Reclassification of Bacteroides levii (Holdeman, Cato, and Moore) in the Genus Porphyromonas, as Porphyromonas levii comb. nov

The genus Bacteroides was recently redefined to include only the type species Bacteroides fragilis and closely related taxa. Most other species that were previously designated Bacteroides have been reclassified in new genera. The taxonomic position of Bacteroides levii (Holdeman, Cato, and Moore) has remained incertae sedis. On the basis of biochemical, chemical and comparative 16S rRNA sequence analyses, this species shares a high degree of similarity with members of the genus Porphyromonas. We therefore formally propose that Bacteroides levii (Holdeman, Cato, and Moore) be reclassified in the genus Porphyromonas, as Porphyromonas levii comb. nov.