Official journal of the ICSP
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology (IJSEM)
IJSEM is a publication of the BAM division of the IUMS and the ICSP. IJSEM, formerly International Journal Of Systematic Bacteriology (IJSB), is the official journal of record for novel prokaryotic taxa. IJSEM is published by the Microbiological Society. As of November 2017, the Editor-in-Chief is Professor Martha E. Trujillo, University of Salamanca, Spain.
Following the “ICSP Matters” section of the IJSEM is convenient for keeping up-to-date with the activities of the Committee. A listing of relevant publications is provided below.
Official publications
International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes (ICNP)
The editions of the ICNP are listed on a separate page.
Publications of the Editorial Board for the ICNP
The ICNP Editorial Board regularly announces upcoming debates and votes on proposed amendments to the ICNP. The Editorial Board also reports on the results of these votes. This may include approved changes to the current revision of the ICNP. Official publications of the Editorial Board are listed here in chronological order (most recent first).
2023
- Oren A. Emendation of Principle 8, Rules 5b, 8, 15, 33a, and Appendix 7 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes to include the categories of kingdom and domain. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2023; 73:6123.
- Oren A. Emendation of Rules 8, 15, 22, 25a, 30(3)(b), 30(4), 34a, and Appendix 7 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2023; 73:6070.
2022
2021
- Oren A, Arahal DR, Rossello-Mora R, Sutcliffe IC, Moore ERB. Emendation of General Consideration 5 and Rules 18a, 24a and 30 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes to resolve the status of the Cyanobacteria in the prokaryotic nomenclature. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71:4939.
- Oren A, Arahal DR, Rossello-Mora R, Sutcliffe IC, Moore ERB. Public discussion on a proposed revision of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71:4918.
- Oren A, Arahal DR, Rossello-Mora R, Sutcliffe IC, Moore ERB. Emendation of Rules 5b, 8, 15 and 22 of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes to include the rank of phylum. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71:4851.
- Oren A, Arahal DR, Rossello-Mora R, Sutcliffe IC, Moore ERB. Preparing a revision of the International Code of Nomenclature of Prokaryotes. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71:4598.
2020
The list of publications should be complete for the years covered. If you are aware of a missing publication, please contact the site maintainer..
Proposals to emend the ICNP
These can be produced by any party and are therefore not considered official ICSP publications, although they may be written by ICSP officials (e.g., Tindall 1999). LPSN has an equally unofficial but fairly comprehensive list of nomenclature-related publications, including proposals to amend the ICNP. These can also be found in the "ICSP Matters" section of the IJSEM.
2024 Pallen. Formation of prokaryote names from personal names. IJSEM. 74(1), doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006233
2024 Arahal et al. Best of both worlds. IJSEM. 74(1), doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006188
2023 Pallen. Use of connecting vowels after stems ending in the same vowel. IJSEM. 73(12), https://doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.006191
2023 Oren and Chuvochina. Naming genera after geographical locations. IJSEM. 73(5), doi.org/10.1099/ijsem.0.005873
Publications of the ICSP Executive Board
Members of the ICSP Executive Board may occasionally publish officially on matters of relevance to the ICSP.
2024 Arahal et al. Proposals to revise the Statutes of the ICSP. IJSEM. (in review) (Download document)
2022
- Oren A, Göker M, Hahnke RL, Moore ERB, Arahal DR, Nielsen P, On SLW, Rosselló-Móra R, Shouche Y, Sutcliffe IC. ICSP response to "Regulating access can restrict participation in reporting new species and taxa". Nat Microbiol 2022; 7:1711-1712.
- Oren A, Göker M, Sutcliffe IC. New Phylum Names Harmonize Prokaryotic Nomenclature. mBio 2022; 13:e01479-22.
- Sutcliffe IC, Arahal DR, Göker M, Oren A. ICSP response to "Science depends on nomenclature, but nomenclature is not science". Nat Rev Microbiol 2022; 20:249-250.
2021
- On SLW. Current status and future perspectives of taxonomic subcommittees of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes (ICSP). Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71:5046.
- Dijkshoorn L. Minutes of the International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes. Minutes of the miniplenary meeting, 11 July 2019, Glasgow, Scotland. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2021; 71:4706.
2020
2019
2018
- Dijkshoorn L. International Committee on Systematics of Prokaryotes. Minutes of the meetings, 7, 8 and 9 July 2017, Valencia, Spain. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:2104-2110.
- Brown DR. Notice of impending dissolution of inactive Subcommittees on Taxonomy. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2018; 68:2102-2103.
2017
2015
2013
2011
The list of publications should be complete for the years covered. If you are aware of a missing publication, please contact the site maintainer.
Publications of the Judicial Commission
The Judicial Commission mainly issues Judicial Opinions (e.g., 97-99, 100-102). These are too numerous to list here. An unofficial but comprehensive and annotated list of Judicial Opinions can be found on LPSN. Other types of publications of the Judicial Commission (except for meeting minutes) are listed here.
2023
Note that numerous other articles (e.g. Tindall 1999) have explained nomenclatural issues in the past, and that nomenclatural issues are also addressed in IJSEM Editorials, as listed below.
IJSEM Editorials
Editorials in the IJSEM address various issues of importance to the journal and its role in prokaryotic nomenclature.
2023
2022
2021
2020
- Oren A, Garrity GM. New combinations, synonymy and emendations can only be proposed based on names that were previously validly published. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:4419-4420.
- Oren A, Garrity GM. Emendation of circumscriptions of taxa in the Lists of Changes in Taxonomic Opinion. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2020; 70:2163-2164.
2019
2010
2006
The list of publications should be complete for the years covered. If you are aware of a missing publication, please contact the site maintainer. For an Editorial of historical interest, see Stackebrandt (1998).
Publications of the Subcommittees on Taxonomy
A selected list of publications of the ICSP Subcommittees on Taxonomy can be found on their page. LPSN has an unofficial but fairly complete list of meeting minutes and minimum standards published by the ICSP Subcommittees on Taxonomy.
Historical milestones
This is a list of publications that represent major steps in prokaryotic nomenclature.
1996
1995
- Sneath PH. Taxonomic note: the potential of dead bacterial specimens for systematic studies. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1995; 45:188-189.
- Murray RG, Stackebrandt E. Taxonomic note: implementation of the provisional status Candidatus for incompletely described procaryotes. Int J Syst Bacteriol 1995; 45:186-187.
1980
1951
- Editorial Board. Designation of Nomenclatural Types of Taxonomic Groups: Proposal for the Emendation of the International Bacteriological Code of Nomenclature, Preliminary Statement. International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy 1951; 1:126-131.
- Breed RS, Cowan ST. The Subcommittees of the International Committees on Bacteriological Nomenclature. International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy 1951; 1:45-46.
- Buchanan RE, Breed RS, Cowan ST. Authorization of a Committee on Bacteriological Nomenclature and of a Judicial Commission: An Amendment to the International Bacteriological Code of Nomenclature: Provisions 4 and 5. International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy 1951; 1:27-32
- Editorial Board. Foreword. International Bulletin of Bacteriological Nomenclature and Taxonomy 1951; 1:1-3.
Note that this list does not include taxonomic work, such as Wayne et al. (1987), Winslow et al. (1920) or Winslow et al. (1917).