Abiotrophia balaenopterae sp. nov., isolated from the minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata)

Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on a hitherto undescribe d micro-organism isolated from a minke whale (Balaenoptera acutorostrata). Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown strain constituted a new subline close to, but distinct from, Abiotrophia a diacens and Abiotrophia elegans. The unknown bacterium was readily distingu ished from these two Abiotrophia species by biochemical tests and electroph oretic analysis of whole-cell proteins. On the basis of phylogenetic and ph enotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as Abiotrophia balaenopterae sp. nov., the type strain of which is M1975/96 /1(T) (= CCUG 37380(T)).