International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology (1 999), 49, 1439-1 442 Printed in Great Britain

Dolosicoccus paucivorans gen. nov., sp. nov., vl isolated from human blood Matthew D. Collins,’ Mar Rodriguez Jovita,’ Roger A. Hutson,’ Enevold Falsen,’ Berit Sjoden’ and Richard R. Facklam3

Author for correspondence : Richard R. Facklam. Tel : + 1 404 639 1379. Fax : + 1 404 639 3 123 e-mail : [email protected]

1 Department of Food Phenotypic and phylogenetic studies were performed on a hitherto Science and Technology, undescribed Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming coccus isolated University of Reading, Reading, UK from human blood. Comparative 16s rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown organism constitutes a new phylogenetic 2 Cu Itu re Co Ilect ion, Department of Clinical line, close to, but distinct from, Facklarnia and Globicatella.The unknown Bacteriology, University of bacterium was readily distinguished from currently recognized facklamia Goteborg, Sweden and Globicatella sanguinis by biochemical tests and electrophoretic 3 Centers for Disease Control analysis of whole-cell proteins. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic and Prevention, 1600 evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium be classified as Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, USA Dolosicoccus paucivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. The type strain of Dolosicoccus paucivorans is CCUG 39307T.

I Keywords: Dolosicoccus paucivorans sp. nov., , phylogeny, 16s rRNA ___

In recent years, the taxonomy of the catalase-negative, Strain 2992-95T was sent by the Cleveland Clinic Gram-positive cocci has undergone much change and Microbiology Reference Laboratory (Cleveland, OH, improvement. Central to this development has been USA) to the Centers for Disease Control and Pre- the use of phenotypic and molecular genetic methods vention (CDC) (Atlanta, USA) for identification. The in concert. In particular, such polyphasic approaches organism originated from a 78-year-old male patient have resulted in much-improved taxonomic in- who was a resident of a local nursing home. The formation and databases that facilitate not only the patient was diagnosed with pneumonia 1 week prior to identification of established taxa but also the rec- hospital admission. Physical examination was sig- ognition of new diversity, As a result of these develop- nificant for bilateral exploratory wheeze and bilateral ments, combined with a growing interest in the role of basilar rates. The organism was isolated from one of the catalase-negative, Gram-positive cocci as oppor- two sets of blood cultures. The organism was un- tunistic pathogens, many new genera and species have identifiable by the Cleveland Clinic Microbiology been described, e.g. Abiotrophia elegans (Roggenkamp Laboratory and the Streptococcus Laboratory at the et al., 1998), Aerococcus urinae (Aguirre & Collins, CDC. The patient was treated initially with cefuroxime 1992a), Alloiococcus otitis (Aguirre & Collins, 1992b), and later with ceftazidime, and improved as a result Dolosigranulum pigrum (Aguirre et al., 1993), Fack- until he was discharged in no apparent distress. The lamia hominis (Collins et al., 1997), Facklamia ignava strain has been deposited in the Culture Collection of (Collins et al., 1998b), Globicatella sanguinis (Collins et the University of Goteborg under accession number al., 1992), Gemella bergeri (Collins et al., 1998a) and CCUG 39307T. The unidentified organism was cul- Helcococcus kunzii (Collins et al., 1993). In this paper, tured on Columbia agar (Difco) supplemented with we report the characteristics of an unusual bio- 5% horse blood at 37 “C, in air plus 5% CO,. The chemically unreactive, Gram-positive, chain-forming strain was characterized biochemically by using the coccus from a clinical specimen, for which the name API Rapid ID32 Strep and API ZYM systems ac- Dolosicoccus paucivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is pro- cording to the manufacturer’s instructions (API bio- posed. This report adds to the plethora of new catalase- Merieux). The strain was also examined by using negative, Gram-positive cocci described from human conventional biochemical and physiological tests as clinical sources in the past few years. described by Facklam & Elliott (1995). PAGE analysis of whole-cell proteins was performed as described by The 165 rRNA gene sequence of strain CCUG 39307T has been deposited in Pot et al. (1994). The GELCOMPARGCW 3.0 software GenBank under accession number AJ012666. package (Applied Maths) was used for densitometric

