Four novel nontuberculous mycobacteria species: Mycobacterium wendilense sp. nov., Mycobacterium burgundiense sp. nov., Mycobacterium kokjensenii sp. nov. and Mycobacterium holstebronense sp. nov. revived from a historical Danish strain collection

Int J Syst Evol Microbiol. 2025 Jan;75(1):006620. doi: 10.1099/ijsem.0.006620.

Abstract

Four novel nontuberculous mycobacteria were discovered from a historical strain collection at the International Reference Laboratory of Mycobacteriology at Statens Serum Institut in Copenhagen, Denmark. Phylogenetic analysis combining the 16S rrs, internal transcribed spacer and 23S rrl elements, as well as a single-copy core-gene (hsp65, rpoB+C, secA and tuf) analysis of these freeze-dried mycobacteria, clinically isolated from gastric lavage samples between 1948 and 1955, showed to be associated with type strains grouping within the Terra and Fortuitum-Vaccae clade. Phenotypic characteristics, biochemical properties and fatty acid and mycolic acid profiles supported the classification as novel strains. A genomic comparison to the closest related type strain was done by calculating average nucleotide identity and in silico DNA:DNA hybridization values, which showed 87.9% and 33.0% for Mu0050, 85.2% and 27.4% for Mu0053, 85.3% and 27.6% for Mu0083 and 93.3% and 50.1% for Mu0102, respectively. The names proposed for the new species are Mycobacterium wendilense sp. nov. (Mu0050T=ITM 501390T=CCUG 77525T), Mycobacterium burgundiense sp. nov. (Mu0053T=ITM 501391T=CCUG 77526T), Mycobacterium kokjensenii sp. nov. (Mu0083T=ITM 501392T=CCUG 77527T) and Mycobacterium holstebronense sp. nov. (Mu0102T=ITM 501393T=CCUG 77528T).

Keywords: Mycobacterium burgundiense sp. nov.; Mycobacterium holstebronense sp. nov.; Mycobacterium kokjensenii sp. nov.; Mycobacterium wendilense sp. nov.; nontuberculous mycobacteria; novel species; taxonomic description.

MeSH terms

  • Bacterial Typing Techniques*
  • DNA, Bacterial* / genetics
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer / genetics
  • Denmark
  • Fatty Acids*
  • Humans
  • Mycobacterium Infections, Nontuberculous / microbiology
  • Mycolic Acids* / analysis
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* / classification
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* / genetics
  • Nontuberculous Mycobacteria* / isolation & purification
  • Nucleic Acid Hybridization*
  • Phylogeny*
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S* / genetics
  • Sequence Analysis, DNA*

Substances

  • DNA, Bacterial
  • RNA, Ribosomal, 16S
  • Fatty Acids
  • Mycolic Acids
  • DNA, Ribosomal Spacer