LAUSR

Four Gram-stain-positive, facultatively anaerobic, non-motile, non-spore-forming and rod-shaped bacteria (lx-72T, lx-45, ZJ784T and ZJ955) were isolated from the respiratory tract or faeces of marmot (Marmota himalayana) from the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau in China. Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that all strains belong to the genus Canibacter and are more related to Canibacter oris CCUG 64069T (95.1-97.4 % similarity) than to the genus Leucobacter. Both strain pairs grew well at pH 6-9 and 15-42°C, and ZJ784T/ZJ955 could tolerate slightly higher NaCl (0.5-4.5 %, w/v) than lx-72T/lx-45(0.5-3.5 %). Based on whole-genome sequences, the average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values between our four isolates and their closest relative were below the species delineation thresholds of 70 % and 95-96 %. The common major fatty acids (>10 %) of our four strains were anteiso-C15 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. For both new type strains, MK-8(H4) and MK-9(H4) were the major isoprenoid quinones, and diphosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylglycerol were the main polar lipids. The genomic DNA G+C content of all strains was 53.9 mol%. Based on results from the genomic comparison, phylogenetic analysis, and physiological and biochemical characteristics, the four isolates represent two novel species in the genus Canibacter, for which the names Canibacter zhuwentaonis sp. nov. (type strain lx-72T=KCTC 49658T=GDMCC 1.2569T) and Canibacter zhoujuaniae sp. nov. (type strain ZJ784T=KCTC 49507T=GDMCC 1.1997T) are proposed.