Apilactobacillus pseudapinorum sp. nov., isolated from polyfloral honey

A novel fructophilic lactic acid bacterium, designated strain 1H7-5 T , was isolated from fresh honey in Japan. The strain exhibited poor glucose assimilation under anaerobic conditions and required external electron acceptors for glucose metabolism, indicating a fructophilic lifestyle. Cells were non-motile, rod-shaped, catalase-negative and facultatively anaerobic. Strain 1H7-5 T grew at 20–37 °C and at pH 5.0–7.5. Comparative 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis and phylogeny based on core genome sequences revealed that strain 1H7-5 T is affiliated within the genus Apilactobacillus , showing the highest similarity to Apilactobacillus apinorum . Average nucleotide identity and digital DNA–DNA hybridization values between strain 1H7-5 T and type strains of Apilactobacillus species were below the thresholds for species demarcation. The major cellular fatty acids were C 16:0 , C 18:1 ω 9 c and C 19:0 cyclo ω 8 c , and the genomic DNA G+C content was 34.5 mol%. Based on phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genomic evidence, strain 1H7-5 T represents a novel species within the genus Apilactobacillus , for which the name Apilactobacillus pseudapinorum sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is 1H7-5 T (=JCM 37175 T =DSM 118410 T ).