Prevotella merdae sp. nov., a new bacterial species isolated from human faeces.

Strain Marseille-P4119T was isolated from a faecal sample of a healthy 32-year-old faecal transplant donor. The bacterium was anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped, non-motile, and did not produce spores. We studied its phenotypic characteristics and sequenced its whole genome. The major fatty acids were C15:0anteiso and C15:0iso. The final genome assembly was 3912650 bp long with a 44.4 mol% G + C content, 3094 protein-coding genes and 74 RNA genes. Strain Marseille-P4119T exhibited a 97.10% 16S rRNA sequence identity and a 29.0% dDDH with Prevotella stercorea CB35T, OrthoANI values ranged from 68.5% with Prevotella enoeca to 77.4% with Prevotella stercorea, the phylogenetically closest bacterial species with standing in nomenclature. Based on the phylogenetic, phenotypic and genomic analyses, we propose the creation of the novel species Prevotella merdae sp. nov. The type strain is Marseille-P4119T ( = CSUR P4119T = CECT 9566T).

Vaginimicrobium propionicum gen. nov., sp. nov., a novel propionic acid bacterium derived from human vaginal discharge.

A Gram-stain-positive anaerobic rod-shaped bacterium, designated strain Marseille-P3275T, was isolated using culturomics from the vaginal discharge of healthy French woman. Marseille-P3275T was non-motile and did not form spores. Cells had neither catalase nor oxidase activity. The major fatty acids were C16 : 0 (29 %), C18:1ω9 (18 %), and iso-C15 : 0 (17 %). The genomic DNA G+C content was 50.64 mol%. The phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that Marseille-P3275T was related to members of the family Propionibacteriaceae (between 90.32-92.92 % sequence similarity) with formation of a clade with the monospecific genus Propionimicrobium (type species Propionimicrobium lymphophilum). On the basis of these phylogenetic and phenotypic differences, Marseille-P3275T was classified in a novel genus, Vaginimicrobium, as Vaginimicrobium propionicum gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain is Marseille-P3275T (=CSUR P3275T=CECT 9677T).

Rickettsia fournieri sp. nov., a novel spotted fever group rickettsia from Argas lagenoplastis ticks in Australia.

Strain AUS118T was isolated from an Argas lagenoplastis tick collected from the nest of a Petrochelidon ariel (fairy martin) in Australia in 2013. Microscopic observation of infected cell cultures indicated this strain had a morphology and intracellular location typical of Rickettsiaspecies. Phylogenetic analysis of this strain based firstly on multi-locus sequence analysis and subsequently on whole genome analysis demonstrated that AUS118T was most closely related to, but divergent from Rickettsia japonica and Rickettsia heilongjiangensis. We therefore propose the creation of a novel species, Rickettsia fournieri sp. nov, with the type strain AUS118T (DSM 28985 and CSUR R501).

Genomic and phenotypic description of the newly isolated human species Collinsella bouchesdurhonensis sp. nov.

Using culturomics, a recently developed strategy based on diversified culture conditions for the isolation of previously uncultured bacteria, we isolated strain Marseille-P3296T from a fecal sample of a healthy pygmy female. A multiphasic approach, taxono-genomics, was used to describe the major characteristics of this anaerobic and gram-positive bacillus that is unable to sporulate and is not motile. The genome of this bacterium is 1,878,572 bp-long with a 57.94 mol% G + C content. On the basis of these characteristics and after comparison with its closest phylogenetic neighbors, we are confident that strain Marseille-P3296T (=CCUG 70328 =  CSUR P3296) is the type strain of a novel species for which we propose the name Collinsella bouchesdurhonensis sp. nov.

Corynebacterium fournierii sp. nov., isolated from the female genital tract of a patient with bacterial vaginosis.

Strain Marseille-P2948T, a novel Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium was isolated from a vaginal sample of a patient with bacterial vaginosis. It was characterised using the taxonogenomic approach. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the 16S rRNA and the rpoB genes exhibit 98.7 and 93.4% similarity, respectively, with those of Corynebacterium ureicelerivorans strain IMMIB RIV-301T. Biochemical tests of strain Marseille-P2948T gave results that were similar to those of other validly named Corynebacterium species, whereas chemotaxonomic tests showed the presence of C16:0, C18:1n9, C18:0, and C18:2n6 in the fatty acid profile. The draft genome of strain Marseille-P2948T is 2,383,644 bp long in size with a G+C content of 65.03%. Of the 2210 predicted genes, 2147 are protein-coding genes and 63 are RNAs. Based on phenotypic, phylogenic and genomic results, it was concluded that the isolate represents a new species within the genus Corynebacterium. The name Corynebacterium fournierii sp. nov. is proposed and the type strain is Marseille-P2948T (= CSUR P2948 = DSM 103271).

