Genome-based reclassification of the genus and two novel species gen. nov., sp. nov. and sp. nov. isolated from the gut of termites.

The genus was proposed by Schleifer . by separating from the genus . Although the family consists of four genera, each genus contains a relatively small number of species, with the exception of the genus , which contains more than 100 species. The genera and currently comprise 26 species and a single species, respectively. This study evaluated the taxonomy of the genus based on the 16S rRNA gene phylogeny, core-genome phylogeny and (conserved) pairwise average amino acid identity. These evaluations clearly indicated that the genus could be divided into two genus-level clusters, and we propose to reclassify this genus into two; the authentic , which includes the group, and a novel genus for which the name is proposed. Three lactic acid bacterial strains, RyT2, OfM1 and OfM2, were isolated from the gut of termites in Okinawa, Japan. Based on the combination of genetic and phenotypic data, we conclude that these isolates represent two novel species of the genera and , respectively, for which we propose the names sp. nov. (RyT2=JCM 36015=DSM 118067) and sp. nov. (OfM1=JCM 34431=DSM 118066, OfM2=JCM 34432), respectively.