Providencia huaxiensis sp. nov., recovered from a human rectal swab

Strain WCHPr000369^T was recovered from a human rectal swab in China in 2015. Phylogenetic analysis based on its 16S rRNA gene suggested that the strain belonged to the genus Providencia. The genome sequence of the strain had a 77.30-90.43% average nucleotide identity (ANI) and 20.9-41.5 % in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) score with those of type strains of known Providencia species. The ANI and isDDH values indicated that the strain was likely to belong to a new species. Multi-locus sequence analysis on the fusA, lepA, leuS, gyrB and ileS housekeeping genes also revealed that the strain was distinct from any previously described species of the genus Providencia. Strain WCHPr000369^T could be distinguished from all known Providencia species by the combination of positive urease reaction and the ability to utilize citrate. Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics from this study indicated that strain WCHPr000369^T should be considered to represent a novel species of the genus Providencia, for which the name Providencia huaxiensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WCHPr000369^T (=GDMCC1.1382^T=KCTC 62577^T).