Draft Genome Sequence of Megamonas funiformis Strain Marseille-P3344, Isolated from a Human Fecal Microbiota.

In this article, we present the draft genome sequence of Megamonas funiformis strain Marseille-P3344, isolated from a human fecal sample. The genome described here is composed of 2,464,704 nucleotides, with 2,230 protein-coding genes and 76 RNA genes.

Rickettsia gravesii sp. nov.: a novel spotted fever group rickettsia in Western Australian Amblyomma triguttatum triguttatum ticks.

A rickettsial organism harboured by Amblyomma triguttatum ticks on Barrow Island, Western Australia, was discovered after reports of possible rickettsiosis among local workers. Subsequent isolation of this rickettsia (strain BWI-1) in cell culture and analysis of its phylogenetic, genotypic and phenotypic relationships with type strains of Rickettsia species with standing in nomenclature suggested that it was sufficiently divergent to warrant its classification as a new species. Multiple gene comparison of strain BWI-1 revealed degrees of sequence similarity with Rickettsia raoultii, its closest relative, of 99.58, 98.89, 97.03, 96.93 and 95.73 % for the 16S rRNA, citrate synthase, ompA, ompB and sca4 genes, respectively. Serotyping in mice also demonstrated that strain BWI-1T was distinct from Rickettsia raoultii. Thus, we propose the naming of a new species, Rickettsia gravesii sp. nov., based on its novel genotypic and phenotypic characteristics. Strain BWI-1T was deposited in the ATCC, CSUR and ARRL collections under reference numbers VR-1664, CSUR R172 and RGBWI-1, respectively.

Genome sequence and description of Pantoea septica strain FF5.

Strain FF5 was isolated from the skin flora of a healthy Senegalese 35-year-old woman. This strain was identified as belonging to the species Pantoea septica based on rpoB sequence identity of 99.7 % with Pantoea septica strain LMG 5345(T) and a highest MALDI-TOF-MS score of 2.3 with Pantoea septica. Like P. septica, this FF5 strain is a Gram-negative, aerobic, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium. Currently, 17 genomes have been sequenced within the genus Pantoea but none for Pantoea septica. Herein, we compared the genomic properties of strain FF5 to those of other species within the genus Pantoea. The genome of this strain is 4,548,444 bp in length (1 chromosome, no plasmid) with a G + C content of 59.1 % containing 4125 protein-coding and 68 RNA genes (including 2 rRNA operons). We also performed an extensive phenotypic analysis showing new phenotypic characteristics such as the production of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase.

Genome Sequence of Rickettsia hoogstraalii, a Geographically Widely Distributed Tick-Associated Bacterium.

Rickettsia hoogstraalii is a tick-associated member of the spotted fever group rickettsiae that is geographically widely distributed. We report here the draft genome of R. hoogstraalii strain Croatica(T) (=DSM 22243 = UTMB 00003), which was isolated from Haemaphysalis sulcata ticks collected in Croatia.

The genome of Coxiella burnetii Z3055, a clone linked to the Netherlands Q fever outbreaks, provides evidence for the role of drift in the emergence of epidemic clones.

Coxiella burnetii is a pathogen causing Q fever. The aim of our work was to study Z3055, a strain that is genotypically related to the strain causing the Netherlands outbreak. We compared Z3055 to 5 other completed genomes available in GenBank. We calculated the blast score ratio (BSR) to analyze genetic differences among the strains. The ratio core genome/pangenome was 98% likely other bacteria with closed pangenomes. Differences between Z3055 and the reference NMI consisted only of point mutations and insertion/deletion (INDELs). Non-synonymous mutations significantly increased in genes coding for membrane proteins (16/156 vs 103/1757, bilateral Chi(2) test, p<0.05), ankyrin repeat domains containing proteins (2/9 vs 117/1904, bilateral Chi(2) test, p<0.05), transcription factors (7/53 vs 112/1860, bilateral Chi(2) test, p<0.05) and translation proteins (15/144 vs 109/1655, bilateral Chi(2) test, p<0.05). The evolution of this strain may have been driven by mutations in critical genes.

