Providencia vermicola sp nov., isolated from infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema thermophilum

In the course of isolating bacteria from infective juveniles of the entomopathogenic nematode Steinernema thermophilum Ganguly & Singh, 2000, three isolates were obtained (OP1(T), OP29 and VS3). On the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and riboprint patterns, these three strains were identical to each other but distinct from the type strains of the five recognized species of the genus Providencia. Based on biochemical and genomic analysis and supported by the low (< 35%) DNA-DNA relatedness between strain OP1(T) and the type strain of its phylogenetically closest relative, Providencia rettgeri (99.5 % 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity), strain OP1(T) was considered to be sufficiently distinct from recognized Providencia species to warrant the description of a novel species. The name Providencia vermicola sp. nov. is proposed, with OP1(T) (=DSM 17385(T)=CIP 108829(T)) as the type strain.