Name: Cytophaga xylanolytica Haack and Breznak 1993

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: xy.la.no.ly’ti.ca. Chem. neut. n. xylan, xylan, a xylose-containing heteropolysaccharide in plant cell walls; Gr. inf. v. lyein, to loosen, dissolve; N.L. fem. adj. lytica, dissolving; N.L. fem. adj. xylanolytica, xylan-dissolving

Pronunciation, gender: ksy-la-no-LY-ti-ka, feminine

Type strain: ATCC 51429; DSM 6779; XM3

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: FR733683 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Haack SK, Breznak JA. Cytophaga xylanolytica sp. nov., a xylan-degrading, anaerobic gliding bacterium. Arch. Microbiol. 1993; 159:6-15.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Validation list no. 46. Validation of publication of new names and new combinations previously effectively published outside the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1993; 43:624-625.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

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

Correct name: Breznakibacter xylanolyticus (Haack and Breznak 1993) García-López et al. 2020

Risk group: 1

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Breznakibacter xylanolyticus (Haack and Breznak 1993) García-López et al. 2020	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ❗ Cytophaga xylanolytica 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 Cytophaga.
  • 😷 The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 1, note = "Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No". — 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 2023-10-29. The full classification is: risk group = 1. — 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 4 times in PubMed until 2025-06-04.
  • 🙅 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 other species in the genus.
  • 🧍 The genome of the type strain was sequenced as part of the GEBA (Genomic Encyclopedia of Bacteria and Archaea) project. Publication: Garcia-Lopez M, Meier-Kolthoff JP, Tindall BJ, Gronow S, Woyke T, Kyrpides NC, Hahnke RL, Goker M. Analysis of 1,000 Type-Strain Genomes Improves Taxonomic Classification of Bacteroidetes. Front Microbiol 2019; 10:2083.
  • 🧍 Yarza et al. (2013) expected for accession FR733683, originating from the alleged type-strain deposit DSM 6779, an affiliation with Cytophagaceae (Sphingobacteria) but observed an affiliation with a deep branch in Bacteroidales and 80.3% similarity against Cytophaga hutchinsonii. Publication: Yarza P, Sproer C, Swiderski J, Mrotzek N, Spring S, Tindall BJ, Gronow S, Pukall R, Klenk HP, Lang E, et al. Sequencing orphan species initiative (SOS): Filling the gaps in the 16S rRNA gene sequence database for all species with validly published names. Syst Appl Microbiol 2013; 36:69-73.
  • 🧍 The 16S rRNA gene sequence of the type strain shows an unexpected affiliation with a deep branch in Bacteroidales (80.3% similarity against Cytophaga hutchinsonii). Publication: Yarza P, Sproer C, Swiderski J, Mrotzek N, Spring S, Tindall BJ, Gronow S, Pukall R, Klenk HP, Lang E, et al. Sequencing orphan species initiative (SOS): Filling the gaps in the 16S rRNA gene sequence database for all species with validly published names. Syst Appl Microbiol 2013; 36:69-73.

Parent taxon: Cytophaga Winogradsky 1929 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Haack SK, Breznak JA. Cytophaga xylanolytica sp. nov., a xylan-degrading, anaerobic gliding bacterium. Arch. Microbiol. 1993; 159:6-15.

Linking: To permanently link to this page, use https://lpsn.dsmz.de/species/cytophaga-xylanolyticaCopy to clipboardLink copied to clipboard

Record number: 775408