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Six Staphylococcus strains were isolated from healthy black bears (Ursus americanus) in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Tennessee, USA. Phylogenetic analysis based on complete genome, 16S rRNA, dnaJ, hsp60, rpoB and sodA genes, and MALDI-TOF-MS main spectral profiles revealed that the strains belonged to one species and showed the closest relatedness to members of the ‘ Staphylococcus intermedius group’ (SIG), which include Staphylococcus intermedius , Staphylococcus pseudintermedius, Staphylococcus delphini and Staphyloccoccus cornubiensis. The strains were positive in SIG-specific and negative in individual species-specific PCR assays for the nuc gene. The strains can be differentiated from the other SIG species by the absence of sucrose fermentation, from S. intermedius DSM 20373T, S. pseudintermedius CCUG 49543T and S. cornubiensis DSM 105366T by the absence of methyl β-d-glucopyranoside fermentation and from S. delphini DSM 20771T by fermentation of trehalose. DNA relatedness of the type strain MI 10-1553T with the type strains of S. delphini , S. pseudintermedius , S. intermedius and S. cornubiensis was ≤48.2 % by digital DNA–DNA hybridization and ≤92.3 % by average nucleotide identity calculations. Iso-C15:0, anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0 were the most common fatty acids. Polar lipids consisted of phosphadidylglycerols, phospholipids, glycolipid, diphosphatidylglycerol and aminophospholipid. Cell-wall peptidoglycan was of type A3α l-Lys-Gly3 (Ser; similar to A11.2 and A11.3). The respiratory quinone belonged to menaquinone 7 (MK-7). The G+C content of MI 10-1553T was 39.3 mol%. The isolated strains represent a novel species of the genus Staphylococcus , for which we propose the name Staphylococcus ursi sp. nov. The type strain is MI 10-1553T (=ATCC TSD-55T=CCOS 1900T).

A novel Gram-positive, catalase negative, rod-shaped strain, FI11369T, was isolated from gari, a traditional West African fermented food derived from cassava. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the closest type strains were Lactobacillus xiangfangensis LMG 26013T (99.4 % similarity), Lactobacillus plajomi NBRC 107333T (99.1 %), Lactobacillus paraplantarum DSM 10667T (99.1 %), Lactobacillus pentosus DSM 20314T (99.0 %), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. plantarum ATCC 14917T (99.0 %), Lactobacillus modestisalitolerans NBRC 107235T (98.9 %), Lactobacillus plantarum subsp. argentoratensis DSM 16365T (98.9 %) and Lactobacillus daowaiensis NCIMB 15183T (98.8 %). The genome of strain FI11369T was sequenced and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) was compared with its closest relatives. ANI analysis showed that the closest relative, L. xiangfangensis DSM 27103T, had only a 82.4 % similarity. The main fatty acids of FI11369T were saturated C16 : 0 (18.2 %), unsaturated C18 : 1 ω9c (43.8 %) and cyclopropane C19 : 0 cyclo (ω10c and/or ω6; 22.5 %). Based on the genotypic and phenotypic data obtained in this study, a novel Lactobacillus species, Lactobacillus garii sp. nov., with the type strain FI11369T (=NCIMB 15148=DSM 108249), is proposed.

Four bacterial strains were isolated from two different colony sources of the wax moth Galleria mellonella. They were characterized by a polyphasic approach including 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, core-genome analysis, average nucleotide identity (ANI) analysis, digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH), determination of G+C content, screening of antibiotic resistance genes, and various phenotypic analyses. Initial analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence identities indicated that strain GAL7T was potentially very closely related to Enterococcus casseliflavus and Enterococcus gallinarum , having 99.5–99.9 % sequence similarity. However, further analysis of whole genome sequences revealed a genome size of 3.69 Mb, DNA G+C content of 42.35 mol%, and low dDDH and ANI values between the genomes of strain GAL7T and closest phylogenetic relative E. casseliflavus NBRC 100478T of 59.0 and 94.5 %, respectively, indicating identification of a putative new Enterococcus species. In addition, all novel strains encoded the atypical vancomycin-resistance gene vanC-4. Results of phylogenomic, physiological and phenotypic characterization confirmed that strain GAL7T represented a novel species within the genus Enterococcus , for which the name Enterococcus innesii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GAL7T (=DSM 112306T=NCTC 14608T).

