Veillonella tobetsuensis sp. nov., an anaerobic, Gram-negative coccus isolated from human tongue biofilms

Four previously unknown, Gram-negative, anaerobic coccal strains were isolated from the tongue biofilm of healthy human adults (ages 22–29 years). The isolates displayed all phenotypic characteristics of the genus Veillonella . Comparative analysis of the 16S rRNA, dnaK and rpoB gene sequences indicated that the four strains were phylogenetically homogeneous and comprised a distinct novel lineage within the genus Veillonella . The production of major cellular fatty acids (C13 : 0 and C17 : 1ω8) was consistent with that of other members of the genus Veillonella . Based on these observations, strains B16T, A16, B4 and Y6 represent a novel species, for which the name Veillonella tobetsuensis sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain B16T ( = JCM 17976T = ATCC BAA-2400T).