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The pathogenic actinobacterium Rhodococcus equi : what's in a name?
Author(s) -
VázquezBoland José A.,
Meijer Wim G.
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
molecular microbiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.857
H-Index - 247
eISSN - 1365-2958
pISSN - 0950-382X
DOI - 10.1111/mmi.14267
Subject(s) - biology , rhodococcus equi , rhodococcus , actinobacteria , plasmid , virulence , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , bacteria , gene , 16s ribosomal rna
Summary Rhodococcus equi is the only recognized animal pathogenic species within an extended genus of metabolically versatile Actinobacteria of considerable biotechnological interest. Best known as a horse pathogen, R. equi is commonly isolated from other animal species, particularly pigs and ruminants, and causes severe opportunistic infections in people. As typical in the rhodococci, R. equi niche specialization is extrachromosomally determined, via a conjugative virulence plasmid that promotes intramacrophage survival. Progress in the molecular understanding of R. equi and its recent rise as a novel paradigm of multihost adaptation has been accompanied by an unusual nomenclatural instability, with a confusing succession of names: " Prescottia equi ", " Prescotella equi ", Corynebacterium hoagii and Rhodococcus hoagii . This article reviews current advances in the genomics, biology and virulence of this pathogenic actinobacterium with a unique mechanism of plasmid‐transferable animal host tropism. It also discusses the taxonomic and nomenclatural issues around R. equi in the light of recent phylogenomic evidence that confirms its membership as a bona fide Rhodococcus .