Abstract
Six strains of a hitherto-undescribed gram-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic coccus from human sources were characterized by phenotypic and molecular taxonomic methods. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequencing studies demonstrated that the unknown strains are genealogically homogeneous and constitute a new subline within the genus Gemella. The unknown bacterium was readily distinguished from Gemella haemolysans, the type species of the genus Gemella, and from Gemella morbillorum by biochemical tests and electrophoretic analysis of whole-cell proteins. On the basis of phylogenetic and phenotypic evidence, it is proposed that the unknown bacterium from clinical specimens be classified as Gemella bergeriae sp. nov. The type strain of G. bergeriae is CCUG 37817 (= strain 617-93).