Oxalobacter paraformigenes was originally thought to be a subgroup of Oxalobacter formigenes.[1] Based on fatty acid profile, 16S ribosomal RNA sequencing, and DNA probes specific to the oxc (oxalyl-CoA decarboxylase) gene and frc (formyl-CoA transferase), O. paraformigenes strain HOxBLS was considered a group II strain.[2][3][4][5] However, whole genome sequencing revealed that O. paraformigenes HOxBLS is a different species from O. formigenes and it was subsequently renamed.[6] The new species name paraformigenes uses the parent species formigenes and adds the Greek prefix para meaning "beside",[7] owing to that for the longest time O. paraformigenes was the only group II strain with a full genome sequence and it was used to make genetic comparisons between group I strains (now known as O. formigenes).[6]
The genome of O. paraformigenes was sequenced as part of the Human Microbiome Project and is approximately 2.5 Mb with a G+C content of approximately 52.7%.[8][9]O. paraformigenes has a slightly higher G+C content than O. formigenes and slightly more gene sequences.[1][6][10]
O. paraformigenes grows in CO2-bicarbonate buffered oxalate media and is typically cultivated in anaerobic Hungate tubes or an anaerobic chamber.[1] Oxalate is supplemented at 20 – 100 mM (depending on desired cell density) and bacteria are grown at 37 °C for 24 – 48 hours.[1][6] Anaerobic roll tubes, which are opaque agar filled Hungate tubes are used for bacterial isolation.[1]
^Allison MJ, Dawson KA, Mayberry WR, Foss JG (February 1985). "Oxalobacter formigenes gen. nov., sp. nov.: oxalate-degrading anaerobes that inhabit the gastrointestinal tract". Archives of Microbiology. 141 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1007/BF00446731. PMID3994481. S2CID10709172.
^Jensen, N.S.; Allison, M.J. (1994). "Studies on the diversity among anaerobic oxalate-degrading bacteria now in the species Oxalobacter formigenes, abstr. I-12". Abstracts of the 94th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology 1994. Washington, D.C., USA: American Society for Microbiology. p. 255.