~ 01077 0 1999 IUMS 1439 M. D. Collins and others analysis and normalization and interpretation of pro- tein patterns. The G+C content of DNA of strain IG 393OlT 2992-95T (=CCUG 39307T) was determined as de- scribed by Garvie (1978). The 16s rRNA genes of the isolate were amplified by PCR and sequenced directly using a Tuq Dye Deoxy Terminator Cycle Sequencing kit (Applied Biosystems) and an automatic DNA sequencer (model 373A; Applied Biosystems). The closest known relatives of the isolate were determined by performing database searches. These sequences and those of other known related strains were retrieved from the GenBank or Ribosomal Database Project (RDP) databases and aligned with the newly deter- mined sequence using the program PILEUP (Devereux et al., 1984). The resulting multiple sequence alignment was corrected manually and a distance matrix was calculated using the programs PRETTY and DNADIST (using Kimura's two-parameter correction) (Felsen- stein, 1989). A phylogenetic tree was constructed according to the neighbour-joining method with the program NEIGHBOR (Felsenstein, 1989). The stability of the groupings was estimated by bootstrap analysis (500 replications) using the programs DNABOOT, DNA- DIST, NEIGHBOR and CONSENSE (Felsenstein, 1989). Fig. 1. Similarity dendrogram based on whole-cell protein pattern of Do/osicoccus paucivorans sp. nov. and related Morphologically, the isolate consisted of Gram-posi- species. Levels of correlation are expressed as percentages of tive, ovoid cells that occurred singly, in pairs or in similarity for convenience. short chains. The organism was a-haemolytic and non- motile. Using conventional tests employed by CDC, the organism produces pyroglutamic acid arylamidase but not leucine aminopeptidase. Gas production in amidase or urease. On the basis of its general lack of MRS broth and bile-aesculin reactions were negative. reactivity towards the carbohydrates tested in the API No growth was observed at 10 or 45 "C or in broth system, the unknown coccus showed some resemb- lance to and F. However, the containing 6.5 % NaCl. No hydrolysis of aesculin, F. ignava horninis. urea, starch or hippurate was observed. Pyruvate was unidentified bacterium differed from F. ignava in not not utilized and 0-04% tellurite was not tolerated. hydrolysing hippurate, not producing leucine amino- Acid was formed in conventional heart-infusion base peptidase and not showing alanine-phenylalanine- medium from raffinose, ribose, sucrose, lactose (weak proline arylamidase activity. The unknown coccus reaction) and maltose (weak reaction). No acid pro- could also be distinguished from F. horninis in the duction was observed with L-arabinose, glycerol, aforementioned tests and by its negative reactions for inulin, melibiose, sorbitol, L-sorbose or trehalose. The arginine dihydrolase, a-galactosidase and p-galacto- strain was biochemically somewhat unreactive accord- sidase. The results of PAGE analysis of whole-cell ing to results obtained with the commercial API Rapid proteins are shown in Fig. 1. These studies confirmed ID32 Strep system. Weak acid production was ob- that the unknown bacterium was quite distinct from F. served from mannitol and lactose but acid was not ignuva and F. Jzominis and all other reference species of produced from D-arabitol, L-arabinose, cyclodextrin, Gram-positive, catalase-negative cocci examined. To glycogen, melibiose, maltose, melezitose, methyl establish the phylogenetic position of the unknown p-D- coccus, its 16s rRNA genes were amplified by PCR glucopyranoside, N-acetylglucosamine, pullulan, D- raffinose, ribose, sorbitol, sucrose, D-tagatose or tre- and sequenced. Sequence searches of GenBank and halose. Hippurate was not hydrolysed and acetoin was RDP databases confirmed that the unidentified coccus not produced. Using API systems, the unknown coccus was phylogenetically most-closely associated with the tested positive for acid phosphatase, pyroglutamic genera Facklurniu and Globicutellu. A tree depicting acid arylamidase, esterase C4 (weak reaction) and the phylogenetic position of the unknown coccus ester lipase C8 (weak reaction). No activity was within the lactic-acid group of is shown in Fig. observed for alkaline phosphatase, arginine dihydro- 2. The coccus formed a distinct line branching close to, lase, alanine-phenylalanine-prolinearylamidase, chy- but distinct from, Facklumiu species and Globicatellu motrypsin, cystine arylamidase, a-galactosidase, p- sanguinis. Sequence divergence values from F. ignavu, galactosidase, P-galacturonidase, a-glucosidase, p-glu- F. horninis, Facklurniu sourekii and Globicatellu sungu- cosidase, p-glucuronidase, lipase C 14, a-fucosidase, a- inis were > 8 YO. mannosidase, /?-mannosidase, glycyl-tryptophan aryl- It is evident from both the phenotypic and phylo- amidase, leucine arylamidase, trypsin, valine aryl- genetic investigations that the unidentified coccus - 1440 International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 49 Dolosicoccus paucivorans gen. nov., sp. nov.

