COMPARATIVE 16S RDNA SEQUENCE-ANALYSIS OF SOME ALKALIPHILIC BACILLI AND THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A 6TH RIBOSOMAL-RNA GROUP WITHIN THE GENUS BACILLUS

Comparative sequence analysis of the 16S rDNA of 14 alkaliphilic or alkalitolerant, Gram-positive, aerobic, endo-spore forming bacterial strains was performed. Bacillus alcalophilus DSM 485(T) and Bacillus cohnii DSM 6307(T) were included to represent the two validly described alkaliphiles assigned to the genus Bacillus. The majority of isolates (8 strains) clustered with B. alcalophilus DSM 485(T) forming a distinct phylogenetic group (rRNA group 6) within the radiation of the genus Bacillus and related taxa. Bacillus cohnii DSM 6307(T) and two of the isolates, DSM 8719 and DSM 8723, grouped with B. fastidiosus and B. megaterium and are allocated to rRNA group 1. The remaining two strains DSM 8720 and DSM 8721 show an equidistant relationship to both groups.