Biochemical and Structural Characterization of an Unusual Group of Gram-negative, Anaerobic Rods from Human Periapical Osteitis Haapasalo, Markus and Ranta, Helena and Shah, Haroun and Ranta, Kari and Lounatmaa, Kari and Kroppenstedt, Reiner M.,, 132, 417-426 (1986), doi = https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-132-2-417, publicationName = Microbiology Society, issn = 1350-0872, abstract= Summary: The biochemical and chemotaxonomic properties of three previously undescribed strains from human dental root canal infections are presented. The strains were obligately anaerobic Gram-negative rods with fimbriae and a thick capsule-like structure. Carbohydrates were not fermented and agglutination tests were negative. The presence of α-galactosidase, α- and β-glucosidase, β-N-acetylglucosaminidase and β-galactosidase was confirmed. The strains produced acetic and succinic acids as metabolic end products. They contained a peptidoglycan structure based upon meso-diaminopimelic acid (A1γ) and lacked respiratory quinones. The cellular fatty acids were mainly straight-chain saturated and methyl-branched molecules. High interstrain DNA homology was observed and the DNA base compositions were between 56 and 59 mol % G + C. These three strains appear to comprise the nucleus of a new genus of anaerobic, Gram-negative rods from odontogenic infections., language=, type=