Abstract
A new gram-positive, anaerobic, non-spore-forming, lactate- and acetate-producing bacterial species were isolated from the digestive tract of different bumblebees (Bombus lucorum, Bombus pascuorum and Bombus lapidarius). All selected isolates produced fructose-6-phosphate phosphoketolase activity.
Cells of strain BluCI/TPT was gram-positive with occasional bifurcation and irregular constrictions. The isolate was strictly anaerobic.
The bacterium utilized a wide range of carbohydrates. Glucose was fermented to acetate and lactate.
The DNA base composition was 47.2 mol% G+C. The complete 16S rRNA and partial HSP60 gene sequence were obtained and phylogenetic relationships were determined.
The type strain BluCI/TPT and related isolates were located in the actinobacterial cluster and were closely related to the genera Bifidobacterium, Scardovia, Aeriscardovia and Parascardovia. The name proposed for this bacterium is Bifidobacterium bombi sp. nov.; the type strain is BluCI/TPT.