Veillonella nakazawae sp. nov., an anaerobic Gram-negative coccus isolated from the oral cavity of Japanese children

Two strains of previously unknown Gram-negative cocci, T1-7 T and S6-16, were isolated from the oral cavity of healthy Japanese children. The two strains showed atypical phenotypic characteristics of members of the genus Veillonella , including catalase production. Sequencing of their 16S rRNA genes confirmed that they belong to genus Veillonella . Under anaerobic conditions, the two strains produced acetic acid and propionic acid as metabolic end-products in a trypticase–yeast extract–haemin medium containing 1 % (w/v) glucose, 1 % (w/v) fructose and 1 % (v/v) sodium lactate. Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA, dnaK , rpoB and gltA gene sequences revealed that the two strains are phylogenetically homogeneous and comprise a distinct, novel lineage within the genus Veillonella . The sequences from the two strains shared the highest similarity, at 99.9, 95.8, 96.9 and 96.7 %, using the partial 16S rRNA, dnaK , rpoB and gltA gene sequences, respectively, with the type strains of the two most closely related species, Veillonella dispar ATCC 17748 T and Veillonella infantium JCM 31738 T . Furthermore, strain T1-7 T shared the highest average nucleotide identity (ANI) value (94.06 %) with type strain of the most closely related species, V. infantium . At the same time, strain T1-7 T showed the highest digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) value (55.5 %) with the type strain of V. infantium . The two strains reported in this study were distinguished from the previously reported species from the genus Veillonella based on catalase production, partial dnaK , rpoB and gltA sequences, average ANI and dDDH values. Based on these observations, the two strains represent a novel species, for which the name Veillonella nakazawae sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is T1-7 T (JCM 33966 T =CCUG 74597 T ).