%0 Journal Article %A Barrett, S. J. %A Sneath, P. H. A. %T A numerical phenotypic taxonomic study of the genus Neisseria %D 1994 %J Microbiology, %V 140 %N 10 %P 2867-2891 %@ 1465-2080 %R https://doi.org/10.1099/00221287-140-10-2867 %K Neisseria %K phenotypic taxonomy %K numerical taxonomy %I Microbiology Society, %X A numerical phenotypic taxonomic study of 315 strains of Neisseriaand some allied bacteria examined for 155 phenotypic tests showed 31 groups, most of which were reasonably distinct. These fell into four major areas. Areas A, B and C contained species of Neisseria, whereas area D contained the organisms known as ‘false neisserias’ together with Branhamella, Moraxellaand Kingellaspecies. Area A contained N. gonorrhoeae(which showed two subgroups), N. meningitidis(with two subgroups, and N. cinereaclosely associated), N. polysaccharea, N. elongatasubsp. glycolyticaand N. lactamica.Area B contained mainly organisms from the human nasopharynx, and the nine groups were not very distinct: only three, N. mucosa, N. perflavaand N. siccacould be recognized by the presence of type strains, and there was little relationship between taxonomic position and species epithets. Area C contained several groups from animals, N. animalis, N. canisand two phenons that may be justified as new species of Neisseria, one from lizards and the other from dental plaque of herbivores. Area C also contained N. elongata, N. subflava(with N. flavescens), type strain of Morococcus cerebrosisand the CDC groups M-5 (N. weaveri) and EF-4. Area D contained Branhamella catarrhalis, a combined group which consists of strains of the ‘false neisserias’N. caviaeand N. cuniculi, the ‘false neisserias’ N. ovis, and a group of Moraxellastrains. A small group representing Kingella kingaeis included in area D. Mean test error was 1.7%. %U https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/micro/10.1099/00221287-140-10-2867