Mycobacterium senuense sp. nov., a slowly growing, non-chromogenic species closely related to the Mycobacterium terrae complex.

A previously undescribed, slowly growing, non-chromogenic mycobacterium, isolated from a Korean patient with a symptomatic pulmonary infection, is described as representing a novel species. Its 16S rRNA gene sequence was unique and phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that this organism belonged to the Mycobacterium terrae subclade. Phenotypically, the strain was generally similar to M. terrae and Mycobacterium nonchromogenicum, but its growth rate was slower than those of other M. terrae complex strains. A unique mycolic acid profile and phylogenetic analysis based on two different alternative chronometer molecules, hsp65 and rpoB, confirm the taxonomic status of this strain as a representative of a novel species. The name Mycobacterium senuense sp. nov. is proposed, with the type strain 05-832(T) (=DSM 44999(T) =KCTC 19147(T)).