Evolution and taxonomy in the genus Brucella: contemporary evolutionary status of the species Brucella abortus
Meyer, M.E.
American Journal of Veterinary Research 37(2): 203-205
1976
ISSN/ISBN: 0002-9645 PMID: 816231 Document Number: 99684
The biotypes in B. abortus were arranged according to the sequential flow in the alterations of their characteristics. This reordering of the biotypes indicated that the organism currently classified as B. abortus type 2 is the parent organism of all the biotypes in this species. However, laboratory-selected mutants from B. abortus type 2 had characteristics that were mimetic, but not duplicative, of their naturally occurring counterparts. Evidence which indicates this phenomenon is related to permeability of the cell wall is presented and discussed. The preceeding paper by this author in the same issue is "Evolution and taxonomy in the genus Brucella: concepts on the origins of the contemporary species" (pp.199-202); it discusses recent reports, largely by Russian workers, on evolution in this genus and the possible parentage of the individual species.