Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 9, 2026
08:13
Optimized Interferon-gamma ELISpot Assay to Measure T Cell Responses in the Guinea Pig Model after Vaccination
Published on: January 20, 2019
22.6K
Streptococcus caviae sp. nov., isolated from guinea pig faecal samples
Susakul Palakawong Na Ayudthaya1, Loes J Hilderink1, John van der Oost1
1Laboratory of Microbiology, Wageningen University, Stippeneng 4, 6708 WE, Wageningen, The Netherlands.
International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology
|December 24, 2016
Summary
A new bacterium, Streptococcus caviae, was discovered in guinea pig feces. This novel species degrades cellobiose and produces lactate, formate, acetate, and ethanol.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Bacteriology
- Genomics
Background:
- The genus Streptococcus comprises diverse bacteria, some of which inhabit the gastrointestinal tract.
- Understanding the metabolic capabilities and phylogenetic relationships of novel isolates is crucial for microbial classification.
Purpose of the Study:
- To isolate and characterize a novel bacterium from guinea pig feces.
- To determine the phylogenetic and physiological characteristics of the isolate.
- To propose a new species within the genus Streptococcus.
Main Methods:
- Isolation of bacteria from guinea pig fecal samples.
- Morphological, physiological, and biochemical characterization.
- Phylogenetic analysis using 16S rRNA gene sequencing.
- Genomic analysis including Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH).
- Cellular fatty acid analysis.
Main Results:
- A novel, oval-shaped, Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic bacterium, strain Cavy grass 6T, was isolated.
- Phylogenetic analysis placed strain Cavy grass 6T within the genus Streptococcus, with Streptococcus devriesei as its closest relative (96.5% 16S rRNA gene similarity).
- ANI and dDDH values (86.9% and 33.3%, respectively) confirmed its distinctness from S. devriesei.
- The strain ferments various carbohydrates, including cellobiose, to produce lactate, formate, acetate, and ethanol.
- Distinct housekeeping gene sequences (groEL, gyrA) and G+C content (42.6±0.3 mol%) further differentiated the strain.
Conclusions:
- Strain Cavy grass 6T represents a novel species within the genus Streptococcus.
- The proposed name for this new species is Streptococcus caviae sp. nov., with strain Cavy grass 6T as the type strain.
- This discovery expands the known diversity of Streptococcus species and their metabolic functions.
