Actinomyces funkei sp, nov., isolated from human clinical specimens

Three strains of a previously undescribed Actinomyces-like bacterium were i solated from human clinical specimens. Phenotypic studies indicated the str ains were members of the genus Actinomyces and were presumptively identifie d as Actinomyces turicensis, Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies s howed that although the bacterium is phylogenetically closely related to Ac tinomyces turicensis, it nevertheless constitutes a new sub-line within the genus Actinomyces. Based on phenotypic and molecular chemical and molecula r genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown Actinomyces-like bacter ium from human clinical specimens be classified as Actinomyces funkei sp, n ov, The type strain of Actinomyces funkei is CCUG 42773(T) (= CIP 106713(T) ).