Proposal for Two New Genera, Brevibacillus gen. nov. and Aneurinibacillus gen. nov.

Abstract

16s rRNA gene sequences of the type strains of 11 species belonging to the Bacillus brevis and Bacillus aneurinolyticus groups were determined. On the basis of the results of gene sequence analyses, these species were separated into two clusters. The B. brevis cluster included 10 species, namely, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus agri, Bacillus centrosporus, Bacillus choshinensis, Bacillus parabrevis, Bacillus reuszeri, Bacillus formosus, Bacillus borstelensis, Bacillus luterosporus, and Bacillus thermoruber. Bacillus aneurinolyticus and Bacillus migulunus belonged to the B. aneurinolyticus cluster. Moreover, the two clusters were phylogenetically distinct from other Bacillus, Amphibacillus, Sporoluctobacillus, Paenibacillus, and Alicyclobacillus species. On the basis of our data, we propose reclassification of the B. brevis cluster as Brevibacillus gen. nov. and reclassification of the B. aneurinolyticus cluster as Aneurinibacillus gen. nov. By using 16s rRNA gene sequence alignments, two specific PCR amplification primers were designed for differentiating the two new genera from each other and from other aerobic, endospore-forming organisms.The aerobic, rod-shaped, endospore-forming genus Bacillus is a systematically diverse taxon (5). The members of this genus exhibit a wide range of DNA base compositions, and the major amino acid compositions of the cell walls of these organisms vary (6, 22, 32). Analyses of 16s rRNA gene sequences have identified at least eight phylogenetic groups in the genus Bacillus (2,3,7,20,(22)(23)(24)33,38). Two of these groups have been reclassified as new genera. One genus, the genus Alicyclobacil-.lus (38), consists of thermoaciduric species that contain rarely encountered cellular o-cyclic fatty acids. The other new genus, the genus Paenibacillus (3), was distinguished on the basis of the results of slot blot hybridization in which a specific probe was used.Recent taxonomic studies have shown that strains previously assigned to Bacillus brevis should be separated into nine species, namely, Bacillus brevis, Bacillus agri, Bacillus centrosporus, Bacillus choshinensis, Bacillus parabrevis, Bacillus reuszeri, Bacillus fonnosus, Bacillus borstelensis, and Bacillus migulanus (18,19, 28,29,34). A closely related species, Bacillus aneurinolyticus, has also been revived by Shida et al. (30). On the basis of the results of comparisons of their phenotypic characteristics, chemosystematic profiles, and conserved specific Slayer proteins, the 10 species mentioned above were separated into two groups (28-30, 34). One group, designated the Bacillus brevis group, included all of the species derived from Bacillus brevis except Bacillus miplanus. The other group, called the Bacillus aneurinolyticus group, included Bacillus aneurinolyticus and Bacillus migulanus. These groups corresponded closely to the groups generated by a numerical analysis of electrophoretic whole-cell protein patterns (31). Moreover, the results of phylogenetic studies demonstrated that Bacillus laterosporus and Bacillus thermoruber f...

Paenibacillus borealis sp. nov., a nitrogen-fixing species isolated from spruce forest humus in Finland.

“…The Paenibacillus-specific 16S rRNA gene PCR amplification was done using the forward primer PAEN515F (Shida et al, 1997) and the universal reverse primer 1377R as described by Shida et al (1996). The 16S rRNA gene was amplified and sequenced as described previously (Elo et al, 2000).…”

Transfer of Bacillus alginolyticus, Bacillus chondroitinus, Bacillus curdlanolyticus, Bacillus glucanolyticus, Bacillus kobensis, and Bacillus thiaminolyticus to the Genus Paenibacillus and Emended Description of the Genus Paenibacillus

“…16s rRNA gene sequence analyses have identified at least 10 phylogenetic groups in the genus Bacillus (2, 3, 7 , 23, 26, 31, 33, 34, 36). Five of the groups have been reclassified as the new genera Alicyclobacillus (36), Paenibacillus (2), Halobacillus (33), Brevibacillus ( 3 l), and Aneurinibacillus (31). The genus Paenibacillus as proposed by Ash et al (2) consists of the following 11 species: Paenibacillus pobmyxa, Paenibacillus alvei, Paenibacillus gordonae, Paenibacillus larvae, Paenibacillus pulvifaciens, Paenibacillus macerans, Paenibacillus azotojkans, Paenibacillus pabuli, Paenibacillus macquariensis, Paenibacillus amylolyticus, and Paenibacillus validus.…”

Identification of Thermophilic Bacterial Strains Producing Thermotolerant Hydrolytic Enzymes from Manure Compost

“…Investigation of 16S and 23S rRNA gene sequences has revealed a high heterogeneity in the genus Bacillus [7] and following extensive phylogenetic analysis, the genus has undergone major taxonomic revision leading to the establishment of new genera [8]. The genera, Geobacillus [9], Ureibacillus [10], and Aneurinibacillus [11] are outcome of this classification.…”