Summary auto-generated
This study investigates the phylogenetic position of Eubacterium lentum by determining and analyzing its 16S rRNA gene sequence. The researchers found that E. lentum is phylogenetically distinct from other Eubacterium species and more closely related to Collinsella aerofaciens and Coriobacterium glomerans within the family Coriobacteriaceae. Based on these molecular findings combined with unique phenotypic characteristics—including type A3γ peptidoglycan, possession of both MK-6 and MMK-6 menaquinones, and a 62 mol% DNA G+C content—the authors propose transferring E. lentum to a new genus named Eggerthella as Eggerthella lenta. Additionally, they developed a PCR-based identification system using species-specific primers that successfully distinguishes E. lentum from closely related taxa and other Eubacterium species. The primers were validated against multiple bacterial taxa and successfully identified 17 E. lentum-like strains isolated from human fecal samples. This work demonstrates the value of molecular phylogenetics in bacterial taxonomy and provides a rapid molecular tool for clinical identification.
Key findings
- 16S rRNA sequence analysis reveals Eubacterium lentum is phylogenetically distinct from other Eubacterium species and clusters with Collinsella aerofaciens and Coriobacterium glomerans in the family Coriobacteriaceae
- Eubacterium lentum possesses unique biochemical characteristics including type A3γ peptidoglycan, both MK-6 and MMK-6 menaquinones, and 62 mol% DNA G+C content, distinguishing it from Eubacterium sensu stricto
- A new genus Eggerthella is proposed with E. lentum transferred as the type species Eggerthella lenta gen. nov., comb. nov.
- Species-specific PCR primers successfully and specifically identify Eggerthella lenta among related taxa and other anaerobic Gram-positive bacteria, with validation against 17 clinical isolates from human feces
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Abstract
Eubacterium lentum has unique phenotypic characters within the genus Eubacterium. The 16S rRNA sequence of Eubacterium lentum was determined and its phylogenetic position was defined. This micro-organism is a member of the genus Eubacterium but it is not closely related to Eubacterium limosum, the type species of the genus Eubacterium, and is nearer to Collinsella aerofaciens and Coriobacterium glomerans. A PCR-based identification system using species-specific primers designed on the basis of DNA sequences encoding the 16S rRNA of strains of Eubacterium lentum, Collinsella aerofaciens and Coriobacterium glomerans is described. A species-specific primer set can distinguish Eubacterium lentum from Eubacterium limosum or closely related species including Collinsella aerofaciens, Coriobacterium glomerans and Atopobium species. This species-specific PCR method can be used to identify Eubacterium lentum-like species isolated from human faeces. On the basis of the 16S rRNA sequence divergence from Collinsella aerofaciens and Coriobacterium glomerans and the presence of unique phenotypic characters, a new genus, Eggerthella gen. nov., is proposed for Eubacterium lentum, with one species, Eggerthella lenta comb. nov. The type strain of Eggerthella lenta is JCM 9979(T).