Actinomycetales | |
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Scanning electron micrograph of Actinomyces israelii. | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | Bacteria |
Phylum: | Actinobacteria |
Class: | Actinobacteria |
Subclass: | Actinobacteridae |
Order: |
Actinomycetales Buchanan, 1917 |
Suborders/Families | |
The Actinomycetales are an order of Actinobacteria. A member of the order is often called an actinomycete. The actinomycetes are very diverse and contain a variety of subdivisions, as well as yet-unclassified isolates, mainly because some genera are very difficult to classify because of a highly niche-dependent phenotype. For example, Nocardia contains several phenotypes first believed to be distinct species before their differences were shown to be entirely dependent on their growth conditions.
Actinomycetales are Gram-positive, but several species have complex cell wall structures that make the Gram staining unsuitable (e.g. Mycobacteriaceae).