Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp. nov., a member of the Staphylococcus intermedius Group (SIG).

We here describe a novel species in the Staphylococcus intermedius Group (SIG) which is phenotypically similar to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius but is genomically distinct from it and other SIG members, with an average nucleotide identity of 90.2 % with its closest relative S. intermedius. The description of Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp. nov. is based on strain NW1 (=NCTC 13950=DSM 105366) isolated from a human skin infection in Cornwall, UK. Although pathogenic, NW1 carries no known virulence genes or mobilizable antibiotic resistance genes and further studies are required to assess the prevalence of this species in humans as well as its potential presence in companion animals.