Phenotypic Characterization and Draft Genome Sequence Analyses of Two Novel Endospore-Forming spp. Isolated from Canada Goose () Feces.

In an attempt to isolate new probiotic bacteria, two Gram-variable, spore-forming, rod-shaped aerobic bacteria designated as strain A4 and A15 were isolated from the feces of Canada geese (). Strain A4 was able to grow in high salt levels and exhibited lipase activity, while A15 did not propagate under these conditions. Both were positive for starch hydrolysis, and they inhibited the growth of . The strains of the 16S rRNA sequence shared only 94% similarity to previously identified spp. The ANI (78.08%) and AAI (82.35%) between the two strains were less than the species threshold. Searches for the most similar genomes using the Mash/Minhash algorithm showed the nearest genome to strain A4 and A15 as sp. P13 (distance of 21%) and (distance of 17%), respectively. spp. strains A4 and A15 contain urease genes, and a fibronectin-binding protein gene indicates that these bacteria may bind to eukaryotic cells in host gastrointestinal tracts. Phenotypic and phylogenetic data, along with low dDDH, ANI, and AAI values for strains A4 and A15, indicate these bacteria are two novel isolates of the genus: sp. A4 sp. nov., type strain as and sp. A15 sp. nov., type strain .