Name: Spiroplasma platyhelix Williamson et al. 1997

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: 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)

Gender: 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

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.
  • 🎓 Name mentioned 4 times in PubMed until 2024-03-27.
  • 🧍 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