Bacillus gottheilii sp. nov., isolated from a pharmaceutical manufacturing site

Description of Cytobacillus Mangrovibacter sp. nov., and Cytobacillus Spartinae sp. nov., Isolated from Mangrove Sediment

Two Gram-stain-positive, aerobic, rod-shaped, and motile strains FJAT-53684 T and FJAT-54145 T were isolated from the mangrove sediment. They optimally grew at pH 8.0 and could tolerate NaCl up to 5% (w/v). The optimum temperature for growth of strains FJAT-53684 T and FJAT-54145 T were 35 and 40 ºC, respectively. The 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity between FJAT-53684 T and FJAT-54145 T was 97.1%. Both strains showed the highest 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity to the Cytobacillus species. Menaquinone-7 was the only respiratory quinone present in both strains. The major fatty acids (≥ 10%) in strain FJAT-53684 T were iso-C14:0, anteiso-C15:0, iso-C15:0, and iso-C19:0, while strain FJAT-54145 T consist of iso-C14:0, iso-C15:0, iso-C19:0, iso-C16:0, and C16:1 ω7c alcohol. The polar lipids present in both strains were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylethanolamine, unidentified lipid, unidentified phospholipid, and phosphatidylinositol. Their average nucleotide identity and digital DNA-DNA hybridization values were below the threshold values (95% and 70%, respectively) for species delineation. Based on the above results, strains FJAT-53684 T and FJAT-54145 T represent two novel species of the genus Cytobacillus, for which the names Cytobacillus mangrovibacter sp. nov., and Cytobacillus spartinae sp. nov., are proposed. The type strains are FJAT-53684 T (= JCM 35618 T = GDMCC 1.3071 T), and FJAT-54145 T (= JCM 35621 T = GDMCC 1.3079 T).

Isolation and identification of antifungal, antibacterial and nematocide agents from marine bacillus gottheilii MSB1

Pathogenic fungi employ numerous strategies to colonize plants, infect them, reduce crop yield and quality, and cause significant losses in agricultural production. The increasing use of chemical pesticides has led to various ecological and environmental issues, including the emergence of resistant weeds, soil compaction, and water pollution, all negatively impacting agricultural sustainability. Additionally, the extensive development of synthetic fungicides has adverse effects on animal and human health, prompting the exploration of alternative approaches and green strategies for phytopathogen control. Microorganisms living in sponges represent a promising source of novel bioactive secondary metabolites, potentially useful in developing new nematicidal and antimicrobial agents. This study focuses on extracting bioactive compounds from endosymbiotic bacteria associated with the marine sponge Hyrtios erect sp. (collected from NIOF Station, Hurghada, Red Sea, Egypt) using various organic solvents. Bacillus sp. was isolated and identified through 16 S rRNA gene sequencing. The biocidal activity of Bacillus gotheilii MSB1 extracts was screened against plant pathogenic bacteria, fungi, and nematodes. The n-butanol extract showed significant potential as a biological fungicide against Alternaria alternata and Fusarium oxysporum. Both n-hexane and ethyl acetate extracts exhibited negative impacts against the plant pathogenic bacteria Erwinia carotovora and Ralstonia solanacearum, whereas the n-butanol extract had a positive effect. Regarding nematicidal activity, ethyl acetate and n-butanol extracts demonstrated in-vitro activity against the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne incognita, which causes serious vegetable crop diseases, but the n-hexane extract showed no positive effects. The findings suggest that bioactive compounds from endosymbiotic bacteria associated with marine sponges, particularly B. gotheilii MSB1, hold significant potential as alternative biological control agents against plant pathogens. The n-butanol extract, in particular, displayed promising biocidal activities against various plant pathogenic fungi, bacteria, and nematodes. These results support further exploration and development of such bioactive compounds as sustainable, environmentally friendly alternatives to synthetic pesticides and fungicides in agricultural practices.

Metabacillus schmidteae sp. nov., Cultivated from Planarian Schmidtea mediterranea Microbiota

Taxonogenomics combines phenotypic assays and genomic analysis as a means of characterizing novel strains. We used this strategy to study Marseille-P9898T strain, an aerobic, motile, Gram-negative, spore-forming, and rod-shaped bacterium isolated from planarian Schmidtea mediterranea. Marseille-P9898T is catalase-positive and oxidase-negative. The major fatty acids detected are 12-methyl-tetradecanoic acid, 13-methyl-tetradecanoic acid, and hexadecanoic acid. Marseille-P9898T strain shared more than 98% sequence similarity with the Metabacillus niabensis strain 4T19T (98.99%), Metabacillus halosaccharovorans strain E33T (98.75%), Metabacillus malikii strain NCCP-662T (98.19%), and Metabacillus litoralis strain SW-211T (97.15%). Marseille-P9898 strain belongs to Metabacillus genus. Genomic analysis revealed the highest similarities with Ortho-ANI and dDDH, 85.76% with Metabacillus halosaccharovorans, and 34.20% with Bacillus acidicola, respectively. These results show that the Marseille-P9898T strain is a novel bacterial species from Metabacillus genus, for which we propose the name of Metabacillus schmidteae sp. nov. (Type strain Marseille-P9898T = CSUR P9898T = DSM 111480T).

