Name: Alcaligenes denitrificans (ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Rüger and Tan 1983

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov., nom. rev.

Etymology: de.ni.tri’fi.cans. N.L. masc. part. adj. denitrificans, denitrifying

Pronunciation (Latin), gender: al-ka-LI-ge-nes de-ni-TRI-fi-kans, masculine

Type strain: ATCC 15173; CCUG 407; CIP 77.15; DSM 30026; IFO 15125; JCM 5490; LMG 1231; NCTC 8582

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AJ278451 Analyse FASTA

Valid publication: Rüger HJ, Tan TL. Separation of Alcaligenes denitrificans sp. nov., nom. rev. from Alcaligenes faecalis on the basis of DNA base composition, DNA homology, and nitrate reduction. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1983; 33:85-89.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: synonym (and not recommended for medical use)

Correct name: Achromobacter denitrificans (Rüger and Tan 1983 ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Coenye et al. 2003

Risk group: 2

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Achromobacter xylosoxidans subsp. denitrificans (Rüger and Tan 1983 ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Yabuuchi et al. 1998	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP, distinct rank
    Achromobacter denitrificans (Rüger and Tan 1983 ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Coenye et al. 2003	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP
    Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. denitrificans (Rüger and Tan 1983 ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Kiredjian et al. 1986	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP, distinct rank

• Notes:
  • ❗ Alcaligenes denitrificans is the correct name instead if this species is regarded as a separate species (i.e., if its nomenclatural type is not assigned to another species whose name is validly published, legitimate and not rejected and has priority) within a separate genus Alcaligenes.
  • 😷 The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 2, note = "Animal classification RG: 1 - Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No - Containment level: Containment Level 2". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — The risk group for Germany has been imported on 2026-08-13. The full classification is: risk group = 2. — If in doubt, use the risk group given in the regulations for your country and, if these are not available, use the risk group given in the catalogue of the culture collection from which you have obtained or intend to obtain the strain.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 99 times in PubMed until 2026-06-11.
  • 🪓 Organisms assigned to this species have previously been classified as Alcaligenes faecalis Castellani and Chalmers 1919 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Castellani A, Chalmers AJ. Manual of Tropical Medicine, 3rd ed. Williams Wood and Co., New York, 1919. Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.
  • 🥱 This name is on the List of Recommended Names for bacteria of medical importance (LoRN) as a synonym of the name to be applied to this species. The name is on LoRN because of the recorded risk group of the species itself. This name is not taxonomically suspended any more (but still isn't preferred) in favour of Alcaligenes faecalis Castellani and Chalmers 1919 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Castellani A, Chalmers AJ. Manual of Tropical Medicine, 3rd ed. Williams Wood and Co., New York, 1919. Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.
  • 🧍 According to Bartlett et al. (2022), this species is an established human pathogen. Publication: Bartlett A, Padfield D, Lear L, Bendall R, Vos M. A comprehensive list of bacterial pathogens infecting humans. Microbiology (Reading) 2022; 168:0. 🇬🇧
  • 🧍 Reassessed status: IJSB 46:853. Publication: Vandamme P, Heyndrickx M, Vancanneyt M, Hoste B, De Vos P, Falsen E, Kersters K, Hinz KH. Bordetella trematum sp. nov., isolated from wounds and ear infections in humans, and reassessment of Alcaligenes denitrificans Ruger and Tan 1983. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1996; 46:849-858. 🇧🇪
  • 🧍 Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. denitrificans (Rüger and Tan 1983) Kiredjian et al. 1986, and Alcaligenes xylosoxidans subsp. xylosoxidans (Yabuuchi and Yano 1981) Kiredjian et al. 1986 are distinct species. Formal nomenclatural modifications are not required as both Alcaligenes denitrificans (ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Rüger and Tan 1983, and Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (Yabuuchi and Yano 1981) Kiredjian et al. 1986 were validly published. Publication: Vandamme P, Heyndrickx M, Vancanneyt M, Hoste B, De Vos P, Falsen E, Kersters K, Hinz KH. Bordetella trematum sp. nov., isolated from wounds and ear infections in humans, and reassessment of Alcaligenes denitrificans Ruger and Tan 1983. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1996; 46:849-858. 🇧🇪

Subdivision:

Number of child taxa with a validly published and correct name: 0
Number of child taxa with a validly published name, including synonyms: 2
Total number of child taxa: 2

• Child taxa:

  • Name	Nomenclatural status	Taxonomic status
    Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. denitrificans (Rüger and Tan 1983 ex Leifson and Hugh 1954) Kersters and De Ley 1984	validly published under the ICNP	orphaned subspecies
    Alcaligenes denitrificans subsp. xylosoxydans (Yabuuchi and Yano 1981 ex Yabuuchi and Ohyama 1971) Kersters and De Ley 1984	validly published under the ICNP	synonym

Parent taxon: Alcaligenes Castellani and Chalmers 1919 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Rüger HJ, Tan TL. Separation of Alcaligenes denitrificans sp. nov., nom. rev. from Alcaligenes faecalis on the basis of DNA base composition, DNA homology, and nitrate reduction. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1983; 33:85-89.

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Record number: 773007