Twelve thermophilic Anoxybacillus strains were isolated from sediment and water samples from a Karvachar hot spring located in the northern part of Nagorno-Karabakh. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and phylogenetic characteristics, one of the isolates, designated strain K1T, was studied in detail. The cells are straight, motile rods that are 0.2–0.4×2.3–7.2 µm in size. The strain is a Gram-stain-positive, moderately thermophilic facultative anaerobe with an optimum growth temperature of 60–65 °C and a growth temperature range of 45–70 °C. Growth of strain K1T was observed at pH 6–11 (optimum, pH 8–9) and was inhibited in the presence of NaCl concentrations above 2.5 % (optimum, 1–1.5 %). The isolate could utilize a wide variety of carbon sources, including d-arabinose, d-ribose, d-galactose, d-fructose, d-mannitol, maltose, aesculin, melibiose, sucrose, trehalose, raffinose, amidone, glycogen, turanose, d-lyxose, d-tagatose, potassium gluconate and 2-keto-gluconate. The strain was able to hydrolyse starch, casein and gelatin, was positive for oxidase and catalase, and reduced nitrate to nitrite, but was negative for H2S production. Production of urease and indole was not observed. The major cellular fatty acids were C15 : 0 iso, C16 : 0 and C17 : 0 iso (52.5, 13.6 and 19.6 % of total fatty acids, respectively). Strain K1T shares >99 % 16S rRNA sequence similarity and a genomic average nucleotide identity value of 94.5 % with its closest relative, Anoxybacillus flavithermus DSM 2641T, suggesting that it represents a separate and novel species, for which the name Anoxybacillus karvacharensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain of Anoxybacillus karvacharensis is K1T (=DSM 106524T=KCTC 15807T).

This study describes JE7A12T (=ATCC TSD-225T=NCTC 14479T), an isolate from the ruminal content of a dairy cow. Phenotypic and genotypic traits of the isolate were explored. JE7A12T was found to be a strictly anaerobic, catalase-negative, oxidase-negative, coccoid bacterium that grows in chains. The API 50 CH carbon source assay detected fermentation of d-glucose, d-fructose, d-galactose, glycogen and starch. HPLC showed acetate to be the major fermentation product as a result of carbohydrate fermentation. Phylogenetic analysis of JE7A12T based on 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequences from the whole genome indicated a divergent lineage from the closest neighbours in the genus Ruminococcus . The results of 16S rRNA sequence comparison, whole genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) and DNA G+C content data indicate that JE7A12T represents a novel species which we propose the name Ruminococcus bovis with JE7A12T as the type strain.

Two strains, H8/1Tand H16/1AT, of Gram-stain-positive, coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated from separate healthy domestic dogs in Scotland. Both strains were genome sequenced and their inferred DNA–DNA hybridisation indicates that H8/1Tand H16/1ATrepresent two novel species of the genusStaphylococcus. On the basis of the results of genome sequence analysis (genomeblastdistance phylogeny and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis) H8/1Tis most closely related toStaphylococcus devrieseiand H16/1ATmost closely related toStaphylococcus felis. Also, average nucleotide identity distinguished H8/1Tand H16/1ATfromS. devrieseiandS. felisas did minor phenotypic differences. On the basis of these results, it is proposed that H8/1Tand H16/1ATrepresent novel species with the respective namesStaphylococcus caledonicusandStaphylococcus canis. The type strain ofS. caledonicusis H8/1T(=NCTC 14452T=CCUG 74789T). The type strain ofS. canisis H16/1AT(=NCTC 14451T=CCUG 74790T)

