Corynebacterium hansenii sp. nov., an α-glucosidase-negative bacterium related to Corynebacterium xerosis

A novel strain, C-138T, belonging to the genus Corynebacterium was isolated from a severe thigh liposarcoma infection and its differentiation from Corynebacterium xerosis and Corynebacterium freneyi is described. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequences, rpoB sequences and the PCR profile of the 16S–23S spacer regions was not conclusive enough to differentiate strain C-138T from C. xerosis and C. freneyi. However, according to DNA–DNA hybridization data, strain C-138T constitutes a member of a distinct novel species. It can be differentiated from strains of C. xerosis and C. freneyi by colony morphology, the absence of α-glucosidase and some biochemical characteristics such as glucose fermentation at 42 °C and carbon assimilation substrates. The name Corynebacterium hansenii sp. nov. is proposed for this novel species; the type strain is C-138T (=CIP 108444T=CCUG 53252T).