PHENOTYPIC AND PHYLOGENETIC CHARACTERIZATION OF SOME GLOBICATELLA-LIKE ORGANISMS FROM HUMAN SOURCES - DESCRIPTION OF FACKLAMIA-HOMINIS GEN-NOV, SP-NOV

Six strains of a hitherto undescribed gram-positive, catalase-negative , facultatively anaerobic coccus from human sources were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA g ene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown strains were gene alogically homogeneous and constitute a new line closely related to, b ut distinct from, the genus Globicatella. The unknown bacterium was re adily distinguished from Globicatella sanguis, the type species of the genus Globicatella, by the results of biochemical tests and an electr ophoretic analysis of whole-cell proteins. Based on phylogenetic and p henotypic evidence, we propose that the unknown bacterium be classifie d as Facklamia hominis gen, nov., sp. nov, The type strain of Facklami a hominis is CCUG 36813.