sp. nov., a novel lactic acid bacterium isolated from kimchi.

A short, rod-shaped, Gram-positive, catalase-negative and facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated strain P0083, was isolated from kimchi, a traditional Korean fermented vegetable. Phylogenetic analysis based on the nearly complete 16S rRNA and gene sequences placed the isolate within a distinct group from other closely related species within the genus. Under anaerobic conditions on de Man, Rogosa and Sharpe agar, the bacterium formed beige, circular colonies of moderate size. Growth occurred between 4 and 25 °C, with optimal growth at 20 °C and limited growth at 30 °C. The bacterium grew at pH 5-8 and tolerated 3% NaCl. The main cellular fatty acids included C16 : 0 fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and C18 : 1 CIS 9 FAME. Digital DNA-DNA hybridization confirmed that strain P0083 represents a novel genomic species, with species sharing less than 84.22% DNA homology with strain P0083. The genomic, phenotypic and biochemical characteristics of support the hypothesis that strain P0083 (=JCM 37383=KCTC 25916) represents a novel species, sp. nov., with P0083 as the type strain.