A complete list of the names can be downloaded from our FTP server: bactname.pdf (PDF file), bactname.exe (self-extracting file for MS-DOS systems) or names.txt (uncompressed ASCII text file). To import the list of names into a database or a spreadsheet programme, you can download bactname.zip (compressed Excel file).

"Bacterial Nomenclature up-to-date" is based on the work of Norbert Weiss, who maintained the database until his retirement in February 2003. The database is based on those names which are validly published according to the Bacteriological Code. The present database is maintained under the supervision of Dorothea Gleim and Manfred Kracht, who may be consulted on technical aspects (database resp. online access). Queries relating to nomenclature or taxonomic interpretation may be addressed to Brian J. Tindall.

Other useful information on bacterial or general nomenclature can be found at:

• J. P. Euzéby, Ecole Nationale Vétérinaire de Toulouse, France
• TOBA - Taxonomic Outline of the Bacteria and Archaea
  

New: For more than 1,100 species of the Actinobacteria very valuable additional information is available: in the manual Compendium of Actinomycetales by Joachim Wink (Sanofi-Aventis) most of the known species of the different genera are described and their colony growth is documented in pictures as well as their microstructure in scanning electron microscopy.

Introduction

The naming of bacteria is controlled by the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (Lapage et al., 1992). The correct name of a bacterial taxon is based on:

• 1. Valid publication
• 2. Legitimacy
• 3. Priority of publication

Valid publication of new names and new nomenclatural combinations can only be made by publication in the INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC BACTERIOLOGY (IJSB) / INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF SYSTEMATIC AND EVOLUTIONARY MICROCBIOLOGY (IJSEM) (from January 2000), either as an original article or in the "VALIDATION LISTS" regularly appearing in that journal. The VALIDATION LISTS constitute valid publications of new names and new combinations that were previously effectively published outside the IJSB/IJSEM.

Names not considered to be validly published should no longer be used or should be used in quotation marks (e.g."Bacillus mesentericus") to denote that the name is not validly published.

The APPROVED LISTS contain more than 2200 names at the genus level and below and 124 names of higher taxa. 131 Validation Lists have been published (January 2010). To date, the total number of validly published bacterial species names is 9875 of which about 1589 are synonyms belonging to 1883 different named genera of which about 107 are synonyms.

BACTERIAL NOMENCLATURE UP-TO-DATE is a compilation of all bacterial names which have been validly published since January 1 1980 and nomenclatural changes which have been validly published since. It will be updated with the publication of each new issue of the IJSEM.

BACTERIAL NOMENCLATURE UP-TO-DATE is published by the DSMZ-Deutsche Sammlung von Mikroorganismen und Zellkulturen GmbH. It is also available on disk and in a printed version. The DSMZ accepts no responsibility for any errors.

A more detailed overview of the mechanisms of valid publication of a name according to the Bacteriological Code can be found at: dx.doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.64780-0.