Turicibacter bilis sp. nov., a novel bacterium isolated from the chicken eggshell and swine ileum

Three novel, anaerobic, Gram-positive bacteria were isolated from the eggshell of two separate white leghorn chicken flocks and the ileum of a healthy pig, and designated MMM721(T), ISU324 and PIG517 respectively. Cells were pleomorphic and capable of forming long chains of rods or coccoid clusters. Phylogenetic analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences identified these strains to be within the genus Turicibacter , of which only one species, Turicibacter sanguinis , has been formally described. However, whole genome sequencing of novel isolates returned a digital DNA–DNA hybridization value of 22.5 % and average nucleotide identity (ANI) values of 76.4 % (ANIb) and 86.0 % (ANIm), indicating divergence between the type strain MMM721(T) and T. sanguinis , suggesting the strains represented a novel species. The major fatty acid methyl esters of strain MMM721(T) were C(16 : 0), C(18 : 1) ω7c and C(18 : 0). The strains mainly produced the volatile fatty acid lactate, along with smaller amounts of acetate and butyrate. Together, these data indicate that MMM721(T), along with ISU324 and PIG517, represent a novel species within the genus Turicibacter . We propose the name Turicibacter bilis sp. nov. for the species. The type strain is MMM721(T) (=ATCC TSD-238(T)=CCUG 74757(T)).