Bootstrap resampling showed that this association of the unknown bacterium with Facklumiu and Gl06i- catella is not particularly significant. PAGE analysis of whole-cell proteins showed the unknown coccus to be - quite distinct from Facklamia species, Globicatella - sanguinis and other reference Gram-positive cocci. Lactosphaera pasteurii DSM 2381 X87150) loolAbiotrophia adiacens ATCC 49175~(050540) Additionally, the unknown coccus was biochemically Abiotrophia elegans DSM 11693l (AFO16390) Facklamia hominis CCUG 36813 Y10772) readily distinguished from all currently recognized Facklarnia sourekii CCUG 28783A" Y 17312) Facklamia ignava CCUG 3741 94 (Y157l6) Gram-positive, catalase-negative species. On the basis - Dolosicoccuspaucivorans CCUG 39307T (AJO12666) w Globicatella sanguinis NCFB 2893T (S50214) of both phenotypic and phylogenetic findings, we Abiotfophia defectiva ATCC 49176T (M77819) 100 Aerococcus urinae NCFB 2893l (M77819) consider, therefore, that the unknown coccus merits Aerococcus viridans ATCC 11 563T(M58797) Dolosigranulum pigrum NCFB 2975T (X70907) classification in a new genus, for which the name -- Dolosicoccus paucivorans gen. nov., sp. nov. is pro- posed. Fig. 2. Unrooted tree showing the phylogenetic relationships of Dolosicoccus paucivorans sp. nov. and some other low-G + C- content Gram-positive bacteria. The tree, constructed by the Description of Do/osicoccus gen. nov. neighbour-joining method, was based on a comparison of approximately 1320 nucleotides. Bootstrap values, expressed as Dolosicoccus (Do.1o'si.coc.cus. L. adj. dolosus crafty, a percentage of 500 replications, are given at branching points. deceptive; Gr. n. coccus a grain; N.L. masc. n. Bar, 1 % sequence divergence. dolosicoccus a deceptive coccus). Cells are Gram-positive, non-spore-forming, non- motile cocci occurring as single cells, in pairs or in represents yet another unknown bacterium from hu- short chains. Facultatively anaerobic and catalase- man clinical specimens. Phylogenetically , the un- negative. Growth does not occur at 10 or 45 "C or in known organism exhibits a loose association with broth containing 6.5 % NaCl. Weak acid production Globicatella sanguinis and the Facklamia clade. How- but no gas from glucose. Hippurate, aesculin, gelatin, ever, the unknown coccus forms a deep and distinct urea and starch are not hydrolysed. Acid phosphatase subline, branching close to the base of these taxa. and pyroglutamic acid arylamidase are produced as

Tabie 1. Characteristics that differentiate Dolosicoccus paucivorans from Facklarnia species and Globicatella sanguinis

...... , ...... , . . , ., ., ...... , . , . . . ., ., . , , ., . .. . . , , , ...... , ., .. , , , .. . . , ., ., , ., .. , . , ...... , . . . . , . . , ., ., , , , ., . , ...... , . , ...... , , , ., ...... , ...... , , ...... , ., . , , ., . , ...... , ...... , . , ...... Results were obtained from API Rapid ID32 Strep and API ZYM systems except for leucine aminopeptidase activity and growth in 6.5 YONaCl. v, Variable; w, weak.

