title: Characterization of some Actinomyces-like isolates from human clinical specimens: reclassification of Actinomyces suis (Soltys and Spratling) as Actinobaculum suis comb. nov. and description of Actinobaculum schaalii sp. nov.
abstract: Five strains of a hitherto unknown Actinomyces-like bacterium were isolated from human clinical sources, including blood cultures. Biochemical and chemotaxonomic characterization indicated that the strains were distinct from previously described Actinomyces and Arcanobacterium species. A comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis demonstrated that the undescribed strains constitute a new subline within the Actinomyces-Arcanobacterium species complex. The closest known relative of the isolates was found to be Actinomyces suis, although a 16S rRNA sequence divergence value of approximately 6% clearly demonstrated that the unknown bacterium represents a distinct species. Based on the results of the present and earlier phylogenetic investigations, it is proposed that Actinomyces suis should be reclassified in a new genus, the genus Actinobaculum, as Actinobaculum suis comb. nov. In addition, a new species, Actinobaculum schaalii, is proposed for the Actinomyces-like bacterium from human sources. The type strain of Actinobaculum schaalii is CCUG 27420.
authors.affiliation: Department of Microbiology, BBSRC Institute of Food Research, Reading Laboratory, United Kingdom.
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falsen
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Akervall
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Vandamme
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000190:Actinomyces / Q000737:chemistry / Q000145:classification* / Q000378:metabolism; D000196:Actinomycosis / Q000382:microbiology*; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D001769:Blood / Q000382:microbiology; D006801:Humans; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny
chemical_list: D001426:Bacterial Proteins