Enterococcus aquimarinus sp. nov., isolated from sea water
Two enterococcal strains LMG 16607T and LMG 16612 originating from sea water were analysed in a polyphasic taxonomic study. Both strains, assigned as Enterococcus sp. in the BCCM/LMG culture collection, possessed analogous protein profiles, but these were different from all other enterococcal species. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of one strain showed the highest similarity, 96·9–96·1 %, with its closest phylogenetic neighbours Enterococcus saccharolyticus, Enterococcus sulfureus, Enterococcus saccharominimus and Enterococcus italicus. Further genomic analysis by (GTG)5-PCR fingerprinting and sequence analysis of the housekeeping gene phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase (pheS) and distinct biochemical features confirmed that the two strains represent a novel enterococcal species for which the name Enterococcus aquimarinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LMG 16607T (=CCM 7283T).