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Abstract

A core genome-based phylogenomic analysis of representative strains of the species identified eight lineages that differ from the six previously described subspecies. Four of them are represented by isolates obtained from intestinal digesta or faeces of rodents and primates, including strains LR77 and LR80 (lineage X), mlc3 and LR92 (lineage VIII), LR51 and LR88 (lineage VII) and LR66 and LR52 (lineage IX). Analyses of pairwise average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values further support their genetic divergence from existing subspecies. These findings suggest the classification of these four lineages as one novel species of and three new subspecies of . Therefore, we propose the novel species sp. nov. (type strain LR77=DSM 113335=LMG 32469) and the novel subspecies subsp. subsp. nov. (type strain mlc3=DSM 113337=LMG 32470), subsp. subsp. nov. (type strain LR51=DSM 113336=LMG 32467) and subsp. subsp. nov. (type strain LR66=DSM 113334=LMG 32468). This expanded taxonomic framework enhances our understanding of the genetic diversity of and further supports its adaptations to diverse vertebrate hosts.

Funding
This study was supported by the:
  • Canada Research Chairs (Award 20230069)
    • Principal Award Recipient: MichaelG. Gänzle
  • Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (Award Discovery Program)
    • Principal Award Recipient: MichaelG. Gänzle
  • National Natural Science Foundation of China (Award 32472848)
    • Principal Award Recipient: FuyongLi
  • Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities (Award 226-2025-00030)
    • Principal Award Recipient: FuyongLi
  • National Undergraduate Innovation and Entrepreneurship Training Program (Award 202510335060)
    • Principal Award Recipient: LiFuyong
  • This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License. This article was made open access via a Publish and Read agreement between the Microbiology Society and the corresponding author’s institution.
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/content/journal/ijsem/10.1099/ijsem.0.007099
2026-03-06
2026-04-14

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