Reclassification of ‘Streptococcus pluton’ (White) in a new genus Melissococcus, as Melissococcus pluton nom. rev.; comb. nov.

‘Streptococcus pluton’ (White) differs to such an extent from the type species of Streptococcus, Strep. pyogenes (Rosenbach), that it cannot be retained in this genus. Culture, biochemical and chemical data indicate that ‘ Strep, pluton ’ is a distinct taxon worthy of generic status. A new genus, Melissococcus , is described to contain one species Melissococcus pluton (White) nom. rev.; comb. nov. The type strain is M. pluton NCDO 2443.