Characterization of a novel Gram-positive, catalase-negative coccus from horses: description of Eremococcus coleocola gen. nov., sp. nov.

Two strains of an unknown Cram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively a naerobic coccus originating from the reproductive tract of horses were char acterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Comparative 16S rR NA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the two strains constitute a n ew subline within the lactic-acid group of bacteria, close to, but distinct from, Abiotrophia defectiva, Globicatella sanguinis and close relatives. T he unknown bacterium was readily distinguished from other described Grampos itive, catalase-negative cocci by biochemical tests and electrophoretic ana lysis of whole-cell proteins. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic e vidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as Eremoco ccus coleocola gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Eremococcus coleocola is CCUG 38207(T).