Whole Genome Sequencing-Based Taxonomic Identification of Dulcitol-Positive Cronobacter dublinensis subsp. beijingensis subsp. nov. and Cronobacter dublinensis subsp. infanticibi subsp. nov. from Infant Cereals in China.

Cronobacter, a Gram-negative opportunistic pathogen, poses a significant risk to neonates. The taxonomic position of strains CFSA2021A14T and CFSA2021A84T, isolated from cereal-based infant noodles in China, was investigated. Phenotypic and genotypic analyses identified both strains as novel subspecies of Cronobacter dublinensis, with dulcitol utilization attributed to the presence of the gatYZABCD gene cluster. Based on ANI analysis, the strains are proposed as Cronobacter dublinensis subsp. beijingensis subsp. nov. and Cronobacter dublinensis subsp. infanticibi subsp. nov. The type strain C. dublinensis subsp. beijingensis CFSA2021A14T (= CGMCC 1.61450T, = JCM 35886T) grew aerobically at 25-41 °C, with negative myo-inositol and amygdalin utilization. Strain CFSA2021A14T genome size was 4.71 Mbp with a G + C content of 57.2%. The type strain C. dublinensis subsp. infanticibi CFSA2021A84T (= CGMCC 1.61451T, = JCM 35887T) exhibited similar growth conditions to C. dublinensis subsp. beijingensis CFSA2021A14T, but showed positive myo-inositol and amygdalin utilization. Strain CFSA2021A84T genome size was 4.73 Mbp with a G + C content of 57.4%.