Pavel Švec, Marc Vancanneyt, Luc A. Devriese, Sabri M. Naser, Cindy Snauwaert, Karen Lefebvre, Bart Hoste and Jean Swings

Two enterococcal strains LMG 16607T and LMG 16612 originating from seawater were analysed in a polyphasic taxonomic study. Both strains, assigned as Enterococcus sp. in our strain collection, revealed analogous protein profiles, but different from all other enterococcal species. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis of one strain showed highest similarities in a range of 96.9 to 96.1 % with its closest phylogenetic neighbours Enterococcus saccharolyticus, Enterococcus sulfureus, Enterococcus saccharominimus and Enterococcus italicus. Further genomic analysis by (GTG)5-PCR fingerprinting and sequence analysis of the house keeping gene phenylalanyl-tRNA synthase (pheS), and the presence of biochemical distinct features confirmed that these two strains represent a novel enterococcal species for which the name Enterococcus aquimarinus sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is LMG 16607T (=CCM 7283T).