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The type and clinical strains of two recently described coagulase-negative species of the genus Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus petrasii and Staphylococcus jettensis , were compared using dnaJ, tuf, gap, hsp60 and rpoB gene sequences, DNA–DNA hybridization, ribotyping, repetitive sequence-based PCR fingerprinting and extensive biochemical characterization. Based on the results, the species description of S. petrasii has been emended and S. jettensis should be reclassified as a novel subspecies within S. petrasii for which the name Staphylococcus petrasii subsp. jettensis subsp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SEQ110T ( = LMG 26879T = CCUG 62657T = DSM 26618T = CCM 8494T).

Eight coagulase-negative, novobiocin-susceptible staphylococcal strains were isolated from human clinical specimens at two different Belgian medical facilities. All strains were non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, catalase-positive cocci. DNA G+C content, peptidoglycan type, menaquinone pattern, the presence of teichoic acid and cellular fatty acid composition were in agreement with the characteristics of species of the genusStaphylococcus. Sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and four housekeeping genes (dnaJ,tuf,gapandrpoB) demonstrated that these strains constitute a separate taxon within the genusStaphylococcus. Less than 41 % DNA–DNA hybridization with the most closely related species of the genusStaphylococcus(Staphylococcus haemolyticus,Staphylococcus hominisandStaphlococcus lugdunensis) was observed. Key biochemical characteristics that allowed these bacteria to be distinguished from their nearest phylogenetic neighbours are arginine dihydrolase positivity, ornithine decarboxylase negativity and inability to produce acid aerobically fromd-mannose, α-lactose and turanose. Acid is produced aerobically from trehalose. Based on these results, a novel species of the genusStaphylococcusis described and namedStaphylococcusjettensissp. nov. The type strain is SEQ110T( = LMG 26879T = CCUG 62657T = DSM 26618T).