Expanding the cultivable human archaeome: Methanobrevibacter intestini sp. nov. and strain Methanobrevibacter smithii GRAZ-2 from human feces

Two mesophilic, hydrogenotrophic methanogens, WWM1085 and M. smithii GRAZ-2 were isolated from human fecal samples. WWM1085 was isolated from an individual in the USA, and represents a novel species with in the genus Methanobrevibacter. M. smithii GRAZ-2 (= DSM 116045) was retrieved from fecal samples of a European, healthy female and represents a novel strain within this genus. Both Methanobrevibacter representatives form non-flagellated, short rods with variable morphologies and the capacity to form filaments. Both isolates showed the typical fluorescence of F420 and methane production. Compared to M. smithii GRAZ-2, WWM1085 did not accumulate formate when grown on H2 and CO2. The optimal growth conditions were at 37{degrees}C, and pH 7. Full genome sequencing revealed a genomic difference of WWM1085 to the type strain of M. smithii PS (type strain; DSM 861), with 93.55% ANI and major differences in the sequence of its mcrA gene (3.3% difference in nucleotide sequence). Differences in the 16S rRNA gene were very minor and thus distinction based on this sequence might not be possible. M. smithii GRAZ-2 was identified as a novel strain within the Methanobrevibacter genus (ANI 99.04 % to M. smithii PS). Due to the major differences of WWM1085 and M. smithii type strain PS in phenotypic, genomic and metabolic features, we propose M. intestini sp. nov. as a novel species with WWM1085 as the type strain (DSM 116060T = CECT 30992).