Transfer of Methanococcus frisius to the Genus Methanosarcina as Methanosarcina frisia comb. nov.

Several methanogenic bacteria that utilize methanol, acetate, or me thy lamines have been isolated from marine habitats, including Methanococcus frisius. However, the 1984 description by Mah and Kuhn of the genus Methanococcus excludes methylotrophic methanebacteria such as Methanococcus frisius. Therefore, we propose to transfer this species to the genus Methanosarcina, naming it Methanosarcina frisia comb. nov. (type strain, DSM 3318 [= ATCC 43330]). Other species having similar properties (e.g., Methanococcus halophilus) should be assignable to Methanosarcina.