Paenibacillus sepulcri sp. nov., isolated from biodeteriorated mural paintings in the Servilia tomb.

In 2001, a Gram-variable, facultatively anaerobic, endospore-forming bacterium isolated from biodeteriorated mural paintings in the Servilia tomb of the Roman necropolis of Carmona was deposited as Paenibacillus strain LMG 19508. Subsequently, the strain was characterized in detail using phenotypic and molecular methods. The 16S rRNA gene sequence confirmed that the strain belongs to the genus Paenibacillus and indicated its relationship to Paenibacillus mendelii CCM 4839(T) (96.7 % sequence similarity). The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The cell wall contained meso-diaminopimelic acid of the A1gamma type. The DNA G+C content (50 mol%) and the major fatty acid (anteiso-C(15 : 0)) of strain LMG 19508(T) were also consistent with its affiliation to the genus Paenibacillus. DNA-DNA hybridization distinguished strain LMG 19508(T) from other phylogenetically related Paenibacillus species. Therefore, the isolate represents a novel species, for which the name Paenibacillus sepulcri sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is CCM 7311(T) (=LMG 19508(T)).