Description:
<jats:title>Abstract</jats:title><jats:p>Two bacterial strains, KH365_2<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> and KH569_7, were isolated from the cecum contents of wild-derived house mice. The strains were characterized as Gram-negative, rod-shaped, strictly anaerobic, and non-motile. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences revealed that both strains were most closely related to <jats:italic>Bacteroides uniformis</jats:italic> ATCC 8492<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>. Whole genome sequences of KH365_2<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> and KH569_7 strains have a DNA G + C content of 46.02% and 46.03% mol, respectively. Most morphological and biochemical characteristics did not differ between the newly isolated strains and classified <jats:italic>Bacteroides</jats:italic> strains. However, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and dDNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) values clearly distinguished the two strains from described members of the genus <jats:italic>Bacteroides</jats:italic>. Here, we present the phylogeny, morphology, and physiology of a novel species of the genus <jats:italic>Bacteroides</jats:italic> and propose the name <jats:italic>Bacteroides muris</jats:italic> sp. nov., with KH365_2<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> (DSM 114231<jats:sup>T</jats:sup> = CCUG 76277<jats:sup>T</jats:sup>) as type strain.</jats:p>