Phenotypic characterization of Sodalis praecaptivus sp. nov., a close non-insect-associated member of the Sodalis-allied lineage of insect endosymbionts.

A Gram-stain-negative bacterium, isolated from a human wound was previously found to share an unprecedentedly close relationship with Sodalis glossinidius and other members of the Sodalis-allied clade of insect symbionts. This relationship was inferred from sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene and genomic comparisons and suggested the strain belonged to a novel species. Biochemical and genetic analyses supported this suggestion and demonstrated that the organism has a wide repertoire of metabolic properties, which is consistent with the presence of a relatively large gene inventory. Among members of the Sodalis-allied clade, this is the first representative that has sufficient metabolic capabilities to sustain growth in minimal media. On the basis of the results of this study, we propose that this organism be classified as a representative of a novel species, Sodalis praecaptivus sp. nov. (type strain HS(T) = DSM 27494(T) = ATCC BAA-2554(T)).