PUB - Publikationen an der Universität Bielefeld

Four rod-shaped, non-motile, non-spore-forming, facultative anaerobic, Gram-stain-positive lactic acid bacteria, designated as EB0058^T, SCR0080, LD0937^Tand SCR0063^T, were isolated from different corn and grass silage samples. The isolated strains were characterized using a polyphasic approach and EB0058^Tand SCR0080 were identified asLacticaseibacillus zeaeby 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis. Based on whole-genome sequence-based characterization, EB0058^Tand SCR0080 were separated into a distinct clade fromLacticaseibacillus zeaeDSM 20178^T, together with CECT9104 and UD2202, whose genomic sequences are available from NCBI GenBank. The average nucleotide identity (ANI) values within the new subgroup are 99.9 % and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values are 99.3–99.9 %, respectively. In contrast, comparison of the new subgroup with publicly available genomic sequences ofL. zeaestrains, including the type strain DSM 20178^T, revealed dDDH values of 70.2–72.5 % and ANI values of 96.2–96.6 %. Based on their chemotaxonomic, phenotypic and phylogenetic characteristics, EB0058^Tand SCR0080 represent a new subspecies ofL. zeae. The nameLacticaseibacillus zeaesubsp.silageisubsp. nov. is proposed with the type strain EB0058^T(=DSM 116376^T=NCIMB 15474^T). According to the results of 16S rRNA gene sequencing, LD0937^Tand SCR0063^Tare members of theLacticaseibacillusgroup. The dDDH value between the isolates LD0937^Tand SCR0063^Twas 67.6 %, which is below the species threshold of 70 %, clearly showing that these two isolates belong to different species. For both strains, whole genome-sequencing revealed that the closest relatives within theLacticaseibacillusgroup wereLacticaseibacillus huelsenbergensisDSM 115425(dDDH 66.5 and 65.9 %) andLacticaseibacillus caseiDSM 20011^T(dDDH 64.1 and 64.9 %). Based on the genomic, chemotaxonomic and morphological data obtained in this study, two novel species,Lacticaseibacillus parahuelsenbergensissp. nov. andLacticaseibacillus styriensissp. nov. are proposed and the type strains are LD0937^T(=DSM 116105^T=NCIMB 15471^T) and SCR0063^T(=DSM 116297^T=NCIMB 15473^T), respectively.