Characteristic D. paucivovans F. ignava F. hominis F. souvekii G. sanguinis

Production of acid from: D- Ara bi to1 - Glycogen + Lactose V Maltose + Mannitol + Melibiose + Pullulan v D-Raffinose + Ribose + Sorbitol V Sucrose + Trehalose + Hydrolysis of hippurate + Production of: Alanine-phenylalanine- - + + proline arylamidase Arginine dihydrolase - Leucine aminopeptidase - a-Galactosidase + P-Galactosidase + Growth in 6.5 YONaCl - + +

~~ ~ International Journal of Systematic Bacteriology 49 1441 M. D. Collins and others detected by the API system. Arginine dihydrolase and Acknowledgements leucine aminopeptidase are not produced. Voges- We thank Susan Schroeder and Dr David Oh of the Proskauer negative. Nitrate is not reduced. The G + C Cleveland Clinic Foundation (Cleveland, OH, USA) for content of DNA is 40.5 mol YO(Tm). The type species providing clinical information. of the genus is Dolosicoccus paucivorans. As deter- mined by 16s rRNA gene sequence analysis, the genus References Dolosicoccus belongs to the lactic-acid group of bac- teria with low DNA G+C content and is phylo- Aguirre, M. & Collins, M. D. (1992a). Phylogenetic analysis of genetically closely related to Facklamia species and some Aerococcus-like organisms from urinary tract infections : Globicatella sanguinis, but may be distinguished from description of Aerococcus urinae sp. nov. J Gen Microbiol138, these taxa by the traits shown in Table 1. 401405. Aguirre, M. & Collins, M. D. (1992b). Phylogenetic analysis of Alloiococcus otitis gen. nov., sp. nov., an organism from human Description of Dolosicoccus paucivorans sp. nov. middle ear fluid. Int J Syst Bacteriol42, 79-83. Aguirre, M., Morrison, D., Cookson, B. D., Gay, F. W. & Collins, Dolosicoccus paucivorans (pau.ci'vo.rans. L. adj. pau- M. D. (1993). Phenotypic and phylogenetic characterization of cus little; L. v. vorase to eat; N.L. adj. paucivorans some Gemella-like organisms from human infections : descrip- eating little, relating to the observation that the tion of Dolosigranulum pigrum gen. nov., sp. nov. J Appl organism utilizes few carbohydrates). Bacteriol75, 608-612. Cells are Gram-positive, ovoid in shape, occurring Collins, M. D., Aguirre, M., Facklam, R. R., Shallcross, 1. & singly, in pairs or in short chains. Cells are non- Williams, A. M. (1992). Globicatella sanguis gen. nov., sp. nov., a pigmented, a-haemolytic and non-motile. Spores are new gram-positive catalase-negative bacterium from human not produced. Facultatively anaerobic, oxidase- sources. J Appl Bacteriol73, 433437. negative and catalase-negative. Growth does not occur Collins, M. D., Facklam, R. R., Rodrigues, U. M. & Ruoff, K. L. at 10 or 45 "C or in broth containing 6.5 % NaC1. Gas (1993). Phylogenetic analysis of some Aerococcus-like organisms from clinical sources : description of Helcococcus kunzii gen. production in MRS broth and bile-aesculin reactions nov., sp. nov. 425429. are negative. Pyruvate is not utilized and 0.04% Int J Syst Bacteriol43, tellurite is not tolerated. No dextrans or levans are Collins, M. D., Falsen, E., Lemozy, J., Akervall, E., SjijdCn, B. & formed on sucrose agar or broth. Using con- Lawson, P. A. (1997). Phenotypic