Name: Flexibacter japonensis Fujita et al. 1997

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: ja.po.nen’sis. N.L. masc. adj. japonensis, pertaining to Japan

Pronunciation, gender: … ja-po-NEN-sis, masculine

Type strain: 758; CIP 105790; DSM 13484; IFO 16041; JCM 9735; NBRC 16041

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: AB078055 Analyse FASTA

Effective publication: Fujita T, Okamoto M, Kosako Y, Okuhara M. Flexibacter japonensis sp. nov., a new species that produces a novel inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase isolated from soil. Curr Microbiol 1996; 33:89-93.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Validation list no. 61. Validation of publication of new names and new combinations previously effectively published outside the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1997; 47:601-602.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

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

Correct name: Chitinophaga japonensis (Fujita et al. 1997) Kämpfer et al. 2006

Risk group: 2

• Synonyms:

  • Name	Kind
    Chitinophaga japonensis (Fujita et al. 1997) Kämpfer et al. 2006	homotypic synonym, validly published under the ICNP

• Notes:
  • ❗ Flexibacter japonensis 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 Flexibacter.
  • 😷 The risk group for Canada has been imported on 2024-02-27. The full classification is: risk group = 1, note = "Animal classification RG: 1 - Security sensitive biological agent: No - Terrestrial animal pathogen under Canadian Food Inspection Agency authority: No - Containment level: Containment Level 1". — The risk group for Swiss Confederation has been imported on 2024-02-01. The full classification is: risk group = 2. — 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 3 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 the species itself.

Parent taxon: Flexibacter Soriano 1945 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Fujita T, Okamoto M, Kosako Y, Okuhara M. Flexibacter japonensis sp. nov., a new species that produces a novel inhibitor of human leukocyte elastase isolated from soil. Curr Microbiol 1996; 33:89-93.

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Record number: 785455