Transfer of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila to the new genus Rhodoblastus as Rhodoblastus acidophilus gen. nov., comb. nov.

Rhodopseudomonas acidophila has unique properties among the phototrophic a-Proteobacteria and is quite distinct from the type species of Rhodopseudomonas, Rhodopseudomonas palustris. Therefore, the transfer of Rhodopseudomonas acidophila to Rhodoblastus acidophilus gen. nov., comb. nov., is proposed. This proposal is in accordance with other taxonomic reclassifications proposed previously and fully reflects the phylogenetic distance from Rhodopseudomonas palustris.