Peptoniphilus rhinitidis sp. nov., isolated from specimens of chronic rhinosinusitis

• Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disorder of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus related to bacterial infection.
• Bacteria isolated from CRS patients were characterized.
• Taxonomical characterization suggests that these isolates represent a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus associated with CRS.

Chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) is an inflammatory disorder of the nasal cavity and paranasal sinus related to bacterial infection. A previous study suggested that a specific bacterial group may have an important role in the course of CRS. In this study, bacteria isolated from CRS patients were characterized. A total of 15 strains were identified as Gram-positive anaerobic cocci (GPAC), which were able to utilize peptone as a sole carbon source. Sequencing of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene revealed that the isolates were closely related to members of the genus Peptoniphilus (>97% similarity) within the Clostridiales Family XI. Incertae Sedis. Genotypic and phenotypic characterization suggests that these isolates represent a novel species of the genus Peptoniphilus associated with CRS. The type strain of Peptoniphilus rhinitidis is 1–13T (=KCTC 5985T = JCM 17448T).