Characterization of a strain representing a new Enterobacter species, Enterobacter chengduensis sp. nov.

An Enterobacter strain, WCHECl-C4, was recovered from a human blood sample in China in 2015. Phylogenetic analysis based on multi-locus sequence analysis of the rpoB, gyrB, infB and atpD housekeeping genes revealed that the strain is distinct from any previously described species of the genus Enterobacter. The whole genome sequence of strain WCHECl-C4 has an 80.48–93.34% average nucleotide identity with those of type strains of all known Enterobacter species. In silico DNA–DNA hybridization (isDDH) values between strain WCHECl-C4 and type strains of all known Enterobacter species range from 23.2 to 52.4%. The major cellular fatty acids of strain WCHECl-C4 are C16:0, C17:0 cyclo and C18:1ω7c, which are in the range of Enterobacter species. The genomic DNA G + C content was 55.7 mol%. Strain WCHECl-C4 can be distinguished from all known Enterobacter species by its ability to ferment d-sorbitol, l-rhamnose and melibiose but with a negative Voges–Proskauer reaction. Genotypic and phenotypic characteristics from this study indicate that strain WCHECl-C4 represents a novel species of the genus Enterobacter, for which the name Enterobacter chengduensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WCHECl-C4T (= GDMCC1.1216T = CCTCC AB 2017105T = KCTC 52993T).