Bacteroides rhinocerotis sp. nov., isolated from the fresh feces of rhinoceros in Beijing Zoo

A Gram-negative strain, anaerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain named as NGMCC 1.200684 (T) was isolated from the fresh feces of rhinoceros in Beijing Zoo. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, phylogenetic analysis indicated that strain NGMCC 1.200684 (T) belonged to the genus Bacteroides and was most strongly related to the type strain of Bacteroides uniformis ATCC -8492 (T) (96.88%). The G + C content of the genomic DNA was determined to be 46.62%. Between strains NGMCC 1.200684 (T) and B. uniformis ATCC -8492 (T), the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) were 93.89 and 67.60%, respectively. Strain NGMCC 1.200684 (T) can produce acid from fermentation of several substrates, including glucose, mannitol, lactose, saccharose, maltose, salicin, xylose, cellobiose, mannose, raffinose, sorbitol, trehalose, D.galactose, and maltotriose. The major cellular fatty acids (> 10%) were identified as anteiso.C-15:0, iso.C-15:0, iso.C-14:0, and iso.C-17:0 3.OH. The polar lipid profiles of strain NGMCC 1.200684 T were determined to contain diphosphatidyl glycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, three unknown phospholipids, and two unknown amino-phospholipids. Based on phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics, a novel species of the genus Bacteroides, Bacteroides rhinocerotis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is NGMCC 1.200684 (T) (= CGMCC 1.18013 (T) = JCM -35702 (T)).

Automated summary

A strain of Gram-negative, anaerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming, rod-shaped bacteria named NGMCC 1.200684 (T) was isolated from rhinoceros feces in Beijing Zoo. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequences, it belongs to the genus Bacteroides and is most closely related to Bacteroides uniformis ATCC -8492 (T). The strain is proposed as a novel species named Bacteroides rhinocerotis sp. nov. based on phenotypic, phylogenetic, and chemotaxonomic characteristics.