Non-contiguous-Finished Genome Sequence and Description of Paenibacillus camerounensis sp. nov.

Strain G4(T) was isolated from the stool sample of a wild gorilla (Gorilla gorilla gorilla) from Cameroon. It is a facultative anaerobic, Gram-negative, rod-shaped bacterium. This strain exhibits a 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence similarity of 97.48% with Paenibacillus typhae, the phylogenetically closest species with standing nomenclature. Moreover, the strain G4(T) presents some phenotypic differences when compared to other Paenibacillus species and shows a low MALDI-TOF Mass Spectrometry score that does not allow any identification. Thus, it is likely that this strain represents a new species. Here, we describe the characteristics of this organism, complete genome sequence, and annotation. The 6,933,847 bp size genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) contains 5972 protein-coding genes and 54 RNAs genes, including 44 tRNA genes. In addition, digital DNA-DNA hybridization values for the genome of the strain G4(T) against the closest Paenibacillus genomes range between 19.7 and 22.1, once again confirming its new status as a new species. On the basis of these polyphasic data, consisting of phenotypic and genomic analyses, we propose the creation of Paenibacillus camerounensis sp. nov. that contains the strain G4(T).

A polyphasic strategy incorporating genomic data for the taxonomic description of novel bacterial species.

Currently, bacterial taxonomy relies on a polyphasic approach based on the combination of phenotypic and genotypic characteristics. However, the current situation is paradoxical in that the genetic criteria that are used, including DNA-DNA hybridization, 16S rRNA gene sequence nucleotide similarity and phylogeny, and DNA G+C content, have significant limitations, but genome sequences that contain the whole genetic information of bacterial strains are not used for taxonomic purposes, despite the decreasing costs of sequencing and the increasing number of available genomes. Recently, we diversified bacterial culture conditions with the aim of isolating uncultivated bacteria. To classify the putative novel species that we cultivated, we used a polyphasic strategy that included phenotypic as well as genomic criteria (genome characteristics as well as genomic sequence similarity). Herein, we review the pros and cons of genome sequencing for taxonomy and propose that the incorporation of genome sequences in taxonomic studies has the advantage of using reliable and reproducible data. This strategy, which we name taxono-genomics, may contribute to the taxonomic classification of bacteria.

Genome sequence and description of Pantoea septica strain FF5.

Strain FF5 was isolated from the skin flora of a healthy Senegalese 35-year-old woman. This strain was identified as belonging to the species Pantoea septica based on rpoB sequence identity of 99.7 % with Pantoea septica strain LMG 5345(T) and a highest MALDI-TOF-MS score of 2.3 with Pantoea septica. Like P. septica, this FF5 strain is a Gram-negative, aerobic, motile, and rod-shaped bacterium. Currently, 17 genomes have been sequenced within the genus Pantoea but none for Pantoea septica. Herein, we compared the genomic properties of strain FF5 to those of other species within the genus Pantoea. The genome of this strain is 4,548,444 bp in length (1 chromosome, no plasmid) with a G + C content of 59.1 % containing 4125 protein-coding and 68 RNA genes (including 2 rRNA operons). We also performed an extensive phenotypic analysis showing new phenotypic characteristics such as the production of alkaline phosphatase, acid phosphatase and naphthol-AS-BI-phosphohydrolase.

High-quality genome sequence and description of Bacillus dielmoensis strain FF4(T) sp. nov.

Strain FF4(T) was isolated from the skin flora of a 16-year-old healthy Senegalese female. This strain exhibited a 16S rRNA sequence similarity of 97.5 % with Bacillus fumarioli, the phylogenetically closest species with standing in nomenclature and a poor MALDI-TOF-MS score (1.1 to 1.3) that does not allow any identification. Using a polyphasic study consisting of phenotypic and genomic analyses, strain FF4(T) was Gram-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, and exhibited a genome of 4,563,381 bp (1 chromosome but no plasmid) with a G + C content of 40.8 % that coded 4,308 protein-coding and 157 RNA genes (including 5 rRNA operons). On the basis of these data, we propose the creation of Bacillus dielmoensis sp. nov.

Non-contiguous finished genome sequence and description of Gorillibacterium massiliense gen. nov, sp. nov., a new member of the family Paenibacillaceae.

Strain G5(T) gen. nov., sp. nov. is the type strain of Gorillibacterium massiliense, a newly proposed genus within the family Paenibacillaceae. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated in France from a stool sample of a wild Gorilla gorilla subsp. gorilla from Cameroon. G. massiliense is a facultatively anaerobic, Gram negative rod. Here we describe the features of this bacterium, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 5,546,433 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) contains 5,145 protein-coding and 76 RNA genes, including 69 tRNA genes.

Non-contiguous finished genome sequence and description of Clostridium dakarense sp. nov.

Clostridium dakarense strain FF1(T), is the type strain of Clostridium dakarense sp. nov., a new species within the genus Clostridium. This strain, whose genome is described here, was isolated from the fecal flora of a 4-month-old Senegalese child suffering from gastroenteritis. C. dakarense sp. nov. strain FF1(T) is an obligate anaerobic Gram-positive bacillus. Here we describe the features of this organism, together with the complete genome sequence and annotation. The 3,735,762 bp long genome (1 chromosome but no plasmid) exhibits a G+C content of 27.98% and contains 3,843 protein-coding and 73 RNA genes, including 8 rRNA genes.