Olsenella scatoligenes sp. nov., a 3-methylindole (skatole) and 4-methylphenol (p-cresol) producing bacterium isolated from pig faces

Summary in the original language of the document

Strain SK9K4T, a strictly anaerobic, non-motile, non-sporulating, Gram-positive, saccharolytic coccobacillus was isolated from pig feces. SK9K4T metabolized indol-3-acetic acid to 3-methylindole (skatole), which is the main contributor to boar taint and also produced 4-methylphenol (p-cresol) from p-hydroxyphenylacetic acid. Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that the isolate represented a new lineage within the genus Olsenella of the family Atopobiaceae. Strain SK9K4T was most closely related to the type strains of the three recognized Olsenella species; Olsenella profusa DSM 13989T (93.6%), Olsenella uli DSM 7084T (93.5%) and Olsenella umbonata DSM 22620T (92.7%). DNA–DNA relatedness values of strain SK9K4T with O. profusa, O. uli and O. umbonata were 28.3 %, 69.1% and 27.2 %, respectively. The genomic DNA G + C content was 62.1 mol% and the major cellular fatty acids (>10%) were C14:0 and C18:1 w9c. The major end product of glucose fermentation was lactic acid, with minor amounts of acetic acid and formic acid; no hydrogen was produced. Differences in fatty acid profiles, MALDI-TOF mass spectra of cell extracts, physiological and biochemical characteristics differentiate the strain SK9K4T from other recognized species of the Olsenella genus and indicate that the isolate represents a novel species within this genus, for which the name Olsenella skatologenes sp. nov., is proposed. The type strain is SK9K4T (=JCM 19907T =DSM 28304T).