A mixotrophic and acidophilic bacterial strain BGR 140T was isolated from mine tailings in the Harz Mountains near Goslar, Germany. Cells of BGR 140T were Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming, motile and rod-shaped. BGR 140T grew aerobically at 25–55 °C (optimum 45 °C) and at pH 1.5–5.0 (optimum pH 3.0). The results of analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that BGR 140T was phylogenetically related to different members of the genus Sulfobacillus , and the sequence identities to Sulfobacillus acidophilus DSM 10332T, Sulfobacillus thermotolerans DSM 17362T, and Sulfobacillus benefaciens DSM 19468T were 94.8, 91.8 and 91.6 %, respectively. Its cell wall peptidoglycan is A1γ, composed of meso-diaminopimelic acid. The respiratory quinone is DMK-6. The major polar lipids were determined to be glycolipid, phospholipid and phosphatidylglycerol. The predominant fatty acid is 11-cycloheptanoyl-undecanoate. The genomic DNA G+C content is 58.2 mol%. On the basis of the results of phenotypic and genomic analyses, it is concluded that strain BGR 140T represents a novel species of the genus Sulfobacillus , for which the name Sulfobacillus harzensis sp. nov. is proposed because of its origin. Its type strain is BGR 140T (=DSM 109850T=JCM 39070T).

A total of 27 Listeria isolates that could not be classified to the species level were obtained from soil samples from different locations in the contiguous United States and an agricultural water sample from New York. Whole-genome sequence-based average nucleotide identity blast (ANIb) showed that the 27 isolates form five distinct clusters; for each cluster, all draft genomes showed ANI values of

A Gram-stain-positive, strictly aerobic, spore-forming, rod-shaped and non-motile bacterium designated strain SIJ1T was obtained from tidal flat sediment collected from the northern shore of Kuwait Bay, northwest of the Arabian Gulf. Strain SIJ1T grew optimally at 30 °C and pH 7–8 in the presence of 6 % (w/v) NaCl. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and an unsaturated menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7) was the predominant respiratory quinone. It contained anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0 and iso-C15 : 0 as the major fatty acids and ribose as the major whole-cell sugar. The polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, unidentified phospholipid, an unidentified glycolipid, phosphoglycolipid and an unidentified lipid. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA genes revealed that SIJ1T showed a distinct evolutionary lineage within the Firmicutes. The DNA G+C content was 43.1 mol% and the full genome analysis for strain SIJ1T showed that it had a genome size of 3 989 945 bp and contained 4085 predicted protein-encoding genes. The SIJ1T annotated genome showed more stress resistance encoding genes in comparison to its closely related strains. The amino acid identity and average nucleotide identity data for the whole genome proved that strain SIJ1T does indeed represent a novel genus. The strain was distinguishable from the phylogenetically related genera through differences in several phenotypic properties. On the basis of the phenotypic, phylogenetic and genetic data, strain SIJ1T represents a novel genus and species in the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Litoribacterium kuwaitense gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is SIJ1T (=DSM 28862T=LMG 28316T).

The genera Catabacter (family ‘Catabacteraceae’) and Christensenella (family Christensenellaceae ) are close relatives within the phylum Firmicutes . Members of these genera are strictly anaerobic, non-spore-forming and short straight rods with diverse phenotypes. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rRNA genes suggest that Catabacter splits Christensenella into a polyphyletic clade. In an effort to ensure that family/genus names represent monophyletic clades, we performed a whole-genome based analysis of the genomes available for the cultured representatives of these genera: four species of Christensenella and two strains of Catabacter hongkongensis . A concatenated alignment of 135 shared protein sequences of single-copy core genes present in the included strains indicates that C. hongkongensis is indeed nested within the Christensenella clade. Based on their evolutionary relationship, we propose the transfer of Catabacter hongkongensis to the genus Christensenella as Christensenella hongkongensis comb. nov.

The increasing availability of whole genome sequencing of bacteria has accelerated the discovery of novel species which may not have been easy to discriminate using standard phenotypic or single gene methods. Phylogenomic analysis of genome sequences from a collection of coagulase-negative staphylococcal species isolated from captive fruit bats revealed two clusters which were close to Staphylococcus kloosii . To assess the relatedness of the strains we used digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) and two methods for average nucleotide identity (ANI) computation which predicted two novel species having dDDH less than 70 % and ANI less than 95%. We propose these species as Staphylococcus lloydii sp. nov. (type strain 23_2_7_LYT=NCTC 14453T=DSM 111639T) and Staphylococcus durrellii sp. nov (type strain 27_4_6_LYT=NCTC 14454T=DSM 111640T).

