A system is described for the rapid and accurate identification of Bacillus isolates using a matrix of results from tests in the API 20E and API 50CHB strips and from supplementary tests. API System tests have been shown to be more reproducible than the classical tests. A taxonomy based upon API tests is in good agreement with those obtained by other methods. The results matrix can also be used in computer assisted identification.

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Reclassification of Paenibacillus (formerly Bacillus) pulvifaciens (Nakamura 1984) Ash et al. 1994, a Later Subjective Synonym of Paenibacillus (formerly Bacillus) larvae (White 1906) Ash et al. 1994, as a Subspecies of P. larvae, with Emended Descriptions of P. larvae as P. larvae subsp. larvae and P. larvae subsp. pulvifaciens

The name "Bacillus amyloliquefaciens" Fukomato 1943 was not included on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names and has not been validly published since 1 January 1980; hence, it has lost standing in bacterial nomenclature. The taxon to which this name is applied is a distinct entity, and it can be distinguished from other named species of Bacillus. Consequently, the name Bacillus pmyloliquefaciens is revived for the same organism to which the name originally referred. The type strain of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is strain ATCC 23350.The name "Bacillus amyloliquefaciens" Fukomoto 1943 (3, 4) does not appear on the Approved Lists of Bacterial Names (15) and has not been validly published since 1 January 1980; thus, it has no standing in bacterial nomenclature. In accordance with Rules 24a and 28a of the International Code of Nomenclature of Bacteria (6) the name is hereby revived."Bacillus amyloliquefaciens" is responsible for much of the world production of a-amylase and protease. Its close affinity with Bacillus subtilis has long been recognized, and the organism has been given subspecies status as "B. subtilis subsp. amyloliquefuciens" (16) or has been included in B. subtilis as a variant that produces copious quantities of extracellular enzymes (5). Thus, "Bacillus amyloliquefaciens" is closely related to B. subtilis and the other two species which compose the B. subtilis group, Bacillus licheniformis and Bacillus pumilus. These organisms share many common properties, and few characteristics have been found by which they can be discriminated (5). Indeed, "B. amyloliquefaciens" is phenotypically so similar to B. subtilis that it is not possible to separate these organisms solely on the basis of classical tests (5,7,9,12), and it is for this reason that "B. umyloliquefaciens" was not included as a separate species on the Approved Lists (15). However, there is now a body of evidence that suggests that the name "B. amyloliquefuciens" should be revived. It has been shown that "B. amyloliquefaciens" and B. subtilis can be differentiated by using a number of techniques. Moreover, there is a need for this name in the enzyme industry to avoid confusion with B. subtilis, which differs metabolically and secretes different enzymes (10).Deoxyribonucleic acids (DNAs) from strains of "B. amyloliquefaciens' ' have consistently been found to share less than 25, 13, and 5% homology with DNAs from strains of B. subtilis, B. licheniformis, and B. pumilus, respectively, under optimal conditions (60 to 65°C) (9, 11, 13, 17; L. A. Shute, Ph.D. thesis, University of Bristol, Bristol, United Kingdom, 1986). Although there is no universally accepted level of DNA homology which delineates a bacterial species, most workers agree that strains within a species should share at least 50 to 60% homology. Thus, although "B. amyloliquefaciens" is related to B. subtilis on the basis of molecular genetic data, the level of DNA homology is not * Corresponding author. 69high enough for these two groups of organisms to be considered a single species...

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