Staphylococcus taiwanensis sp. nov., isolated from human blood

A novel coagulase-negative Staphylococcus strain (NTUH-S172(T)) was isolated from human blood culture in Taiwan with preliminary identification of Staphylococcus saprophyticus. 16S rRNA gene analysis and multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA) showed that NTUH-S172( )(T)was most closely related to Staphylococcus haemolyticus. The average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values with the whole genome sequence were <95% and <70% when compared to the related species. Strain NTUH-S172(T) could be distinguished from S. haemolyticus by urease production and from Staphylococcus borealis by nitrate reduction. In addition, the matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-time of flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) spectrum of NTHU-S172(T) was significantly different from that of S. haemolyticus. which could be used in clinical identification. In conclusion, it is proposed that this isolate represents a novel species, named Staphylococcus taiwanensis sp. nov., with type strain NTUH-S172(T) (=BCRC 81315(T) =JCM 34726(T)).