Streptococcus pneumoniae causes over one million deaths from lower respiratory infections per annum worldwide. Although mortality is very high in Southeast Asian countries, molecular epidemiological information remains unavailable for some countries. In this study, we report, for the first time, the whole-genome sequences and genetic profiles of pneumococcal strains isolated in Myanmar. We isolated 60 streptococcal strains from 300 children with acute respiratory infection at Yangon Children’s Hospital in Myanmar. We obtained whole-genome sequences and identified the species, serotypes, sequence types, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, virulence factor profiles and pangenome structure using sequencing-based analysis. Average nucleotide identity analysis indicated that 58 strains were S. pneumoniae and the other 2 strains were Streptococcus mitis . The major serotype was 19F (11 strains), followed by 6E (6B genetic variant; 7 strains) and 15 other serotypes; 5 untypable strains were also detected. Multilocus sequence typing analysis revealed 39 different sequence types, including 11 novel ones. In addition, genetic profiling indicated that AMR genes and mutations spread among pneumococcal strains in Myanmar. A minimum inhibitory concentration assay indicated that several pneumococcal strains had acquired azithromycin and tetracycline resistance, whereas no strains were found to be resistant against levofloxacin and high-dose penicillin G. Phylogenetic and pangenome analysis showed various pneumococcal lineages and that the pneumococcal strains contain a rich and mobile gene pool, providing them with the ability to adapt to selective pressures. This molecular epidemiological information can help in tracking global infection and supporting AMR control in addition to public health interventions in Myanmar.

A rod-shaped, motile anaerobic bacterium, designated CCRI-22567T, was isolated from a vaginal sample of a woman diagnosed with bacterial vaginosis and subjected to a polyphasic taxonomic study. The novel strain was capable of growth at 30–42 °C (optimum, 42 °C), at pH 5.5–8.5 (optimum, pH 7.0–7.5) and in the presence of 0–1.5 % (w/v) NaCl (optimally at 0.5 % NaCl). The phylogenetic trees based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain CCRI-22567T forms a distinct evolutionary lineage independent of other taxa in the family Peptostreptococcaceae . Strain CCRI-22567T exhibited 90.1 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to Peptoanaerobacter stomatis ACC19aT and 89.7 % to Eubacterium yurii subsp. schtitka ATCC 43716. The three closest organisms with an available whole genome were compared to strain CCRI-22567T for genomic relatedness assessment. The genomic average nucleotide identities (OrthoANIu) obtained with Peptoanaerobacter stomatis ACC19aT, Eubacterium yurii subsp. margaretiae ATCC 43715 and Filifactor alocis ATCC 35896T were 71.8, 70.3 and 69.6 %, respectively. Strain CCRI-22567T contained C18 : 1 ω9c and C18 : 1 ω9c DMA as the major fatty acids. The DNA G+C content of strain CCRI-22567T based on its genome sequence was 33.8 mol%. On the basis of the phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and other phenotypic properties, strain CCRI-22567T is considered to represent a new genus and species within the family Peptostreptococcaceae , for which the name Criibacterium bergeronii gen. nov., sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain of Criibacterium bergeronii is CCRI-22567T (=LMG 31278T=DSM 107614T=CCUG 72594T).

