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.

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-1210 and NRRL B-41110) 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 35690) 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-1210, NRRL B-41110 and ATCC 35690 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-1210, NRRL B-41110 and ATCC 35690 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-1210 = DSM 9886 = ATCC 51666), Brevibacillus porteri sp. nov. (NRRL B-41110 = KACC 19693) and Brevibacillus schisleri sp. nov. (ATCC 35690 = LMG 17055).