Paenibacillus wynnii sp. nov., a novel species harbouring the nifH gene, isolated from Alexander Island, Antarctica.

Soil taken from 12 different locations at Mars Oasis on Alexander Island, Antarctica, yielded unidentified isolates of endospore-forming bacteria. Soil from four of the locations contained Gram-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile rods that were able to grow at 4 degrees C and which formed ellipsoidal spores that lay paracentrally or subterminally in swollen or slightly swollen sporangia. All of the strains harboured the nitrogenase gene nifH. Phenotypic tests, amplified rDNA restriction analysis (ARDRA), fatty acid analysis and SDS-PAGE analysis suggested that the isolates represented a novel taxon of Paenibacillus. 16S rRNA gene sequence comparison supported the proposal of a novel species, Paenibacillus wynnii sp. nov. (type strain, LMG 22176(T)=CIP 108306(T)).