095 = JCM 10549 = OCM 138.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: M59128.
Etymology: Gr. n. thermê, heat; Gr. n. lithos, stone; Gr. masc. adj. trophikos, nursing, tending; N.L. masc. adj. thermolithotrophicus, grows lithotrophically at elevated temperatures.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 14. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1984, 34, 270-271.
Effective publication: HUBER (H.), THOMM (M.), KÖNIG (H.), THIES (G.) and STETTER (K.O.): Methanococcus thermolithotrophicus, a novel thermophilic lithotrophic methanogen. Arch. Microbiol., 1982, 132, 47-50.
Validation List no. 14 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
→ ¤ Methanothermococcus thermolithotrophicus (Huber et al. 1984) Whitman 2002, comb. nov.
Methanococcus vannielii Stadtman and Barker 1951, species.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) ATCC 35089= DSM 1224 = JCM 13029 = OCM 148.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: AY196675.
Etymology: N.L. gen. masc. n. vannielii, of van Niel; named for C.B. van Niel, the bacteriologist who developed the carbon dioxide reduction theory of methane formation.
Approved Lists reference: SKERMAN (V.B.D.), McGOWAN (V.) and SNEATH (P.H.A.) (editors): Approved Lists of Bacterial Names. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1980, 30, 225-420 (Approved Lists of Bacterial Names in IJSEM Online - Approved Lists of Bacterial Names Amended edition).
Original publication: STADTMAN (T.C.) and BARKER (H.A.): Studies on the methane fermentation. A new formate-decomposing bacterium. Journal of Bacteriology, 1951, 62, 269-280.
Note: Methanococcus vannielii Stadtman and Barker 1951 (Approved Lists 1980) is the new type species of the genus Methanococcus Kluyver and van Niel 1936 emend. Barker 1936 (Approved Lists 1980) emend. Mah and Kuhn 1984.
References:
1 MAH (R.A.) and KUHN (D.A.): Transfer of the type species of the genus Methanococcus to the genus Methanosarcina naming it Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) comb. nov. et emend. and conservation of the genus Methanococcus (Approved Lists, 1980) with Methanococcus vannielii (Approved Lists, 1980) as the type species. Request for an opinion. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1984, 34, 263-265.
Original article in IJSEM Online
2 JUDICIAL OPINION 62: Transfer of the type species of the genus Methanococcus to the genus Methanosarcina as Methanosarcina mazei (Barker 1936) comb. nov. et emend. Mah and Kuhn 1984 and conservation of the genus Methanococcus (Approved Lists, 1980) emend. Mah and Kuhn 1984 with Methanococcus vannielii (Approved Lists, 1980) as the type species. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1986, 36, 491.
Original article in IJSEM Online
3 WAYNE (L.G.): Actions of the Judicial Commission of the International Committee on Systematic Bacteriology on requests for opinions published in 1983 and 1984. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1986, 36, 357-358.
Original article in IJSEM Online
Methanococcus voltae Balch and Wolfe 1981, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) PS = ATCC 33273= DSM 1537 = NBRC 100457 = OCM 70 (OGC 70).
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: U38461.
Etymology: N.L. gen. masc. n. voltae, of Volta; named for the Italian physicist A. Volta for discovery of the combustible nature of gas from anaerobic sediments.
Valid publication: Validation List no. 6. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1981, 31, 215-218.
Effective publication: BALCH (W.E.), FOX (G.E.), MAGRUM (L.J.), WOESE (C.R.) and WOLFE (R.S.): Methanogens: reevaluation of a unique biological group. Microbiol. Rev., 1979, 43, 260-296.
Validation List no. 6 in IJSEM Online - Effective publication Online
Notes:
1 On the Validation List no. 6, the type strain DSM 1537 is erroneously cited as DSM 153.
Reference: EUZÉBY (J.P.) and KUDO (T.): Corrigenda to the Validation Lists. Int. J. Syst. Evol. Microbiol., 2001, 51, 1933-1938.
Original article in IJSEM Online
2 Although the type strain ATCC 33273appears in the literature, a query of the ATCC database reveals that it is not in their holdings.
Reference: GARRITY (G.M.), BELL (J.A.) and LILBURN (T.G.). (2004) Taxonomic Outline of the Procaryotes. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Second Edition., Release 5.0., Springer-Verlag, New York. 401 pages. DOI: 10.1007/bergeysoutline200405.
→ Methanococcus voltae Balch et al. 1981 emend. Ward et al. 1989 (emended description of the type strain).
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) PS = ATCC 33273= DSM 1537 = OCM 70 (OGC 70).
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: U38461.
Etymology: N.L. gen. masc. n. voltae, of Volta; named for the Italian physicist A. Volta for discovery of the combustible nature of gas from anaerobic sediments.
Reference: WARD (J.M.), SMITH (P.H.) and BOONE (D.R.): Emended description of strain PS (= OGC 70 = ATCC 33273= DSM 1537), the type strain of Methanococcus voltae. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1989, 39, 493-494.
Original article in IJSEM Online
Note: Although the type strain ATCC 33273appears in the literature, a query of the ATCC database reveals that it is not in their holdings.
Reference: GARRITY (G.M.), BELL (J.A.) and LILBURN (T.G.). (2004) Taxonomic Outline of the Procaryotes. Bergey's Manual of Systematic Bacteriology, Second Edition., Release 5.0., Springer-Verlag, New York. 401 pages. DOI: 10.1007/bergeysoutline200405.
Methanococcus vulcanius Jeanthon et al. 1999, sp. nov.
Type strain: (see also Global Catalogue of Microorganisms) M7 = ATCC 700851= DSM 12094.
Sequence accession no. (16S rRNA gene) for the type strain: AF051404.
Etymology: L. masc. adj. vulcanius, of Vulcanus (Vulcan), the Roman fire god, and to the place of isolation, the deep-sea hydrothermal vents.
Valid publication: JEANTHON (C.), L'HARIDON (S.), REYSENBACH (A.L.), CORRE (E.), VERNET (M.), MESSNER (P.), SLEYTR (U.B.) and PRIEUR (D.): Methanococcus vulcanius sp. nov., a novel hyperthermophilic methanogen isolated from East Pacific Rise, and identification of Methanococcus sp. DSM 4213T as Methanococcus fervens sp. nov. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol., 1999, 49, 583-589.
Original article in IJSEM Online
→ ¤ Methanocaldococcus vulcanius (Jeanthon et al. 1999) Whitman 2002, comb. nov.