STAPHYLOCOCCUS-PASTEURI SP-NOV, ISOLATED FROM HUMAN, ANIMAL, AND FOOD SPECIMENS

A new novobiocin-susceptible species of the genus Staphylococcus, Staphylococcus pasteuri, is described on the basis of the results of a study of seven strains isolated from human, animal, and food specimens. DNA relatedness experiments (S1 nuclease method) showed that these strains form a homogeneous genomic species related at DNA homology levels of 2 to 13% to 27 type strains representing known Staphylococcus species. The use of a method based on rRNA gene restriction site polymorphism provides clear-cut distinction between this new species and Staphylococcus warneri, which is the most similar species phenotypically. The type strain of the new species is strain BM9357 (= ATCC 51129).