and phylogenetic character- 5% ization of some Globicatella-like organisms from human ventional heart-infusion base medium, acid is pro- sources: description of Facklamia hominis gen. nov., sp. nov. Int duced from D-raffinose, ribose, sucrose, lactose (weak J Syst Bacteriol47, 880-882. reaction) and maltose (weak reaction). Acid is not Collins, M. D., Hutson, R. A,, Falsen, E., SjMCn, B. & Facklam, produced from L-arabinose, glycerol, inulin, melibiose, R. R. (1998a). Gemella bergeriae sp. nov., isolated from human sorbitol, L-sorbose or trehalose. Using the API Rapid clinical specimens. J Clin Microbiol36, 1 290-1 293. ID32 Strep and API ZYM systems, weak acid produc- Collins, M. D., Lawson, P. A., Monasterio, R., Falsen, E., SjadCn, B. tion is observed from mannitol and lactose. Acid is & Facklam, R. R. (1998b). Facklamia ignava sp. nov., isolated not produced from L-arabinose, D-arabitol, cyclo- from human clinical specimens. J Clin Microbiol36,2 146-2 148. dex t rin, glycogen, meli biose, ma1t o se, melezit o se, Devereux, J., Haeberli, P. & Smithies, 0. (1984). A comprehensive N-acetylglucosamine, pullulan, D-raffinose, ribose, set of sequence analysis programs for the VAX. Nucleic Acids sorbitol, sucrose, trehalose, D-tagatose or methyl Res 12, 387-395. P-D-glucopyranoside.Acid p hosphatase, pyroglutamic Facklam, R. & Elliott, J. A. (1995). Identification, classification, acid arylamidase, esterase C4 (weak reaction) and and clinical relevance of catalase-negative, gram-positive cocci, ester lipase C8 (weak reaction) are produced. Alkaline excluding the streptococci and enterococci. Clin Microbiol Rev phosphatase, arginine dihydrolase, alanine-phenyl- 8,479495. alanine-proline arylamidase, cystine arylamidase, Felsenstein, J. (1989). PHYLIP - Phylogeny inference package a-galactosidase, P-galactosidase, P-galacturonidase, a- (version 3.2). Cladistics 5, 164-1 66. glucosidase, P-glucosidase, P-glucuronidase, leucine Garvie, E. I. (1978). Streptococcus rafinolactis Orla-Jensen and aminopeptidase, lipase C 14, a-fucosidase, a-man- Hansen, a group N streptococcus found in raw milk. Int J Syst nosidase, P-mannosidase, N-acetylglucosaminidase, Bacteriol28, 190-193. glycyl-tryptophan arylamidase, chymotrypsin, tryp- Pot, B., Vandamme, P. & Kersters, K. (1994). Analysis of sin, valine arylamidase and urease are not produced. electrophoretic whole-organism protein fingerprints. In Modern Aesculin, starch and hippurate are not hydrolysed. Microbial Methods (Chemical Methods in Prokaryotic System- Acetoin is not produced. No acid or clot is formed in atics Series), pp. 493-521. Edited by M. Goodfellow & A. G. litmus milk. Vancomycin sensitive. The G + C content O'Donnell. Chichester : Wiley. of DNA is 40.5 mol%. The type and only strain Roggenkamp, A., Abele-Horn, M., Trebesius, K. H., Tretter, U., of Dolosicoccus paucivorans is 2992-95T (= CCUG Autenrieth, 1. B. & Heesemann, 1. (1998). Abiotrophia elegans sp. 39307T).Isolated from a human blood sample. Habitat nov., a possible pathogen in patients with culture-negative is unknown. endocarditis. J Clin Microbiol36, 100-1 04.

1442 International Journa I of Systematic Bacteriology 49