Reference Whole Genome Sequence Analyses and Characterization of a Novel Carnobacterium maltaromaticum Distinct Sequence Type Isolated from a North American Gray Wolf (Canis lupus) Gastrointestinal Tract

We hypothesize that bacteria isolated from free-ranging animals could potentially be useful for practical applications. To meet this objective a Gram-positive bacterium was isolated from the gastrointestinal (GI) tract of a Gray Wolf (<i>Canis lupus</i>) using Brucella broth with hemin and vitamin K (BBHK). By small ribosomal RNA (16S) gene sequencing the bacterium was initially identified as a novel <i>Carnobacterium maltaromaticum</i> strain. The bacterium could be propagated both anaerobically and aerobically and was both catalase/oxidase negative and negative by the starch hydrolysis as well as negative using lipase assays. The reference whole genome sequence (WGS) was obtained using both Illumina and Nanopore sequencing. The genome assembly was 3,512,202 bp in length, encoding core bacterial genes with a GC% content of 34.48. No lysogenic bacteriophage genes were detected, although the genome harbors genes for the expression of bacteriocin and other secondary metabolites with potential antimicrobial properties. Multilocus sequence typing (MLST), WGS phylogenetics, average nucleotide identity (ANI), and single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) analyses of the isolate's genome indicate this bacterium is a newly identified <i>Carnobacterium maltaromaticum</i> sequence type (ST). Members of the Carnobacteria have anti-<i>listeria</i> activities, highlighting their potential functional properties. Consequently, the isolate could be a potential probiotic for canids and this is the first report on an axenic <i>C. maltaromaticum</i> culture from the genus <i>Canis</i>.