Facklamia miroungae sp nov., from a juvenile southern elephant seal (Mirounga leonina)

An unusual Gram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, coccu s-shaped organism that originated from a juvenile elephant seal was charact erized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing showed that the unknown coccus represents a new subline wit hin the genus Facklamia, The unknown strain was readily distinguishable fro m all currently recognized species of the genus Facklamia (Facklamia homini s, Facklamia languida, Facklamia ignava, Facklamia sourekii and Facklamia t abacinasalis) by biochemical tests and electrophoretic analysis of whole-ce ll proteins. Based on phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as Facklamia miroungae sp, nov. Th e type strain of F. miroungae is CCUG 42728(T) (= CIP 106764(T)). F, miroun gae is the first member of the genus Facklamia to be isolated from an anima l other than man.