Ruminococcus bovis sp. nov., a novel species of amylolytic Ruminococcus isolated from the rumen of a dairy cow

This study describes JE7A12(T) (=ATCC TSD-225(T)=NCTC 14479(T)), an isolate from the ruminal content of a dairy cow. Phenotypic and genotypic traits of the isolate were explored. JE7A12(T) was found to be a strictly anaerobic, catalase-negative, oxidase-negative, coccoid bacterium that grows in chains. The API 50 CH carbon source assay detected fermentation of d-glucose, d-fructose, d-galactose, glycogen and starch. HPLC showed acetate to be the major fermentation product as a result of carbohydrate fermentation. Phylogenetic analysis of JE7A12(T) based on 16S rRNA nucleotide sequence and amino acid sequences from the whole genome indicated a divergent lineage from the closest neighbours in the genus Ruminococcus . The results of 16S rRNA sequence comparison, whole genome average nucleotide identity (ANI) and DNA G+C content data indicate that JE7A12(T) represents a novel species which we propose the name Ruminococcus bovis with JE7A12(T) as the type strain.