Vagococcus penaei sp. nov., isolated from spoilage microbiota of cooked shrimp (Penaeus vannamei)

Abstract

A polyphasic taxonomic study, using phenotypic, phylogenetic and genotypic characterization, was performed on five Gram-stain-positive, catalase-negative, coccus-shaped Vagococcus-like bacteria isolated from the spoilage microbiota of cooked shrimp. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis indicated that the isolates belonged to the genus Vagococcus. The five isolates shared 100% 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, and representative strain CD276T formed a branch that was distinct from the type strains of the six recognized species of the genus Vagococcus (Vagococcus fluvialis CCUG 32704T, V. salmoninarum NCFB 2777T, V. lutrae CCUG 39187T, V. fessus M2661/98/1T, V. carniphilus ATCC BAA-340T and V. elongatus PPC9T). The taxonomic position of strain CD276T was clarified using DNA–DNA hybridization, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis of whole-genome DNA, G+C content determination, cell-wall peptidoglycan typing, fatty acid analysis and biochemical characterization. On the basis of this evidence, a novel species, Vagococcus penaei sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is CD276T (=LMG 24833T =CIP 109914T).