Ten strains, BG-AF3-AT, pH52_RY, WF-MT5-AT, BG-MG3-A, Lr3000T, RRLNB_1_1, STM3_1T, STM2_1, WF-MO7-1T and WF-MA3-C, were isolated from intestinal or faecal samples of rodents, pheasant and primate. 16S rRNA gene analysis identified them as Limosilactobacillus reuteri . However, average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values based on whole genomes were below 95 and 70 %, respectively, and thus below the threshold levels for bacterial species delineation. Based on genomic, chemotaxonomic and morphological analyses, we propose five novel species with the names Limosilactobacillus balticus sp. nov. (type strain BG-AF3-AT=DSM 110574T=LMG 31633T), Limosilactobacillus agrestis sp. nov. (type strain WF-MT5-AT=DSM 110569T=LMG 31629T), Limosilactobacillus albertensis sp. nov. (type strain Lr3000T=DSM 110573T=LMG 31632T), Limosilactobacillus rudii sp. nov. (type strain STM3_1T=DSM 110572T=LMG 31631T) and Limosilactobacillus fastidiosus sp. nov. (type strain WF-MO7-1T=DSM 110576T=LMG 31630T). Core genome phylogeny and experimental evidence of host adaptation of strains of L. reuteri further provide a strong rationale to consider a number of distinct lineages within this species as subspecies. Here we propose six subspecies of L. reuteri : L. reuteri subsp. kinnaridis subsp. nov. (type strain AP3T=DSM 110703T=LMG 31724T), L. reuteri subsp. porcinus subsp. nov. (type strain 3c6T=DSM 110571T=LMG 31635T), L. reuteri subsp. murium subsp. nov. (type strain lpuph1T=DSM 110570T=LMG 31634T), L. reuteri subsp. reuteri subsp. nov. (type strain F 275T=DSM 20016T=ATCC 23272T), L. reuteri subsp. suis subsp. nov. (type strain 1063T=ATCC 53608T=LMG 31752T) and L. reuteri subsp. rodentium subsp. nov. (type strain 100-23T=DSM 17509T=CIP 109821T).

A strain of lactic acid bacteria, designated 159469T, isolated from a facial abscess in a sugar glider, was characterized genetically and phenotypically. Cells of the strain were Gram-stain-positive, coccoid and catalase-negative. Morphological, physiological and phylogenetic data indicated that the isolate belongs to the genus Lactococcus . Strain 159469T was closely related to Lactococcus garvieae ATCC 43921T, showing 95.86 and 98.08 % sequence similarity in 16S rRNA gene and rpoB gene sequences, respectively. Furthermore, a pairwise average nucleotide identity blast (ANIb) value of 93.54 % and in silico DNA–DNA hybridization value of 50.7 % were determined for the genome of strain 159469T, when compared with the genome of the type strain of Lactococcus garvieae . Based on the data presented here, the isolate represents a novel species of the genus Lactococcus , for which the name Lactococcus petauri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 159469T (=LMG 30040T=DSM 104842T).

A thermophilic, anaerobic, fermentative bacterium, strain A6T, was obtained from an anaerobic batch digester treating animal manure and rice straw. Cells were Gram-stain-positive, slightly curved rods with a size of 0.6–1×2.5–8.2 µm, non-motile and produced terminal spores. The temperature, pH and NaCl concentration ranges for growth were 40–60 °C, 6.5–8.0 and 0–15.0 g l−1, with optimum growth noted at 50–55 °C, pH 7.5 and in the absence of NaCl, respectively. Yeast extract was required for growth. d-Glucose, maltose, d-xylose, d-galactose, d-fructose, d-ribose, lactose, raffinose, sucrose, d-arabinose, cellobiose, d-mannose and yeast extract were used as carbon and energy sources. The fermentation products from glucose were ethanol, lactate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, valerate, iso-butyrate, iso-valerate, H2 and CO2. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 36.6 mol%. The predominant fatty acids were C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 1, C14 : 0, C16 : 1 ω7c, C16 : 0 N-alcohol and C13 : 0 3-OH. Respiratory quinones were not detected. The polar lipid profile comprised phosphoglycolipids, phospholipids, glycolipids, a diphosphatidylglycerol, a phosphatidylglycerol and an unidentified lipid. Phylogenetic analyses of the 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that the strain was closely related to Defluviitalea saccharophila DSM 22681T with a similarity of 96.0 %. Based on the morphological, physiological and taxonomic characterization, strain A6T is considered to represent a novel species of the genus Defluviitalea , for which the name Defluviitalea raffinosedens sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is A6T (=DSM 28090T=ACCC 19951T).

