Enterococcus alishanensis sp. nov., a novel. lactic acid bacterium isolated from fresh coffee beans

A coccus-shaped organism, designated ALS3(T), was isolated from fresh coffee cherries collected at a farm located in the Ali Mountain region of Taiwan. Sequence analysis of its 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain ALS3(T) belongs to the genus Enterococcus and has more than 98.5% sequence similarity to Enterococcus pallens and Enterococcus hermanniensis. When comparing the ALS3(T) genome with these two type strains, the average nucleotide identity values and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were 72.6-73.3 and 19.2%, respectively. The G+C content of the genomic DNA from strain ALS3(T) was 35.6 mol%. Results of sequence analysis, together with enzymatic activities and characteristics of carbohydrate metabolism, indicated that strain ALS3(T) is distinct and represents a novel species, for which the name Enterococcus alishanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is ALS3(T) (=NBRC 109593(T)=BCRC 80605(T)).

Automated summary

A new species of Enterococcus, named Enterococcus alishanensis, was isolated from coffee cherries collected in Ali Mountain region of Taiwan. This strain showed high similarity to other known Enterococcus species, but exhibited differences in genome and metabolic characteristics.