Corynebacterium simulans sp nov., a non-lipophilic, fermentative Corynebacterium

Three coryneform strains isolated from clinical samples were analysed. Thes e strains fitted the biochemical profile of Corynebacterium striatum by con ventional methods. However, according to recently described identification tests for fermenting corynebacterial the strains behaved rather like Coryne bacterium minutissimum. The three isolates could be distinguished from C. m inutissimum by a positive nitrate and nitrite reductase test and by not fer menting maltose; from C. striatum by their inability to acidify ethylene gl ycol and to grow at 20 degrees C. Genetic studies based on 16S rRNA showed that the three strains were in fact different from C. minutissimum and C. s triatum (96.9 and 98% similarity, respectively) and from other corynebacter ia. They represent a new species for which the name Corynebacterium simulan s sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is DSM 44415(T)(= UCL 553(T) = Co 5 53(T)).