<i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community

Three isolates of a novel, rapidly growing, non-pigmented <i>Mycobacterium</i> species were recovered from the water and runoff of a public fountain in a rural village in central Portugal, formerly used by the local population as a source of drinking water and not accessible to animals....

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Main Authors: Inês Cravo Roxo, Susana Alarico, Ana Fonseca, Daniela Machado, Ana Maranha, Igor Tiago, Raquel Duarte, Nuno Empadinhas
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Microorganisms
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1259
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author Inês Cravo Roxo
Susana Alarico
Ana Fonseca
Daniela Machado
Ana Maranha
Igor Tiago
Raquel Duarte
Nuno Empadinhas
author_facet Inês Cravo Roxo
Susana Alarico
Ana Fonseca
Daniela Machado
Ana Maranha
Igor Tiago
Raquel Duarte
Nuno Empadinhas
author_sort Inês Cravo Roxo
collection DOAJ
description Three isolates of a novel, rapidly growing, non-pigmented <i>Mycobacterium</i> species were recovered from the water and runoff of a public fountain in a rural village in central Portugal, formerly used by the local population as a source of drinking water and not accessible to animals. High-quality draft genome sequencing, in silico DNA–DNA hybridization, and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that isolates 21AC1<sup>T</sup>, 21AC14, and 21AC21 represent a previously undescribed species within the genus <i>Mycobacterium</i>, forming a distinct phylogenetic lineage closely related to <i>Mycobacterium wolinskyi</i>, <i>Mycobacterium goodii</i> and <i>Mycobacterium smegmatis</i>. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the type strain 21AC1<sup>T</sup> revealed a unique spectral profile. A comprehensive polyphasic characterization was performed, including chemotaxonomic analyses of fatty acid and mycolic acid composition, as well as an extensive biochemical characterization. Their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials was also assessed. The identification and characterization of novel nontuberculous mycobacteria species are of increasing environmental and clinical relevance, as infections by these opportunistic pathogens are on the rise globally. Based on our findings, we propose that isolates 21AC1<sup>T</sup>, 21AC14, and 21AC21 represent a novel species, for which we propose the name <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., with the type strain designated as 21AC1<sup>T</sup> (=BCCM/ITM 501212 = DSM 113570) and the additional two strains as 21AC14 (=BCCM/ITM 501447 = DSM 118402) and 21AC21 (=BCCM/ITM 501448 = DSM 118403).
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spelling doaj-art-22651f7c84ce4fd5a771bc0a69e5d6382025-08-20T03:16:34ZengMDPI AGMicroorganisms2076-26072025-05-01136125910.3390/microorganisms13061259<i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural CommunityInês Cravo Roxo0Susana Alarico1Ana Fonseca2Daniela Machado3Ana Maranha4Igor Tiago5Raquel Duarte6Nuno Empadinhas7CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, PortugalCNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, PortugalCNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, PortugalCHVNGE—Centro Hospitalar de Vila Nova de Gaia/Espinho, 4434-502 Vila Nova de Gaia, PortugalCNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, PortugalDepartment of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, PortugalEPIUnit ITR, Instituto de Saúde Pública, University of Porto, 4050-600 Porto, PortugalCNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504 Coimbra, PortugalThree isolates of a novel, rapidly growing, non-pigmented <i>Mycobacterium</i> species were recovered from the water and runoff of a public fountain in a rural village in central Portugal, formerly used by the local population as a source of drinking water and not accessible to animals. High-quality draft genome sequencing, in silico DNA–DNA hybridization, and phylogenetic analyses confirmed that isolates 21AC1<sup>T</sup>, 21AC14, and 21AC21 represent a previously undescribed species within the genus <i>Mycobacterium</i>, forming a distinct phylogenetic lineage closely related to <i>Mycobacterium wolinskyi</i>, <i>Mycobacterium goodii</i> and <i>Mycobacterium smegmatis</i>. MALDI-TOF MS analysis of the type strain 21AC1<sup>T</sup> revealed a unique spectral profile. A comprehensive polyphasic characterization was performed, including chemotaxonomic analyses of fatty acid and mycolic acid composition, as well as an extensive biochemical characterization. Their susceptibility to 12 antimicrobials was also assessed. The identification and characterization of novel nontuberculous mycobacteria species are of increasing environmental and clinical relevance, as infections by these opportunistic pathogens are on the rise globally. Based on our findings, we propose that isolates 21AC1<sup>T</sup>, 21AC14, and 21AC21 represent a novel species, for which we propose the name <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., with the type strain designated as 21AC1<sup>T</sup> (=BCCM/ITM 501212 = DSM 113570) and the additional two strains as 21AC14 (=BCCM/ITM 501447 = DSM 118402) and 21AC21 (=BCCM/ITM 501448 = DSM 118403).https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1259nontuberculous mycobacteriaspring waterfountainbiodiversitygenomicsphylogeny
spellingShingle Inês Cravo Roxo
Susana Alarico
Ana Fonseca
Daniela Machado
Ana Maranha
Igor Tiago
Raquel Duarte
Nuno Empadinhas
<i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community
Microorganisms
nontuberculous mycobacteria
spring water
fountain
biodiversity
genomics
phylogeny
title <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community
title_full <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community
title_fullStr <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community
title_full_unstemmed <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community
title_short <i>Mycobacterium appelbergii</i> sp. nov., a Novel Species Isolated from a Drinking Water Fountain in a Rural Community
title_sort i mycobacterium appelbergii i sp nov a novel species isolated from a drinking water fountain in a rural community
topic nontuberculous mycobacteria
spring water
fountain
biodiversity
genomics
phylogeny
url https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2607/13/6/1259
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