Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp . nov . , a new member of the Staphylococcus intermedius Group 1 ( SIG ) 2 3

27 We here describe a novel species in the Staphylococcus intermedius group (SIG) which is 28 phenotypically similar to S. pseudintermedius but is genomically distinct from it and other SIG 29 members, with an Average Nucleotide Identity of 90.2% with closest relative S. intermedius. The 30 description of Staphylococcus cornubiensis sp. nov. is based on Type Strain NW1 (= NCTC 13950, 31 = DSM 105366 ) isolated from a human skin infection in Cornwall, UK. Although pathogenic, NW1 32 carries no known virulence genes or mobilizable antibiotic resistance genes and further studies are 33 required to assess the prevalence of this species in humans as well as its potential presence in companion 34