Cronobacter condimenti sp. nov., isolated from spiced meat, and Cronobacter universalis sp. nov., a species designation for Cronobacter sp. genomospecies 1, recovered from a leg infection, water, and food ingredients

A re-evaluation of the taxonomic position of five strains, one assigned to Cronobacter sakazakii (strain 1330T), two previously assigned to Cronobacter genomospecies 1 (strains NCTC 9529T and 731) and two as Cronobacter turicensis (strains 96 and 1435) was carried out. The analysis included a phenotypic characterization, sequencing of the 16S rRNA gene and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) of seven housekeeping genes (atpD, fusA, glnS, gltB, gyrB, infB, ppsA; 3036 bp). The 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and MLSA showed strain 1330T, isolated from spiced meat purchased in Slovakia, to form an independent phylogenetic line. Cronobacter dublinensis was the closest neighbour species on the basis of the MLSA. DNA–DNA reassociation and phenotypic analysis revealed that strain 1330T represented a novel species, for which the name Cronobacter condimenti sp. nov. is proposed, type strain 1330T = CECT 7863T, = LMG 26250T). The four bacterial strains NCTC 9529T, 731, 96 and 1435, isolated from water, a leg infectionand two food ingredients; onion powder and rye flour, repectively, showed on the phylogenetic tree to cluster together within an independent phylogenetic line, with Cronobacter turicensis as the closest species. The DNA–DNA hybridization data and the phenotypic characterization confirmed that these strains represented a novel species, for which the name Cronobacter universalis sp. nov. is proposed with type strain NCTC 9529T = CECT 7864T, = LMG 26249T

Characterization of Clinical and Carrier Streptococcus agalactiae and Prophage Contribution to the Strain Variability

Streptococcus agalactiae (group B Streptococcus, GBS) represents a leading cause of invasive bacterial infections in newborns and is also responsible for diseases in older and immunocompromised adults. Prophages represent an important factor contributing to the genome plasticity and evolution of new strains. In the present study, prophage content was analyzed in human GBS isolates. Thirty-seven prophages were identified in genomes of 20 representative sequenced strains. On the basis of the sequence comparison, we divided the prophages into eight groups named A–H. This division also corresponded to the clustering of phage integrase, even though several different integration sites were observed in some relative prophages. Next, PCR method was used for detection of the prophages in 123 GBS strains from adult hospitalized patients and from pregnancy screening. At least one prophage was present in 105 isolates (85%). The highest prevalence was observed for prophage group A (71%) and satellite prophage group B (62%). Other groups were detected infrequently (1–6%). Prophage distribution did not differ between clinical and screening strains, but it was unevenly distributed in MLST (multi locus sequence typing) sequence types. High content of full-length and satellite prophages detected in present study implies that prophages could be beneficial for the host bacterium and could contribute to evolution of more adapted strains