Mobilisporobacter Senegalensis Gen. Nov., Sp Nov., An Anaerobic Bacterium Isolated From Tropical Shea Cake

A Gram-stain positive, endospore-forming, strictly anaerobic bacterium, designated strain Gal1(T), was isolated from shea cake, a waste material from the production of shea butter, originating from Saraya, Senegal. The cells were rod-shaped, slightly curved, and motile with peritrichous flagella. The strain was oxidase-negative and catalase-negative. Growth was observed at temperatures ranging from 15 to 45 degrees C (optimum 30 degrees C) and at pH 6.5-9.3 (optimum pH 7.8). The salinity range for growth was 0-3.5 % NaCl (optimum 1 %). Yeast extract was required for growth. Strain Gal1(T) fermented various carbohydrates such as mannose, mannitol, arabinose, cellobiose, fructose, glucose, maltose, sucrose, trehalose and lactose and the major end-products were ethanol and acetate. The only major cellular fatty acid was C16 : 0 (19.6 %). The DNA base G+ C content of strain Gal1(T) was 33.8 mol%. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequence of the isolate indicated that this strain was related to Mobilitalea sibirica DSM 26468(T) with 94.27 % similarity, Clostridium populeti ATTC 35295(T) with 93.94 % similarity, and Clostridium aminovalericum DSM 1283(T) and Anaerosporobacter mobilis DSM 15930(T) with 93.63 % similarity. On the basis of phenotypic characteristics, phylogenetic analysis and the results of biochemical and physiological tests, strain Gal1(T) was clearly distinguished from closely related genera, and strain Gal1(T) can be assigned to a novel species of a new genus for which the name Mobilisporobacter senegalensis gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is Gal1(T) (5DSM 26537(T) 5JCM 18753(T)).