Transfer of Bacillus schlegelii to a novel genus and proposal of Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii gen. nov., comb. nov.

Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences of species currently assigned to the genus Bacillus has shown an extensive intrageneric phylogenetic heterogeneity. The 16S rRNA gene sequence of Bacillus schlegelii ATCC 43741T shows only 82.2–85.9 % sequence similarity to type strains of other members of the genus Bacillus and <88.5 % sequence similarity to recognised species of the most closely related genera, Calditerricola (88.4–88.5 %), Planifilum (87.3–87.8 %) and Caldalkalibacillus (87.2−87.9 %). Furthermore, B. schlegelii ATCC 43741T could not be assigned to an existing family by phylogenetic analysis. The predominant menaquinone was MK-7. The major polar lipids were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, one unidentified phospholipid and two unidentified glycolipids. The major fatty acids were iso-C16 : 0, C16 : 0, iso-C17 : 0 and anteiso-C17 : 0. Both the polar lipid profile and the fatty acid composition clearly distinguished B. schlegelii DSM 2000T from the type species of the genus Bacillus , Bacillus subtilis . Hence, there is no evidence for a clear phenotypic grouping of this organism into the genus Bacillus nor to the genera Calditerricola , Caldalkalibacillus or Planifilum . A proposal is made to transfer Bacillus schlegelii to a novel genus and species, Hydrogenibacillus schlegelii gen. nov., comb. nov., and to emend the species description. The type strain of the type species is DSM 2000T ( = ATCC 43741T = CCUG 26017T = CIP 106933T).

Novel linear and branched polyamines in the extremely thermophilic eubacteria Thermoleophilum, Bacillus and Hydrogenobacter

Novel tertiary branched tetra-amines, quaternary branched penta-amines, linear penta-amines and linear hexa-amines were distributed as the major polyamines in six obligately extremely thermophilic eubacteria belonging to Thermoleophilum, Bacillus or Hydrogenobacter. The major polyamine of Thermoleophilum album and Thermoleophilum minutum was identified as a quaternary branched penta-amine, 4,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,8-diamino-4-azaoctane (NH2[CH2]3N+([CH2]3NH2)2[CH2]4NH2) by h.p.l.c., t.l.c. and g.c.-m.s. Hydrogenobacter thermophilus and Hydrogenobacter halophilus contained another quaternary branched penta-amine, 4,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane (NH2[CH2]3N([CH2]3NH2)2[CH2]3NH2) as the major polyamine, and tertiary branched tetra-amines (4-(3-aminopropyl)-1,7-diamino-4-azaheptane (NH2[CH2]3N([CH2]3NH2)[CH2]3NH2), 4-(3-aminopropyl)-1,8-diamino-4-azaoctane (NH2[CH2]3N([CH2]3NH2)[CH2]4NH2)) and 4,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,8-diamino-4-azaoctane were confirmed as minor components. Bacillus schlegelii contained a branched tetra-amine, 4-(3-aminopropyl)-1,8-diamino-4-azaoctane, a branched penta-amine, 4,4-bis(3-aminopropyl)-1,8-diamino-4-azaoctane, a linear penta-amine, 1,16-diamino-4,8,13-triazahexadecane (NH2[CH2]3NH[CH2]3NH[CH2]4NH[CH2]3NH2) and linear hexa-amine(s), 1,20-diamino-4,8,12,17-tetra-azaeicosane (NH2[CH2]3NH[CH2]3NH[CH2]3NH[CH2]4NH[CH2]3NH2) and/or 1,20-diamino-4,8,13,17-tetra-azaeicosane (NH2[CH2]3NH[CH2]3NH[CH2]4NH[CH2]3NH[CH2]3NH2).