Non contiguous-finished genome sequence and description of Peptoniphilus senegalensis sp. nov.

Peptoniphilus senegalensis strain JC140(T) sp. nov., is the type strain of P. senegalensis sp. nov., a new species within the genus Peptoniphilus. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a healthy patient. P. senegalensis strain JC140(T) is an obligate Gram-positive anaerobic coccus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 1,840,641 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) exhibits a G+C content of 32.2% and contains 1,744 protein-coding and 23 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes.

Non contiguous-finished genome sequence and description of Enorma massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the Family Coriobacteriaceae.

Enorma massiliensis strain phI(T) is the type strain of E. massiliensis gen. nov., sp. nov., the type species of a new genus within the family Coriobacteriaceae, Enorma gen. nov. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a 26-year-old woman suffering from morbid obesity. E. massiliensis strain phI(T) is a Gram-positive, obligately anaerobic bacillus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 2,280,571 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) exhibits a G+C content of 62.0% and contains 1,901 protein-coding and 51 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes.

Non contiguous-finished genome sequence and description of Dielma fastidiosa gen. nov., sp. nov., a new member of the Family Erysipelotrichaceae.

Dielma fastidiosa strain JC13(T) gen. nov., sp. nov. is the type strain of D. fastidiosa gen. nov., sp. nov., the type species of a new genus within the family Erysipelotrichaceae. This strain, whose draft genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a healthy 16-year-old male Senegalese volunteer. D. fastidiosa is a Gram-negative anaerobic rod. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,574,031 bp long genome comprises a 3,556,241-bp chromosome and a 17,790-bp plasmid. The chromosome contains 3,441 protein-coding and 50 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes, whereas the plasmid contains 17 protein-coding genes.

Genomic comparison of Kingella kingae strains.

Kingella kingae is a betaproteobacterium from the order Neisseriales, and it is an agent of invasive infections in children. We sequenced the genome from the septic arthritis strain 11220434. It is composed of a 1,990,794-bp chromosome but no plasmid, and it contains 2,042 protein-coding genes and 52 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes.

Genome sequence of Diplorickettsia massiliensis, an emerging Ixodes ricinus-associated human pathogen.

Diplorickettsia massiliensis is a gammaproteobacterium in the order Legionellales and an agent of tick-borne infection. We sequenced the genome from strain 20B, isolated from an Ixodes ricinus tick. The genome consists of a 1,727,973-bp chromosome but no plasmid and includes 2,269 protein-coding genes and 42 RNA genes, including 3 rRNA genes.

Non-contiguous finished genome sequence and description of Alistipes timonensis sp. nov.

Alistipes timonensis strain JC136(T) sp. nov. is the type strain of A. timonensis sp. nov., a new species within the genus Alistipes. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a healthy patient. A. timonensis is an obligate anaerobic rod. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,497,779 bp long genome (one chromosome but no plasmid) contains 2,742 protein-coding and 50 RNA genes, including three rRNA genes.

The genome of Borrelia recurrentis, the agent of deadly louse-borne relapsing fever, is a degraded subset of tick-borne Borrelia duttonii.

In an effort to understand how a tick-borne pathogen adapts to the body louse, we sequenced and compared the genomes of the recurrent fever agents Borrelia recurrentis and B. duttonii. The 1,242,163-1,574,910-bp fragmented genomes of B. recurrentis and B. duttonii contain a unique 23-kb linear plasmid. This linear plasmid exhibits a large polyT track within the promoter region of an intact variable large protein gene and a telomere resolvase that is unique to Borrelia. The genome content is characterized by several repeat families, including antigenic lipoproteins. B. recurrentis exhibited a 20.4% genome size reduction and appeared to be a strain of B. duttonii, with a decaying genome, possibly due to the accumulation of genomic errors induced by the loss of recA and mutS. Accompanying this were increases in the number of impaired genes and a reduction in coding capacity, including surface-exposed lipoproteins and putative virulence factors. Analysis of the reconstructed ancestral sequence compared to B. duttonii and B. recurrentis was consistent with the accelerated evolution observed in B. recurrentis. Vector specialization of louse-borne pathogens responsible for major epidemics was associated with rapid genome reduction. The correlation between gene loss and increased virulence of B. recurrentis parallels that of Rickettsia prowazekii, with both species being genomic subsets of less-virulent strains.