Pseudoclavibacter chungangensis sp. nov., isolated from activated sludge

The taxonomic position of a Gram-positive, non-spore-forming strain, designated CAU 59(T), from activated sludge was investigated. Colony morphology, biochemical tests and chemotaxonomic investigations revealed that strain CAU 59(T) possessed the characteristics of the genus Pseudoclavibacter. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis showed sequence divergence values between strain CAU 59(T) and other described Pseudoclavibacter species of more than 3.6 %, and the strain formed a hitherto-unknown subline within the genus Pseudoclavibacter. DNA-DNA hybridization studies showed that strain CAU 59(T) displayed 20.9 % relatedness to its closest phylogenetic neighbour, Pseudoclavibacter helvolus DSM 20419(T). The DNA G+C content was 66.2 mol%. The phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic data indicated that strain CAU 59(T) represents a novel species of the genus Pseudoclavibacter, for which the name Pseudoclavibacter chungangensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CAU 59(T) (=KCTC 22691(T) =CCUG 58142(T)).