TURICELLA OTITIDIS GEN-NOV, SP-NOV, A CORYNEFORM BACTERIUM ISOLATED FROM PATIENTS WITH OTITIS-MEDIA

The partial 16S rRNA gene sequences of some coryneform bacteria isolat ed from middle ear fluids from patients with otitis media were determi ned. A comparative analysis performed with rRNA sequences of other hig h-G+C-content gram-positive bacteria showed that the coryneform bacter ia isolated from otitis media patients were only remotely related to m embers of previously described genera. On the basis of the results of the phylogenetic analysis and previously published biochemical and che motaxonomic data, we propose that the strains isolated from middle ear infections should be classified in a new genus, Turicella, as Turicel la otitidis gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of T. otitidis is stra in DSM 8821.