RT Journal Article SR Electronic(1) A1 Lawson, Paul A. A1 Foster, Geoffrey A1 Falsen, Enevold A1 Collins, Matthew D.YR 2005 T1 Streptococcus marimammalium sp. nov., isolated from seals JF International Journal of Systematic and Evolutionary Microbiology, VO 55 IS 1 SP 271 OP 274 DO https://doi.org/10.1099/ijs.0.63342-0 PB Microbiology Society, SN 1466-5034, AB Two strains of an unidentified, Gram-positive, catalase-negative, chain-forming, coccus-shaped organism recovered from seals were characterized using phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Based on morphological and biochemical criteria the strains were tentatively identified as streptococci but they did not appear to correspond to any recognized species of the genus Streptococcus. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies showed that the strains were closely related to each other and confirmed their placement in the genus Streptococcus. Sequence divergence values of >5 % with reference streptococcal species demonstrated the organisms from seals represent a novel species. SDS-PAGE analysis of whole-cell proteins confirmed that the two organisms were closely related to each other but were different from all currently defined streptococcal species. Based on biochemical criteria, molecular chemical and molecular genetic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown isolates from seals be assigned to a novel species of the genus Streptococcus, Streptococcus marimammalium sp. nov. The type strain is M54/01/1T (=CCUG 48494T=CIP 108309T)., UL https://www.microbiologyresearch.org/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijs.0.63342-0