Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. and Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov.: Novel Bacteria Isolated from the Vaginal Microbiome

The strains Marseille-Q7072 T (= CSUR Q7072 T = CECT 30604 T ) and Marseille-Q7826 T (= CSUR Q7826 T = CECT 30727 T ) were isolated from vaginal samples. As MALDI-TOF mass spectrometry failed to identify them, their genomes were directly sequenced to determine their taxogenomic identities. Both strains are anaerobic without any oxidase and catalase activity. C 16:0 is the most abundant fatty acid for both strains. Strain Marseille-Q7072 T is non-spore-forming, non-motile, Gram-stain-positive, and coccus-shaped, while strain Marseille-Q7826 T is non-spore-forming, motile, Gram-stain-variable, and curved rod-shaped. The genomic comparison of the Marseille-Q7072 T and Marseille-Q7826 T strains showed that all digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) and mean orthologous nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) values were below published species thresholds (70% and 95–96%, respectively) with other closely related species with standing in nomenclature. Thus, we conclude that both strains are new bacterial species. Strain Marseille-Q7072 T is a new member of the Bacillota phylum, for which the name Peptoniphilus genitalis sp. nov. is proposed, while the Marseille-Q7826 T strain is a new member of the Actinomycetota phylum, for which the name Mobiluncus massiliensis sp. nov. is proposed.