Description of Faecalibacterium wellingii sp. nov. and two Faecalibacterium taiwanense strains, aiding to the reclassification of Faecalibacterium species

Niels Plomp; Hermie J M Harmsen

doi:10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102881

Description of Faecalibacterium wellingii sp. nov. and two Faecalibacterium taiwanense strains, aiding to the reclassification of Faecalibacterium species

Anaerobe. 2024 Oct:89:102881. doi: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102881. Epub 2024 Jun 24.

Authors

Niels Plomp¹, Hermie J M Harmsen²

Affiliations

¹ Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].
² Department of Medical Microbiology and Infection Prevention, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9713 GZ, Groningen, the Netherlands. Electronic address: [email protected].

PMID: 38925221
DOI: 10.1016/j.anaerobe.2024.102881

Abstract

Objectives: The genus Faecalibacterium is one of the most important butyrate producers in the human intestinal tract and has been widely linked to health. Recently, several different species have been described, but still more phylogroups have been identified, suggesting that additional species may exist. Four strains HTF-F^T, HTF-128, HTF-75H and HTF-76H, representing two different phylogenetic clusters, are evaluated in this study.

Methods: Phylogenomic analysis was performed using whole-genome sequences and 16S rRNA gene sequences. Chemotaxonomic analysis was done based on matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Physiological and phenotypical characteristics of these strains were also determined. All characteristics of these strains were compared with other validly published species within the genus Faecalibacterium.

Results: On a genomic level, the strains HTF-F^T and HTF-128 shared an average nucleotide identity (ANI) of <95.0 % and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) of <70.0 with other Faecalibacterium species, while between HTF-F^T and HTF-128 the ANI-value was 97.18 % and the dDDH was 76.8 %. HTF-75H and HTF-76H had an ANI and dDDH value of 100 % (99.96 %) and 100 % (99.99 %) respectively. Both HTF-75H and HTF-76H were closely related to Faecalibacterium taiwanense HLW78^T. 16S rRNA gene and chemotaxonomic analysis were in accordance with the genomic data, confirming that HTF-F^T and HTF-128 represent a novel Faecalibacterium species and HTF-75H and HTF-76H belong to F. taiwanense.

Conclusions: Faecalibacterium strains HTF-F^T (=DSM 117771^T = NCIMB 15531^T) and HTF-128 represent a novel species. The name Faecalibacterium wellingii with HTF-F^T as type strain is proposed. Two novel isolates HTF-75H (=DSM 17770 = NCIMB 15530) and HTF-76H are described in this study and belong to the recently described Faecalibacterium taiwanense.

Keywords: Faecalibacterium prausnitzii; Faecalibacterium taiwanense; Faecalibacterium wellingii; Phylogenomics; Taxonomy.

MeSH terms

Bacterial Typing Techniques
DNA, Bacterial / genetics
Faecalibacterium* / classification
Faecalibacterium* / genetics
Faecalibacterium* / isolation & purification
Genome, Bacterial
Humans
Phylogeny*
RNA, Ribosomal, 16S* / genetics
Sequence Analysis, DNA
Whole Genome Sequencing

Substances

RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
DNA, Bacterial