A novel Gram-negative, spore forming, obligately anaerobic, thermophilic, chitin-degrading bacterium, designated UUS1-1T, was isolated from compost on Ishigaki Island, Japan by enrichment culturing using chitin powder as the carbon source. The strain has unique, long, hair-like rod morphological features and exhibits strong degradation activity toward crystalline chitin under thermophilic conditions. Growth of the novel strain was observed at 45–65 °C (optimum, 55 °C) and pH 6.5–7.5 (optimum, pH 7.0). In addition to chitin, the strain utilized several other carbon sources, including N-acetylglucosamine, glucose, galactose, mannose, maltose, cellobiose, fructose and sucrose. The end products of chitin degradation were acetate, lactate, H2 and CO2. Phylogenetic tree analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed a clear affiliation of the proposed bacterium to the phylum Firmicutes ; the most closely related species were Hydrogenispora ethanolica LX-BT and Desulfotomaculum thermobenzoicum DSM6193T with similarities of 90.4 and 87.8 %, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA was 52.1 mol%. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between the genomes of UUS1-1T and H. ethanolica LX-BT were 65.5 and 21.0 %, respectively. The cellular fatty acid composition of the strain was C16 : 0, anteiso-C15 : 0, C14 : 0, C12 : 0 3-OH and dimethyl acetal-C13 : 0. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analysis, strain UUS1-1T represents a novel genus and species, for which the name Capillibacterium thermochitinicola gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is UUS1-1T (=JCM 33882T=DSM 111537T).

In 1994, analyses of clostridial 16S rRNA gene sequences led to the assignment of 18 species to Clostridium cluster XI, separating them from Clostridium sensu stricto ( Clostridium cluster I). Subsequently, most cluster XI species have been assigned to the family Peptostreptococcaceae with some species being reassigned to new genera. However, several misclassified Clostridium species remained, creating a taxonomic conundrum and confusion regarding their status. Here, we have re-examined the phylogeny of cluster XI species by comparing the 16S rRNA gene-based trees with protein- and genome-based trees, where available. The resulting phylogeny of the Peptostreptococcaceae was consistent with the recent proposals on creating seven new genera within this family. This analysis also revealed a tight clustering of Clostridium litorale and Eubacterium acidaminophilum . Based on these data, we propose reassigning these two organisms to the new genus Peptoclostridium as Peptoclostridium litorale gen. nov. comb. nov. (the type species of the genus) and Peptoclostridium acidaminophilum comb. nov., respectively. As correctly noted in the original publications, the genera Acetoanaerobium and Proteocatella also fall within cluster XI, and can be assigned to the Peptostreptococcaceae . Clostridium sticklandii , which falls within radiation of genus Acetoanaerobium , is proposed to be reclassified as Acetoanaerobium sticklandii comb. nov. The remaining misnamed members of the Peptostreptococcaceae , [ Clostridium ] hiranonis, [ Clostridium ] paradoxum and [ Clostridium ] thermoalcaliphilum, still remain to be properly classified.

A novel strain of lactic acid bacteria, WiKim39T, was isolated from a scallion kimchi sample consisting of fermented chili peppers and vegetables. The isolate was a Gram-positive, rod-shaped, non-motile, catalase-negative and facultatively anaerobic lactic acid bacterium. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence showed that strain WiKim39T belonged to the genus Lactobacillus , and shared 97.1–98.2 % pair-wise sequence similarities with related type strains, Lactobacillus nodensis , Lactobacillus insicii , Lactobacillus versmoldensis , Lactobacillus tucceti and Lactobacillus furfuricola . The G+C content of the strain based on its genome sequence was 35.3 mol%. The ANI values between WiKim39T and the closest relatives were lower than 80 %. Based on the phenotypic, biochemical, and phylogenetic analyses, strain WiKim39T represents a novel species of the genus Lactobacillus , for which the name Lactobacillus allii sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WiKim39T (=KCTC 21077T=JCM 31938T).

