Clostridium lundense sp nov., a novel anaerobic lipolytic bacterium isolated from bovine rumen

A strictly anaerobic, mesophilic, endospore-forming, lipolytic bacterium, designated strain R1(T), was isolated from bovine rumen fluid and characterized. Cells of this isolate were Gram-positive, non-motile rods that formed spherical terminal spores. The overall biochemical and physiological characteristics indicated that this strain should be placed in the genus Clostridium. The strain grew at temperatures between 25 and 47 degrees C (optimum, 37 degrees C), at pH between 5(.)0 and 8(.)5 (optimum pH 5(.)5-7(.)0) and in NaCl concentrations of 0-3% (w/v). The isolate was not able to utilize glucose or other carbohydrates as carbon sources. The DNA G+C content was 31(.)2 mol%. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene of R1(T) revealed that it has the closest match (98 % similarity) with Clostridium tetanomorphum DSM 4474(T). The highest levels of DNA-DNA relatedness of the isolate were 61(.)9 and 54(.)3 % with Clostridium pascui DSM 10365(T) and C. tetanomorphum DSM 4474(T), respectively. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, phylogenetic analysis, DNA G+C content, DNA-DNA hybridization data and distinct phenotypic characteristics, strain R1(T) (=DSM 17049(T)=CCUG 50446(T)) was classified in the genus Clostridium, as a member of a novel species, for which the name Clostridium lundense sp. nov. is proposed.