A phylogenomic and comparative genomic framework for resolving the polyphyly of the genus Bacillus: Proposal for six new genera of Bacillus species, Peribacillus gen. nov., Cytobacillus gen. nov., Mesobacillus gen. nov., Neobacillus gen. nov., Metabacillus gen. nov. and Alkalihalobacillus gen. nov

The genus Bacillus, harbouring 293 species/subspecies, constitutes a phylogenetically incoherent group. In the absence of reliable means for grouping known Bacillus species into distinct clades, restricting the placement of new species into this genus has proven difficult. To clarify the evolutionary relationships among Bacillus species, 352 available genome sequences from the family Bacillaceae were used to perform comprehensive phylogenomic and comparative genomic analyses. Four phylogenetic trees were reconstructed based on multiple datasets of proteins including 1172 core Bacillaceae proteins, 87 proteins conserved within the phylum Firmicutes, GyrA-GyrB-RpoB-RpoC proteins, and UvrD-PolA proteins. All trees exhibited nearly identical branching of Bacillus species and consistently displayed six novel monophyletic clades encompassing 5-23 Bacillus species (denoted as the Simplex, Firmus, Jeotgali, Niacini, Fastidiosus and Alcalophilus clades), interspersed with other Bacillaceae species. Species from these clades also generally grouped together in 16S rRNA gene trees. In parallel, our comparative genomic analyses of Bacillus species led to the identification of 36 molecular markers comprising conserved signature indels in protein sequences that are specifically shared by the species from these six observed clades, thus reliably demarcating these clades based on multiple molecular synapomorphies. Based on the strong evidence from multiple lines of investigations supporting the existence of these six distinct 'Bacillus' clades, we propose the transfer of species from these clades into six novel Bacillaceae genera viz. Peribacillus gen. nov., Cytobacillus gen. nov., Mesobacillus gen. nov., Neobacillus gen. nov., Metabacillus gen. nov. and Alkalihalobacillus gen. nov. These results represent an important step towards clarifying the phylogeny/taxonomy of the genus Bacillus.

Aureibacillus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov., isolated from marine sediment

A Gram-staining-positive, strictly aerobic, spore-forming and rod-shaped motile bacterium with peritrichous flagellae, designated strain S1203T, was isolated from the sediment of the northern Okinawa Trough. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain S1203T formed a lineage within the family Bacillaceae that was distinct from the most closely related genera Bacillus, Bhargavaea, Planomicrobium and Virgibacillus with gene sequence similarities ranging from 86.2 to 93.76 %. Optimal growth occurred in the presence of 4-8 % (w/v) NaCl, at pH 7.0-8.0 and 25-32 °C. The cell-wall peptidoglycan was based on meso-diaminopimelic acid and unsaturated menaquinone with seven isoprene units (MK-7) as the predominant respiratory quinone. The major fatty acids (>10 % of total fatty acids) were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0 and C16 : 0.The major polar lipids were phosphatidylglycerol, diphosphatidylglycerol, an unidentified glycolipid and an unidentified phospholipid. The DNA G+C content of strain S1203T was 47.7 mol%. On the basis of polyphasic analysis, strainS1203T was considered to represent a novel species in a new genus of the family Bacillaceae, for which the name Aureibacillus halotolerans gen. nov., sp. nov. is proposed; the type strain of Aureibacillus halotolerans is S1203T ( = DSM 28697T = JCM 30067T = MCCC 1K00259T).

