title: Characterization of some actinomyces-like isolates from human clinical sources: description of Varibaculum cambriensis gen nov, sp nov.
abstract: Fifteen strains of an anaerobic, catalase-negative, gram-positive diphtheroid-shaped bacterium recovered from human sources were characterized by phenotypic and molecular chemical and molecular genetic methods. The unidentified bacterium showed some resemblance to Actinomyces species and related taxa, but biochemical testing, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis of whole-cell proteins, and amplified 16S ribosomal DNA restriction analysis indicated the strains were distinct from all currently named Actinomyces species and related taxa. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies showed that the bacterium represents a hitherto-unknown phylogenetic line that is related to but distinct from Actinomyces, Actinobaculum, Arcanobacterium, and Mobiluncus: We propose, on the basis of phenotypic and phylogenetic evidence, that the unknown bacterium from human clinical specimens should be classified as a new genus and species, Varibaculum cambriensis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Varibaculum cambriensis sp. nov. is CCUG 44998(T) = CIP 107344(T).
authors.affiliation: Anaerobe Reference Unit, Public Health Laboratory Service, University Hospital of Wales, Cardiff, United Kingdom. hallv@cardiff.ac.uk
authors.forename: Val
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Collins
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: Roger A
authors.initials: RA
authors.lastname: Hutson
authors.forename: Enevold
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falsen
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Inganas
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Duerden
mesh_terms: D000191:Actinomycetaceae / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D006801:Humans; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics
chemical_list: D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S