ABSTRACT
A Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, catalase-negative, fructose-dependent strain (W13T) was isolated from the gut of honeybee (Apis mellifera). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequencing indicated that strain W13T represents a distinct line of descent within the genus Fructobacillus, with the closest neighbours being Fructobacillus broussonetiae BCRC 81240T (98.9â% sequence similarity) and Fructobacillus durionis DSM 19113T (96.8â% sequence similarity). Comparative sequencing of the additional phylogenetic markers rpoC and recA confirmed the 16S rRNA gene tree topology. The complete genome of strain W13T consisted of 1â292â712 bp with a G+C content of 48.3 mol%. Pairwise comparisons of the average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between the genomes of W13T and its close phylogenetic neighbours, F. broussonetiae BCRC 81240T and F. durionis DSM 19113T, resulted in 76.2-84.1â% and 20.2-27.6â%, respectively. The main cellular fatty acids of strain W13T were C16â:â0, C18â:â1 ω9c and C18â:â1 ω7c. Thus, we propose a novel species within the genus Fructobacillus, with the name Fructobacillus apis sp. nov. and the type strain is W13T (= NBRC 115637T=BCRC 81365T).