title: Streptococcus halichoeri sp. nov., isolated from grey seals (Halichoerus grypus).
abstract: Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on six unidentified, Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming Streptococcus-like organisms recovered from grey seals. Biochemically the six strains were highly related to each other, but they did not appear to correspond to any recognized species of the genus Streptococcus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies confirmed that phylogenetically the strains were members of the genus Streptococcus, but sequence divergence values of greater than 3 % compared with reference streptococcal species demonstrated that the organisms from seals represent a novel species. SDS-PAGE analysis of whole-cell proteins confirmed the phenotypic distinctiveness of the seal organisms. Based on biochemical criteria and molecular chemical and genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown organism from seals be classified as a novel species, Streptococcus halichoeri sp. nov., the type strain of which is CCUG 48324T (= CIP 108195T).
authors.affiliation: School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Paul A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.affiliation: SAC Veterinary Services, Inverness, UK.
authors.forename: Geoffrey
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Foster
authors.affiliation: Culture Collection, Department of Clinical Bacteriology, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
authors.forename: Enevold
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Falsen
authors.affiliation: VLA Truro, Polwhele, Truro, UK.
authors.forename: Nick
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Davison
authors.affiliation: School of Food Biosciences, University of Reading, Reading, UK.
authors.forename: Matthew D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Collins
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000942:Antigens, Bacterial / Q000032:analysis; D001426:Bacterial Proteins / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D002374:Catalase / Q000032:analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D020543:Proteome / Q000032:analysis / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D046048:Seals, Earless / Q000382:microbiology*; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013290:Streptococcal Infections / Q000382:microbiology / Q000662:veterinary; D013291:Streptococcus / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000942:Antigens, Bacterial; D001426:Bacterial Proteins; D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D020543:Proteome; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; D002374:Catalase