Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. and Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov.: Novel Bacteria Isolated from the Vaginal Microbiome

The strains Marseille-Q7072(T) (= CSUR Q7072(T) = CECT 30604( T)) and Marseille-Q7826(T) (= CSUR Q7826(T) = CECT 30727( T)) were isolated from vaginal samples. As MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry failed to identify them, their genomes were directly sequenced to determine their taxogenomic identities. Both strains are anaerobic without any oxidase and catalase activity. C-16:0 is the most abundant fatty acid for both strains. Strain Marseille-Q7072(T) is non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, and coccus-shaped, while strain Marseille-Q7826(T) is non-spore-forming, motile, Gram-stain-variable, and curved rod-shaped. The genomic comparison of the Marseille-Q7072(T) and Marseille-Q7826(T) strains showed that all digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH) and mean orthologous nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were below published species thresholds (70% and 95-96%, respectively) with other closely related species with standing in nomenclature. Thus, we conclude that both strains are new bacterial species. Strain Marseille-Q7072(T) is a new member of the Bacillota phylum, for which the name Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. is proposed, while the Marseille-Q7826(T) strain is a new member of the Actinomycetota phylum, for which the name Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov. is proposed.