Abstract
Staphylococci from the Staphylococcus intermedius-Staphylococcus hyicus species group include numerous animal pathogens and are an important reservoir of virulence and antimicrobial resistance determinants. Due to their pathogenic potential, they are possible causative agents of zoonoses in humans; therefore, it is important to address the properties of these strains. Here we used a polyphasic taxonomic approach to characterize the coagulase-negative staphylococcal strain NRL/St 03/464T, isolated from the nostrils of a healthy laboratory rat during a microbiological screening of laboratory animals. The 16S rRNA sequence, MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry and positive urea hydrolysis and beta-glucuronidase tests clearly distinguished it from closely related Staphylococcus spp. All analyses have consistently shown that the closest relative is Staphylococcus chromogenes; however, values of digital DNA-DNA hybridization <35.3% and an average nucleotide identity <81.4% confirmed that the analyzed strain is a distinct Staphylococcus species. Whole-genome sequencing and expert annotation of the genome revealed the presence of novel variable genetic elements, including two plasmids named pSR9025A and pSR9025B, prophages, genomic islands and a composite transposon that may confer selective advantages to other bacteria and enhance their survival. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic and genomic data obtained in this study, the strain NRL/St 03/464T (= CCM 9025T = LMG 31873T = DSM 111348T) represents a novel species with the suggested name Staphylococcus ratti sp. nov.
Highlights
Staphylococci are opportunistic pathogens widespread in nature; they are mainly isolated from the skin, skin glands, and mucous membranes of various animals [1], and less often from the blood of diseased animals [2]
In this work we provide a polyphasic characterization of an isolate of Staphylococcus sp
RNA polymerase subunit beta gene sequence did not allow for its classification into any known staphylococcal species
Summary
Staphylococci are opportunistic pathogens widespread in nature; they are mainly isolated from the skin, skin glands, and mucous membranes of various animals [1], and less often from the blood of diseased animals [2]. Aureus isolates exhibit host adaptation [7] Both mice and rats are an animal infection model for studying S. aureus pathogenicity [8,9]. To the main pathogen S. aureus, some species in the Staphylococcus intermedius-Staphylococcus hyicus phylogenetic complex can catalyze the polymerization of fibrinogen to fibrin through the enzyme coagulase, thereby contributing to the appearance of purulent foci—abscesses [11]. Besides coagulase, they have other virulence factors, such as staphylococcal β-hemolysin (sphingomyelinase), a typical product of the species.
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