Prevotella rara sp. nov., isolated from human faeces

Area of Science:

• Microbiology
• Bacteriology
• Genomics

Background:

• The human gut microbiome harbors diverse bacterial species, many yet to be fully characterized.
• Prevotella species are significant members of the gut microbiota, involved in various host-associated processes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To isolate and characterize a novel bacterial strain from human feces.
• To determine the phylogenetic and chemotaxonomic properties of the isolate.
• To propose a new species within the Prevotella genus.

Main Methods:

• Isolation and cultivation of obligately anaerobic bacteria from human fecal samples.
• Phenotypic characterization including metabolic activity (saccharolytic and proteolytic).
• Genotypic characterization using 16S rRNA gene sequencing and whole-genome analysis.
• Chemotaxonomic analysis of menaquinones and cellular fatty acids.
• Determination of genomic DNA G+C content.

Main Results:

• A novel obligately anaerobic, Gram-stain-negative rod was isolated and designated strain 109T.
• Phylogenetic analyses placed the strain within the Prevotella genus, distinct from known species.
• Chemotaxonomic data (menaquinones, fatty acids, G+C content) supported its unique identity.

Conclusions:

• Strain 109T represents a novel species of the genus Prevotella, named Prevotellarara sp. nov.
• This discovery contributes to the understanding of Prevotella diversity in the human gut.
• The proposed type strain is 109T (=VKM B-2992T=DSM 105141T).