Tsukamurella Serpentis Sp Nov., Isolated From The Oral Cavity Of Chinese Cobras (Naja Atra)

Two bacterial strains, HKU54(T) and HKU55, were isolated from the oral cavity of two Chinese cobras (Naja atra) in Hong Kong. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis revealed 100% sequence identity between HKU54(T) and HKU55, and the two strains shared 99.0% sequence identities with Tsukamurella inchonensis ATCC 700082(T). The two strains had unique biochemical profiles distinguishable from closely related species of the genus Tsukamurella. DNA-DNA hybridization confirmed that they belonged to the same species (>= 92.1 +/- 7.9% DNA-DNA relatedness) but were distinct from all other known species of the genus Tsukamurella (<= 52.6 +/- 5.3% DNA-DNA relatedness). Chemotaxonomic and morphological analyses of the two strains also demonstrated results consistent with their classification in the genus Tsukamurella. The DNA G+C contents of strains HKU54(T) and HKU55 were 69.2 +/- 1.5 mol% and 69.2 +/- 1.3 mol% (mean +/- SD; n = 3) respectively. A novel species, Tsukamurella serpentis sp. nov., is proposed to accommodate strains HKU54(T) and HKU55, with HKU54(T) (= JCM 31017(T) = DSM 100915(T)) designated as the type strain.