Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp. nov., a member of the Staphylococcus intermedius Group (SIG).

We here describe a novel species in the Staphylococcus intermedius Group (SIG) which is phenotypically similar to Staphylococcus pseudintermedius but is genomically distinct from it and other SIG members, with an average nucleotide identity of 90.2 % with its closest relative S. intermedius. The description of Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp. nov. is based on strain NW1T (=NCTC 13950T=DSM 105366T) isolated from a human skin infection in Cornwall, UK. Although pathogenic, NW1T carries no known virulence genes or mobilizable antibiotic resistance genes and further studies are required to assess the prevalence of this species in humans as well as its potential presence in companion animals.