Reclassification of atypical Moraxella catarrhalis ATCC 23246 as Moraxella veridica sp. nov.

Whole-genome sequencing of cultures at the American Type Culture Collection (ATCC ® ) is ongoing, with reference-quality genome sequences for our microbial strains added to the ATCC ® Genome Portal on a quarterly basis. Following genome assembly, authentication and taxonomy verification are needed for taxonomic updates based on the circumscription of genomic metrics for a species. Moraxella sp. ATCC 23246 T was originally identified as an atypical Moraxella catarrhalis ; however, an analysis of the complete and closed genome of this strain indicates that it represents a novel species within the Moraxella genus. We propose the name of Moraxella veridica sp. nov. for this long-mischaracterized strain as whole-genome sequencing was used to uncover the truth of this strain’s identity. The type strain is ATCC 23246 T (=NCTC 4103 T ).