Clinical and Taxonomic Characterization of a Novel Urinary Tract Pathogen Providencia lanzhouensis

BackgroundThe genus Providencia includes species of ecological and clinical significance, with some acting as opportunistic pathogens in hospital-acquired infections such as urinary tract infection (UTI). However, overlapping phenotypic traits and genetic similarities pose challenges for accurate species characterization. This study exemplifies this challenge by identifying a novel Providencia isolate through genomic analysis. ResultsIn this study, strain PAZ2 was isolated from the urine sample of a hospitalized patient in Lanzhou, Gansu Province, China. Initial mass spectrometry analysis identified the strain as Providencia alcalifaciens. It exhibits a resistance profile against antibiotics including ampicillin, tetracycline, tigecycline, polymyxin B, colistin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, and ciprofloxacin. However, whole-genome sequence analysis indicated that this strain is a novel species with an average nucleotide identity (ANI) values ranging from 79.92% to 94.73% and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH) values between 21.2% and 57.6% when compared with all known Providencia species. Furthermore, strain PAZ2 exhibited unique biochemical properties that differentiated it from all previously described species within the genus. ConclusionsGenomic and biochemical evidence supports PAZ2 as a novel Providencia species, which we named Providencia lanzhouensis sp. nov. This finding enhances the taxonomy of Providencia and underscores its clinical relevance, notably in UTIs and other nosocomial infections. Accurate identification is crucial for guiding effective treatment and preventing misdiagnosis. Further studies should investigate its pathogenicity, antimicrobial resistance, and epidemiology to inform infection control measures.