Species ***Streptococcus* *downei***

Name: Streptococcus downei Whiley et al. 1988

Category: Species

Proposed as: sp. nov.

Etymology: dow’ne.i. N.L. gen. masc. n. downei, of Downe, the village in Kent, United Kingdom, where the type strain was isolated

Pronunciation (Latin), gender: strep-to-KOK-kus DOW-ne-i, masculine

Type strain: ATCC 33748; CCUG 24890; CIP 103222; DSM 5635; LMG 14514; MFe28; NCTC 11391

See detailed strain information at

Conduct genome-based taxonomy at

16S rRNA gene: MK330565 Analyse FASTA

Valid publication: Whiley RA, Russell RRB, Hardie JM, Beighton D. Streptococcus downei sp. nov. for strains previously described as Streptococcus mutans serotype h. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1988; 38:25-29. 🇬🇧

Nomenclatural status: validly published under the ICNP

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

Risk group: 1

Notes:
- 😷 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 2026-08-13. 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 46 times in PubMed until 2026-06-11.
- 🪓 Organisms assigned to this species have previously been classified as Streptococcus mutans Clarke 1924 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Clarke JK. On the bacterial factor in the aetiology of dental caries. British Journal of Experimental Pathology 1924; 5:141-147. 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 the name to be applied to this species. The name is on LoRN because of the recorded risk group of the genus. This name is not taxonomically suspended any more in favour of Streptococcus mutans Clarke 1924 (Approved Lists 1980). Publication: Clarke JK. On the bacterial factor in the aetiology of dental caries. British Journal of Experimental Pathology 1924; 5:141-147. Skerman VBD, McGowan V, Sneath PHA. Approved lists of bacterial names. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1980; 30:225-420.
- 🧍 Formerly Streptococcus mutans serotype h. Publication: Clarke JK. On the bacterial factor in the aetiology of dental caries. British Journal of Experimental Pathology 1924; 5:141-147.

Parent taxon: Streptococcus Rosenbach 1884 (Approved Lists 1980)

Assigned by: Whiley RA, Russell RRB, Hardie JM, Beighton D. Streptococcus downei sp. nov. for strains previously described as Streptococcus mutans serotype h. Int. J. Syst. Bacteriol. 1988; 38:25-29. 🇬🇧

Linking: To permanently link to this page, use https://doi.org/10.83108/rn.781319Link copied to clipboard

Record number: 781319

This LPSN page was printed on 2026-09-10 06:28:37

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Species Streptococcus downei

Species ***Streptococcus* *downei***