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Phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus subtilis and related taxa based on partial gyrA gene sequences

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Abstract

Partial gyrA sequences were determined for twelve strains belonging to Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, B. atrophaeus, B. licheniformis, B. mojavensis,B. subtilis subsp. subtilis, B. subtilissubsp. spizizenii and B. vallismortis. The average nucleotide and translated amino acid similarities for the seven type strains were 83.7 and 95.1%, respectively, whereas the corresponding value for the 16S rRNA sequences was 99.1%. All of the type strains were sharply separated; the closest relationship was found between B. atrophaeus and B. mojavensis which shared a nucleotide similarity of 95.8%. Phylogenetic trees were inferred from gyrA nucleotide sequences using the neighbor-joining, Fitch–Margoliash and maximum parsimony algorithms. The test strains were divided into four groups, which generally reflected results previously reported in restriction digest and DNA-DNA hybridization studies. It is concluded from the comparative sequence analysis that the gyrA sequences provide a firm framework for the rapid and accurate classification and identification of Bacillus subtilis and related taxa.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Korean Collection for Type Cultures, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Uon-Dong 52, Yusong-Gu, Taejon, 305–333, Republic of Korea

    Jongsik Chun

  2. Korean Collection for Type Cultures, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Uon-Dong 52, Yusong-Gu, Taejon, 305–333, Republic of Korea

    Kyung Sook Bae

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  1. Jongsik Chun
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  2. Kyung Sook Bae
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Correspondence to Jongsik Chun.

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Chun, J., Bae, K.S. Phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus subtilis and related taxa based on partial gyrA gene sequences. Antonie Van Leeuwenhoek 78, 123–127 (2000). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1026555830014

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