Several strictly anaerobic bacteria that are Gram-stain-positive have the ability to use uric acid as the sole source of carbon and energy. The phylogeny of three such species, Clostridium acidurici, Clostridium purinilyticum, and Eubacterium angustum, members of the Clostridium cluster XII that ferment purines, but not most amino acids or carbohydrates, has been re-examined, taking advantage of their recently sequenced genomes. Phylogenetic analyses, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, protein sequences of RpoB and GyrB, and on a concatenated alignment of 50 ribosomal proteins, revealed tight clustering of C. acidurici and C. purinilyticum. Eubacterium angustum showed consistent association with C. acidurici and C. purinilyticum , but differed from these two in terms of the genome size, G+C content of its chromosomal DNA and its inability to form spores. We propose reassigning C. acidurici and C. purinilyticum to the novel genus Gottschalkia as Gottschalkia acidurici gen. nov. comb. nov. (the type species of the genus) and Gottschalkia purinilytica comb. nov., respectively. Eubacterium angustum is proposed to be reclassified as Andreesenia angusta gen. nov. comb. nov. Furthermore, based on the phylogenetic data and similar metabolic properties, we propose assigning genera Gottschalkia and Andreesenia to the novel family Gottschalkiaceae. Metagenomic sequencing data indicate the widespread distibution of organisms falling within the radiation of the proposed family Gottschalkiaceae in terrestrial and aquatic habitats from upstate New York to Antarctica, most likely due to their ability to metabolize avian-produced uric acid.

Two novel obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive, saccharolytic and non-proteolytic spore-forming bacilli (strains CD3:22(T) and N1(T)) are described. Strain CD3:22(T) was isolated from a biopsy of the small intestine of a child with coeliac disease, and strain N1(T) from the saliva of a healthy young man. The cells of both strains were observed to be filamentous, approximately 5 to20 µm long, some of them curving and with swellings. The novel organisms produced H(2)S, NH(3), butyric acid and acetic acid as major metabolic end products. Phylogenetic analyses, based on comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing, revealed close relationships (98% sequence similarity) between the two isolates, as well as the type strain of Eubacterium saburreum and four other Lachnospiraceae bacterium-/E. saburreum-like organisms. This group of bacteria were clearly different from any of the 19 known genera in the family Lachnospiraceae. While Eubacterium species are reported to be non-spore-forming, reanalysis of E. saburreum CCUG 28089(T) confirmed that the bacterium is indeed able to form spores. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing, phenotypic and biochemical properties, strains CD3:22(T) and N1(T) represent novel species of a new and distinct genus, named Lachnoanaerobaculum gen. nov., in the family Lachnospiraceae [within the order Clostridiales, class Clostridia, phylum Firmicutes]. Strain CD3:22(T) (=CCUG 58757(T) =DSM 23576(T)) is the type strain of the type species, Lachnoanaerobaculum umeaense gen. nov., sp. nov., of the proposed new genus. Strain N1(T) (=CCUG 60305(T)=DSM 24553(T)) is the type strain of Lachnoanaerobaculum orale sp. nov. Moreover, Eubacterium saburreum is reclassified as Lachnoanaerobaculum saburreum comb. nov. (type strain CCUG 28089(T) =ATCC 33271(T) =CIP 105341(T) =DSM 3986(T) =JCM 11021(T) =VPI 11763(T)).

We previously discovered a symbiotic lactic acid bacterial (LAB) microbiota in the honey stomach of the honeybee Apis mellifera. The microbiota was composed of several phylotypes of Bifidobacterium and Lactobacillus . 16S rRNA gene sequence analyses and phenotypic and genetic characteristics revealed that the phylotypes isolated represent seven novel species. One grouped with Lactobacillus kunkeei and the others belong to the Lactobacillus buchneri and Lactobacillus delbrueckii subgroups of Lactobacillus . We propose the names Lactobacillus apinorum sp. nov., Lactobacillus mellifer sp. nov., Lactobacillus mellis sp. nov., Lactobacillus melliventris sp. nov., Lactobacillus kimbladii sp. nov., Lactobacillus helsingborgensis sp. nov. and Lactobacillus kullabergensis sp. nov. for these novel species, with the respective type strains being Fhon13NT ( = DSM 26257T = CCUG 63287T), Bin4NT ( = DSM 26254T = CCUG 63291T), Hon2NT ( = DSM 26255T = CCUG 63289T), Hma8NT ( = DSM 26256T = CCUG 63629T), Hma2NT ( = DSM 26263T = CCUG 63633T), Bma5NT ( = DSM 26265T = CCUG 63301T) and Biut2NT ( = DSM 26262T = CCUG 63631T).