Photobacterium carnosum sp. nov., isolated from spoiled modified atmosphere packaged poultry meat.

Analysis of spoilage-associated microbiota of modified-atmosphere packaged poultry meat revealed four different bacterial isolates that could not be assigned to known species. They showed a Gram-negative staining behavior, were facultatively aerobic, non-motile with variable cell morphology. Phylogenetic analysis of 16S rDNA and gyrB, rpoD and recA revealed a distinct lineage within the genus Photobacterium with Photobacterium (P.) iliopiscarium DSM 9896T, P. phosphoreum DSM 15556T, P. kishitanii DSM 19954T, P. piscicola LMG 27681T and P. aquimaris DSM 23343T as closest relatives. The designated type strain TMW 2.2021T is non-luminous and grew at 0-20°C (optimum 10-15°C), within pH 5.0-8.5 (optimum 6-8) and in the presence of 0.5-3% (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1%). Major cellular fatty acids of TMW 2.2021T were summed feature 3 (C16:1ω7c/iso-C15 3-OH), C16:0, C18:1ω7c and summed feature 2 (C12:0 aldehyde and C10.928 unknown). Quinone analysis revealed Q-8 as sole respiratory ubiquinone. The genome of TMW 2.2021T has a size of 4.56Mb and a G+C content of 38.49mol%. The ANI value between TMW 2.2021T and the type strain of closest relative P. iliopiscarium DSM 9896T was 91.43%. Fingerprinting on the base of M13-RAPD-PCR band pattern and MALDI-TOF MS profiles allowed intraspecies differentiation between our isolates but also supported their distinct lineage to a novel species. Based on phylogenetic, genomic, phenotypic and chemotaxonomic data, strain TMW 2.2021T and further strains represent a novel species of the genus Photobacterium, for which the name Photobacterium carnosum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is TMW 2.2021T (=DSM 105454T=CECT 9394T).