Proposing a subgenus Borreliella
In 2014, it was proposed (validly published in 2015) that the genus Borrelia be divided into two genera, with a new genus Borreliella holding species of the Lyme borreliosis group of spirochetes and the genus Borrelia retaining all other species. As borrelias are medically important bacteria and as...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2025-09-01
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| Series: | Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases |
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| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X25001001 |
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| author | Gabriele Margos Brian Stevenson Richard Birtles Alexander Gofton Emilie Talagrand-Reboul Markus Goeker Volker Fingerle |
| author_facet | Gabriele Margos Brian Stevenson Richard Birtles Alexander Gofton Emilie Talagrand-Reboul Markus Goeker Volker Fingerle |
| author_sort | Gabriele Margos |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | In 2014, it was proposed (validly published in 2015) that the genus Borrelia be divided into two genera, with a new genus Borreliella holding species of the Lyme borreliosis group of spirochetes and the genus Borrelia retaining all other species. As borrelias are medically important bacteria and as concerns about this taxonomic proposal were raised, this genus split was controversial. In particular, the accuracy of the genetic signatures used to support the division of the genus has been questioned, particularly as new taxa have markedly increased the diversity of the genus in recent years. Restoration of the genus Borrelia to its original form was therefore proposed as an emendation in 2018.However, some databases adhere to the policy of using the last validly published name of a genus as the correct name and, hence, fail to recognize a reversion to a previous taxonomy and to previously validly published names (homotypic synonyms). We therefore propose to lower the genus Borreliella in rank to a subgenus. This will create a validly published name newer than the genus name Borreliella that can then be used by databases and provides a means of formally referring to the same group without implying necessary changes of species names. Applying the underused subgenus category instead of splitting an already monophyletic genus into several genera could be a preferable solution for other bacterial groups, too. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-7e389e049bfb444fafcd3a42c8f2bd6d |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1877-9603 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-09-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases |
| spelling | doaj-art-7e389e049bfb444fafcd3a42c8f2bd6d2025-08-20T03:41:43ZengElsevierTicks and Tick-Borne Diseases1877-96032025-09-0116510253610.1016/j.ttbdis.2025.102536Proposing a subgenus BorreliellaGabriele Margos0Brian Stevenson1Richard Birtles2Alexander Gofton3Emilie Talagrand-Reboul4Markus Goeker5Volker Fingerle6German National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, GermanyUniversity of Kentucky, Department of Microbiology, Immunology, and Molecular Genetics, and Department of Entomology, Lexington, USAUniversity of Salford, School of Science, Engineering and Environment, Salford, UKCSIRO Health and Biosecurity, Brisbane, AustraliaUniversity of Strasbourg, UR3073, University Hospital of Strasbourg, French National Reference Center for Borrelia, Strasbourg, FranceLeibniz Institute DSMZ – German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Inhoffenstrasse 7B, D-38124 Braunschweig, GermanyGerman National Reference Center for Borrelia, Bavarian Health and Food Safety Authority, Oberschleissheim, Germany; Corresponding author.In 2014, it was proposed (validly published in 2015) that the genus Borrelia be divided into two genera, with a new genus Borreliella holding species of the Lyme borreliosis group of spirochetes and the genus Borrelia retaining all other species. As borrelias are medically important bacteria and as concerns about this taxonomic proposal were raised, this genus split was controversial. In particular, the accuracy of the genetic signatures used to support the division of the genus has been questioned, particularly as new taxa have markedly increased the diversity of the genus in recent years. Restoration of the genus Borrelia to its original form was therefore proposed as an emendation in 2018.However, some databases adhere to the policy of using the last validly published name of a genus as the correct name and, hence, fail to recognize a reversion to a previous taxonomy and to previously validly published names (homotypic synonyms). We therefore propose to lower the genus Borreliella in rank to a subgenus. This will create a validly published name newer than the genus name Borreliella that can then be used by databases and provides a means of formally referring to the same group without implying necessary changes of species names. Applying the underused subgenus category instead of splitting an already monophyletic genus into several genera could be a preferable solution for other bacterial groups, too.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X25001001TaxonomyBorreliaBorreliellaSubgenusClassification |
| spellingShingle | Gabriele Margos Brian Stevenson Richard Birtles Alexander Gofton Emilie Talagrand-Reboul Markus Goeker Volker Fingerle Proposing a subgenus Borreliella Ticks and Tick-Borne Diseases Taxonomy Borrelia Borreliella Subgenus Classification |
| title | Proposing a subgenus Borreliella |
| title_full | Proposing a subgenus Borreliella |
| title_fullStr | Proposing a subgenus Borreliella |
| title_full_unstemmed | Proposing a subgenus Borreliella |
| title_short | Proposing a subgenus Borreliella |
| title_sort | proposing a subgenus borreliella |
| topic | Taxonomy Borrelia Borreliella Subgenus Classification |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1877959X25001001 |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT gabrielemargos proposingasubgenusborreliella AT brianstevenson proposingasubgenusborreliella AT richardbirtles proposingasubgenusborreliella AT alexandergofton proposingasubgenusborreliella AT emilietalagrandreboul proposingasubgenusborreliella AT markusgoeker proposingasubgenusborreliella AT volkerfingerle proposingasubgenusborreliella |