VIRGIBACILLUS - A NEW GENUS TO ACCOMMODATE BACILLUS-PANTOTHENTICUS (PROOM AND KNIGHT 1950) - EMENDED DESCRIPTION OF VIRGIBACILLUS-PANTOTHENTICUS

Twelve strains named Bacillus pantothenticus, at least 29 Bacillus str ains representing 16 species belonging to rRNA groups 1 and 2, one Bac illus dipsosauri strain, and 38 strains of Amphibacillus, Aneurinibaci llus, Brevibacillus, Halobacillus. Paenibacillus, Sporosarcina and Mar inococcus, were characterized genotypically using amplified rDNA restr iction analysis (ARDRA), and phenotypically using routine diagnostic c haracters comprising 61 biochemical tests in the API System and 15 obs ervations of vegetative cell and sporangial morphology. The B. pantoth enticus strains were also characterized by fatty acid methyl ester ana lysis and SDS-PAGE of whole-cell proteins, ARDRA revealed that strains of B. pantothenticus formed a cluster quite separate from other speci es in rRNA group 1, supporting the recognition of the former as a sepa rate genus, for which the name Virgibacillus is proposed, The polyphas ic data also indicate the presence of an as yet undescribed new specie s within this genus, The species Virgibacillus pantothenticus and rela ted organisms comprising this new genus can be distinguished from memb ers of Bacillus rRNA group 1 (Bacillus sensu stricto), and from member s of Paenibacillus and other aerobic endospore-forming bacteria by rou tine phenotypic tests.