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Updated: Jul 26, 2026

Identification of Rare Bacterial Pathogens by 16S rRNA Gene Sequencing and MALDI-TOF MS
Published on: July 11, 2016
Preliminary comparative genomics analysis among Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii complex necessitates a reassessment of
Ying Huang1, Ming-Hui Song2, Shun-Guang Li3
1Institute of Marine Biotechnology and Bio-Resource Utilization, College of Oceanography, Hohai University, Nanjing 210024, China.
Aims:
This study aimed to characterize the first complete genome of Corynebacterium parakroppenstedtii and clarify the evolutionary relationship in the Corynebacterium kroppenstedtii complex (CKC) by using comparative genomics analysis.
Methods And Results:
The genome of isolate yu01 from a breast specimen was sequenced, and 35 CKC genomes were collected. Analysis of 16S rRNA, rpoB, and fusA suggested ambiguous identification, whereas ANI analysis assigned isolate yu01 as Coryne. parakroppenstedtii. The fourth genospecies "Corynebacterium aliikroppenstedtii" was identified in CKC. Comparative genomics analysis suggested that the genomic arrangement in CKC was highly conserved. A total of 43 potential virulence genes and 79 species-specific genes were detected. Most genome-based phylogenetic analysis were incapable of resolving the interspecific evolutionary relationships among CKCs. A total of 20 core genes were found to be distinguishable in CKC.
Conclusions:
This study suggested the limited divergence and unavailability of normal single gene-based identification in CKC and questioned the precise species of strains associated with mastitis, identified as Coryne. kroppenstedtii in previous studies. The 20 genes showed potential to enhance the methods for the identification and epidemiological investigation of CKC.
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