Chlamydiae are obligate intracellular bacteria, parasites of a variety of eukaryotes ranging from amoebae to humans. Among them, the family Parachlamydiaceae comprises endosymbionts of amoebae, mainly Acanthamoeba, currently investigated as emerging pathogens of humans and other vertebrates. 16S rDNA-based PCR culture-independent studies in environmental samples have demonstrated the presence of Chlamydiales in various types of nonmedical habitats. Here we reviewed the biology of the Parachlamydiaceae, and more particularly those studies reporting molecular evidences for their presence in the environment, with a re-analysis of the 16S rDNA phylotypes.

中文翻译：

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环境中衣原体的多样性。

衣原体是专性细胞内细菌，是从变形虫到人类的各种真核生物的寄生虫。其中，衣原体科包括变形虫的内共生体，主要是棘阿米巴，目前被研究为人类和其他脊椎动物的新兴病原体。在环境样品中基于16S rDNA的非PCR培养独立研究表明衣原体存在于各种类型的非医学生境中。在这里，我们通过对16S rDNA系统型的重新分析，回顾了衣原体生物学，尤其是那些报告了分子在环境中存在的分子证据的研究。