Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. and Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov.: Novel Bacteria Isolated from the Vaginal Microbiome

Abstract

The strains Marseille-Q7072T (= CSUR Q7072T = CECT 30604 T) and Marseille-Q7826T (= CSUR Q7826T = CECT 30727 T) were isolated from vaginal samples. As MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry failed to identify them, their genomes were directly sequenced to determine their taxogenomic identities. Both strains are anaerobic without any oxidase and catalase activity. C16:0 is the most abundant fatty acid for both strains. Strain Marseille-Q7072T is non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, and coccus-shaped, while strain Marseille-Q7826T is non-spore-forming, motile, Gram-stain-variable, and curved rod-shaped. The genomic comparison of the Marseille-Q7072T and Marseille-Q7826T strains showed that all digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) and mean orthologous nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were below published species thresholds (70% and 95–96%, respectively) with other closely related species with standing in nomenclature. Thus, we conclude that both strains are new bacterial species. Strain Marseille-Q7072T is a new member of the Bacillota phylum, for which the name Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. is proposed, while the Marseille-Q7826T strain is a new member of the Actinomycetota phylum, for which the name Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov. is proposed.