Biochemical Characterization of Serratia liquefaciens (Grimes and Hennerty) Bascomb et al. (Formerly Enterobacter liquefaciens) and Serratia rubidaea (Stapp) comb. nov. and Designation of Type and Neotype Strains

A study was made of the biochemical reactions of 109 strains of Enterobacter liquefaciens (Grimes and Hennerty) Ewing and 49 isolants resembling Bacterium rubidaeum Stapp. The results supported the recent transfer of E. liquefaciens to the genus Serratia Bizio by Bascomb et al. and indicated that Bacterium rubidaetum Stapp should also be transferred to Serratia as Serratia rubidaea (Stapp) comb. nov., the previous use of the name Serratia rubidaea by Stapp not having constituted valid publication of this name. According to proposals made, three species are recognized in the genus Serratia: S. marcescens, S. liquefaciens, and S. rubidaea. Means for differentiating the three species are provided. Strains 1284-57 (= ATCC 27592) and 2199-72 (= ATCC 27593) are proposed as the type and neotype strains, respectively, of S. liquefaciens and S. rubidaea.