A single phylogenetic analysis of Bacillus thuringiensis strains and bacilli species inferred from 16S rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism is congruent with two independent phylogenetic analyses.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the congruence between two earlier independent phylogenetic studies on Bacillus thuringiensis strains and on Bacillus-related species and the single, all-encompassing, phylogenetic tree presented here inferred from the combination of the two earlier datasets.


RESULTS
A dendrogram was constructed using a combination of the data from our previous studies on 16S rRNA gene fingerprinting of 86 B. thuringiensis strains and of 77 species of Bacillus and related taxa. It revealed that all B. thuringiensis strains were clustered together in four distinct groups at a DNA similarity rate of 93%, except two serovars, bolivia and finitimus. Four bacilli species, Paenibacillus alvei, P. azotofixans, B. lentus and B. licheniformis, share a DNA similarity rate of 92% with Bt Group IV.


CONCLUSIONS
Most, but not all, B. thuringiensis strains could be grouped together based on the DNA similarity rate. They were also very close to some other bacilli species.


CONCLUSIONS
The combined phylogenetic study presented here, inferred from 16S rRNA gene restriction fragment length polymorphism, is congruent with two earlier independent phylogenetic studies, one on B. thuringiensis and the other on bacilli species.
Joung
K-B
KB
Research Centre, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, St-Jean-sur-Richelieu, Quebec, Canada.
Côté
J-C
JC
D001407:Bacillus / Q000145:classification / Q000235:genetics; D001413:Bacillus thuringiensis / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics; D004783:Environmental Microbiology; D010802:Phylogeny; D021521:Ribotyping