Corynebacterium coyleae sp. nov., isolated from human clinical specimens

Over a 5-year period, six isolates of a previously unknown nonlipophilic coryneform bacterium were isolated from human clinical specimens. The most characteristic phenotypic reactions of these isolates included slow fermentative acid production from glucose but no acid production from maltose and sucrose and a strongly positive CAMP reaction. Chemotaxonomic investigations revealed that meso-diaminopimelic acid and mycolic acids were present, that palmitic, oleic, and stearic acids were the predominant cellular fatty acids, and that the G + C content was 62 to 64 mol%, characteristics which are consistent with assignment to the genus Corynebacterium. Phenotypically, the unknown coryneform bacterium could be readily differentiated from all other Corynebacterium species. A 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and quantitative DNA-DNA hybridization experiments demonstrated unambiguously that the unknown coryneform bacterium is a member of the genus Corynebacterium and is genotypically distinct from all other members of this genus. Based on phenotypic and genotypic findings, a new species, Corynebacterium coyleae sp.nov., is proposed. The type strain of C coylease is strain DSM 44184 (= CCUG 35014).