Neisseria leonissp. nov. isolated from rabbits, reclassification ofUruburuella suis, Uruburuella testudinis, Kingella potus, Bergeriella denitrificansandMorococcus cerebrosusintoNeisseriagenus and reclassification ofNeisseria shayeganiiintoEikenellagenus

Genome sequence-based identification of two strains (3986Tand 51.81) isolated from rabbits in France in 1972 and 1981 and deposited in the Collection of Institut Pasteur (CIP) has led to the description of a novel species in the genusNeisseria. The cells of both strains were non-motile, Gram-stain-negative and diplococcobacilli. Optimal growth on trypticase soy agar was recorded at 37°C and pH 8.5 in aerobic conditions. Phylogeny based on 16S rRNA gene placed the strains close toNeisseria bacilliformisATCC BAA-1200T(96.38%) nesting with the members of Neisseriaceae family. Furthermore, the phylogenetic analysis based onbac120gene set from the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB) placed both strains within the monophyleticNeisseriaclade, which also included type strains ofMorococcus cerebrosus, Bergeriella denitrificans,Kingella potus, Uruburuella suisandUruburuella testudinis. However,Neisseria shayeganiistrain 871Twas placed outsideNeisseriaclade and close to the members ofEikenellagenus. Strains 3986Tand 51.81 were placed in a branch distinct from all species of the genusNeisseriaand exhibited the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values below the species demarcation values. In contrast, ANI value within the two strains was 96.9% confirming that they represent same species. The genomic DNA G+C content of strain 3986Twas 56.92%. Based on the phylogenetic and phenotypic data, the strains 3986Tand 51.81 represent a novel species of the genusNeisseria, for which the nameNeisseria leonissp. nov. is proposed (type strain 3986T= CIP 109994T= LMG 32907T). Additionally, based on phylogenetic analysis, DUS dialect and average amino acid identity (AAI) values, we also proposed the reclassification ofMorococcus cerebrosus,Bergeriella denitrificans,Kingella potus, Uruburuella suisandUruburuella testudinisintoNeisseriagenus andNeisseria shayeganiiintoEikenellagenus.Author NotesThe GenBank accession numbers for the 16S rRNA gene sequence of strains 3986Tand 51.81 are respectively OQ121838.1 and OQ428162.1. The draft genome sequences have been deposited in GenBank under the accession numbers JAPQFK000000000 (strain 3986T) and JAPQFL000000000 (strain 51.81).Further explanations mentioned in the article as well as 7 supplementary tables and 7 supplementary figures are available with the online version of this article.