Name: Spiroplasma platyhelix Williamson et al. 1997

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: pla.ty’he.lix. Gr. masc. n. platos, flat, broad; Gr. fem. n. helix, a coil or spiral; N.L. fem. n. platyhelix, flat coil, referring to the flattened nature of the helical filament (nominative in apposition)

Pronunciation, gender: pla-TY-he-lix, neuter

Type strain: ATCC 51748; DSM 22601; PALS-1

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: GU993266 Analyse FASTA

Valid publication: Williamson DL, Adams JR, Whitcomb RF, Tully JG, Carle P, Konai M, Bove JM, Henegar RB. Spiroplasma platyhelix sp. nov., a new mollicute with unusual morphology and genome size from the dragonfly Pachydiplax longipennis. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1997; 47:763-766.

IJSEM list: Anonymous. Notification list. Notification that new names and new combinations have appeared in volume 47, part 3 of the IJSB. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1997; 47:1275-1276.

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

Taxonomic status: correct name (and explicitly recommended for medical use)

Risk group: 1

• Notes:
  • 📧 The e-mail address of the corresponding author given in the effective publication is not functional any more.
  • 😷 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, note = "PI?". — 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 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.
  • 🧍 Yarza et al. (2013) expected for accession GU993266, originating from the alleged type-strain deposit ATCC 51748, an affiliation with Spiroplasmataceae (Entomoplasmatales) but observed an affiliation with a deep branch in Entomoplasmatales and 85.6% similarity against Spiroplasma citri. 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 Entomoplasmatales (85.6% similarity against Spiroplasma citri). 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: Spiroplasma Saglio et al. 1973 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Williamson DL, Adams JR, Whitcomb RF, Tully JG, Carle P, Konai M, Bove JM, Henegar RB. Spiroplasma platyhelix sp. nov., a new mollicute with unusual morphology and genome size from the dragonfly Pachydiplax longipennis. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1997; 47:763-766.

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Record number: 784953