Enterobacter turicensis sp. nov. and Enterobacter helveticus sp. nov., isolated from fruit powder

Four Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, non-spore-forming isolates of coccoid rods were obtained from fruit powder and investigated in a polyphasic taxonomic study. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis allocated the isolates to the family Enterobacteriaceae. Their phylogenetic position within the family Enterobacteriaceae was confirmed by rpoB sequence analysis and as the highest rpoB sequence similarities were obtained with Enterobacter radicincitans, Enterobacter cowanii and Enterobacter sakazakii, the isolates clearly belong to the genus Enterobacter. Biochemical data revealed that the isolates can be separated into two distinct groups that represent two novel species, as confirmed by DNA-DNA hybridizations. The two novel species can be differentiated from their nearest neighbours by the following characteristics: the utilization of sucrose, D-sorbitol, putrescine and mucate, the hydrolysis of aesculin and a negative result in the Voges-Proskauer reaction. It is therefore proposed that these novel isolates are classified as Enterobacter turicensis sp. nov. (type strain 508/05(T)=LMG 23730(T)=DSM 18397(T)) and Enterobacter helveticus sp. nov. (type strain 513/05(T)=LMG 23732(T)=DSM 18396(T)).