Bacillus solani sp. nov., isolated from rhizosphere soil of a potato field

A novel Gram-stain-positive, endospore-forming bacterium, designated strain FJAT-18043T, was isolated from a soil sample of a potato field in Xinjiang Autonomous Region, China. Cells were rods that were catalase-positive and motile by peritrichous flagella. The strain grew at 20–45 °C (optimum 35 °C), at pH 6.0–10.0 (optimum pH 9) and with 0–10 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %). Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequences indicated that strain FJAT-18043T belonged to the genus Bacillus and exhibited similarities of 97.7, 97.6, 97.2 and 97.2 % with Bacillus eiseniae A1-2T, Bacillus horneckiae DSM 23495T, Bacillus gottheilii WCC 4585T and Bacillus purgationiresistens DS22T, respectively. DNA–DNA relatedness between strain FJAT-18043T and B. eiseniae A1-2 T was lower than 70 % (36.1 %). The menaquinone was identified as MK-7 and the major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol and phosphatidylethanolamine. The major fatty acids detected were anteiso-C15 : 0, iso-C15 : 0, iso-C16 : 0, anteiso-C17 : 0, C16 : 0 and iso-C14 : 0. The DNA G+C content was 48.8 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties clearly indicated that isolate FJAT-18043T represents a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus solani sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-18043T ( = DSM 29501T = CCTCC AB 2014277T).

Role of fatty acids in Bacillus environmental adaptation

The large bacterial genus Bacillus is widely distributed in the environment and is able to colonize highly diverse niches. Some Bacillus species harbor pathogenic characteristics. The fatty acid (FA) composition is among the essential criteria used to define Bacillus species. Some elements of the FA pattern composition are common to Bacillus species, whereas others are specific and can be categorized in relation to the ecological niches of the species. Bacillus species are able to modify their FA patterns to adapt to a wide range of environmental changes, including changes in the growth medium, temperature, food processing conditions, and pH. Like many other Gram-positive bacteria, Bacillus strains display a well-defined FA synthesis II system that is equilibrated with a FA degradation pathway and regulated to efficiently respond to the needs of the cell. Like endogenous FAs, exogenous FAs may positively or negatively affect the survival of Bacillus vegetative cells and the spore germination ability in a given environment. Some of these exogenous FAs may provide a powerful strategy for preserving food against contamination by the Bacillus pathogenic strains responsible for foodborne illness.

Bacillus taiwanensis sp. nov., isolated from a soil sample from Taiwan

A Gram-stain-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming, aerobic bacterium (FJAT-14571T) was isolated from a soil sample in Taiwan. Strain FJAT-14571T grew at 20–40 °C (optimum 35 °C), pH 6–10 (optimum pH 8) and 0–2 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 0 %). Phylogenetic analyses based on 16S rRNA gene sequences showed that strain FJAT-14571T was a member of the genus Bacillus and was most closely related to Bacillus oceanisediminis DSM 24771T (96.2 %). DNA–DNA relatedness between strain FJAT-14571T and B. oceanisediminis DSM 24771T was low (32.0 % ± 0.88 %). The diagnostic diamino acid of the peptidoglycan of strain FJAT-14571T was meso-diaminopimelic acid and the predominant menaquinone was MK-7 (96.6 %). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15 : 0 (46.4 %), anteiso-C15 : 0 (7.6 %), iso-C17 : 0 (8.2 %) and iso-C16 : 0 (10.0 %) and the DNA G+C content was 40.8 mol%. Phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic properties clearly indicated that strain FJAT-14571T represents a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus taiwanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is FJAT-14571T ( = DSM 27845T = CGMCC1.1 2698T).

Bacillus dabaoshanensis sp. nov., a Cr(VI)-tolerant bacterium isolated from heavy-metal-contaminated soil

A Cr(VI)-tolerant, Gram-staining-positive, rod-shaped, endospore-forming and facultative anaerobic bacterium, designated as GSS04(T), was isolated from a heavy-metal-contaminated soil. Strain GSS04(T) was Cr(VI)-tolerant with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 600 mg l(-1) and was capable of reducing Cr(VI) under both aerobic and anaerobic conditions. Growth occurred with presence of 0-3 % (w/v) NaCl (optimum 1 %), at pH 5.5-10.0 (optimum pH 7.0) and 15-50 °C (optimum 30-37 °C). The main respiratory quinone was MK-7 and the major fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0 and iso-C15:0. The DNA G+C content was 41.1 mol%. The predominant polar lipid was diphosphatidylglycerol. Based on 16S rRNA gene sequence similarity, the closest phylogenetic relative was Bacillus shackletonii DSM 18868(T) (97.6 %). The DNA-DNA hybridization between GSS04(T) and its closest relatives revealed low relatedness (<70 %). The results of phenotypic, chemotaxonomic and genotypic analyses clearly indicated that strain GSS04(T) represents a novel species of the genus Bacillus, for which the name Bacillus dabaoshanensis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is GSS04(T) (=CCTCC AB 2013260(T) = KCTC 33191(T)).