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ARS Home » Midwest Area » Peoria, Illinois » National Center for Agricultural Utilization Research » Crop Bioprotection Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #352864
Research Project: Development of New Production Methodologies for Biocontrol Agents and Fastidious Microbes to Improve Plant Disease Management

Location: Crop Bioprotection Research

Title: Phylogenomic analysis of the Brevibacillus brevis clade: a proposal for three new Brevibacillus species, Brevibacillus fortis sp. nov., Brevibacillus porteri sp. nov. and Brevibacillus schisleri sp. nov.

Author
item Johnson, Eric
item Dunlap, Christopher

Submitted to: Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 1/17/2019
Publication Date: 1/29/2019
Citation: Johnson, E.T., Dunlap, C.A. 2019. Phylogenomic analysis of the Brevibacillus brevis clade: a proposal for three new Brevibacillus species, Brevibacillus fortis sp. nov., Brevibacillus porteri sp. nov. and Brevibacillus schisleri sp. nov.. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek. 112: 991-999. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-019-01232-4.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10482-019-01232-4

Interpretive Summary: We performed studies of the entire genetic material of several strains of bacteria that are publicly available from the ARS culture collection. This study describes 3 new species of bacteria, 2 of which secrete compounds that inhibit growth of a fungus pest of onions. Further research on these bacteria could lead to their development as an agricultural pest control product.

Technical Abstract: During a screen for antifungal activity of Brevibacillus strains in the Northern Regional Research Laboratory collection we identified two strains with strong activity. Subsequent genomic sequencing and phylogenomic analysis revealed that these strains (NRRL NRS-1210T and NRRL B-41110T) are likely novel species. To confirm their taxonomic placement, we conducted a 16S rRNA phylogenetic analysis and subsequently sequenced the genomes of 10 Brevibacillus type strains with a 16S homology'>'97%. Phylogenomic analysis of these type strains and of representative Brevibacillus strains deposited in GenBank also identified several novel clades that should be recognised as novel species. For one of these novel clades, we were able to obtain a publicly available isolate (ATCC 35690T) that could serve as a type strain. The three new species were subjected to a polyphasic characterisation to confirm their taxonomic status. Cells of strains NRRL NRS-1210T, NRRL B-41110T and ATCC 35690T are Gram-staining positive, motile and form tan colonies. All three strains are obligate aerobic mesophiles with a broad pH range for growth. The two most prominent fatty acids of the three strains were identified as iso-C15:0 and anteiso-C15:0. The DNA G+C contents of strains NRRL NRS-1210T, NRRL B-41110T and ATCC 35690T are 47.2 mol%, 47.1 mol% and 47.3 mol%, respectively. Based on these characteristics, three novel species are proposed: Brevibacillus fortis sp. nov. (NRRL NRS-1210T'='DSM 9886T'='ATCC 51666T), Brevibacillus porteri sp. nov. (NRRL B-41110T'='KACC 19693T) and Brevibacillus schisleri sp. nov. (ATCC 35690T'='LMG 17055T).