RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Fortina, M. Grazia A1 Ricci, G. A1 Mora, D. A1 Manachini, P. L.YR 2004 T1 Molecular analysis of artisanal Italian cheeses reveals Enterococcus italicus sp. nov. JF International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, VO 54 IS 5 SP 1717 OP 1721 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.63190-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1466-5034, AB The taxonomic positions of seven atypical Enterococcus strains, isolated from artisanal Italian cheeses, were investigated in a polyphasic study. By using 16S rRNA gene sequencing, DNA–DNA hybridization and intergenic transcribed spacer analysis, as well as by examining the phenotypic properties, the novel isolates were shown to constitute a novel enterococcal species. Their closest relatives are Enterococcus sulfureus and Enterococcus saccharolyticus, having a 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity of 96·7 %. This group of strains can be easily differentiated from the other Enterococcus species by DNA–DNA hybridization and by their phenotypic characteristics: the strains do not grow in 6·5 % NaCl, and they do not produce acid from l-arabinose, melezitose, melibiose, raffinose or ribose. The name Enterococcus italicus sp. nov. is proposed for this species, with strain DSM 15952T (=LMG 22039T) as the type strain., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijs.0.63190-0