title: Geobacillus lituanicus sp. nov.
abstract: Obligately thermophilic, aerobic, proteolytic, endospore-forming strain N-3(T) was isolated from a high-temperature oilfield in Lithuania. 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis placed this strain in genetic group 5 of the endospore formers. Geobacillus thermoleovorans appeared to be the closest phylogenetic neighbour (99.4 % sequence similarity). The G+C content of strain N-3(T) was 52.5 mol% and matched the range established for the genus Geobacillus. Studies of DNA-DNA relatedness and morphological and physiological analyses enabled strain N-3(T) to be described as a member of the genus Geobacillus, but could not assign this strain to any other known species of this genus. Results of this polyphasic study allowed characterization of strain N-3(T) as a novel species in the genus Geobacillus - Geobacillus lituanicus sp. nov. This species can be distinguished from G. thermoleovorans and Geobacillus stearothermophilus on the basis of 16S rRNA gene PCR-RFLP assays with the restriction endonucleases AluI, HaeIII and TaqI. The type strain of the novel species is N-3(T) (=DSM 15325(T)=VKM B-2294(T)).
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology, Vilnius University, Chiurlionio 21/27, Vilnius LT-03101, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Nomeda
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kuisiene
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology, Vilnius University, Chiurlionio 21/27, Vilnius LT-03101, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Juozas
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Raugalas
authors.affiliation: Department of Plant Physiology and Microbiology, Vilnius University, Chiurlionio 21/27, Vilnius LT-03101, Lithuania.
authors.forename: Donaldas
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chitavichius
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D001406:Bacillaceae / Q000145:classification* / Q000166:cytology / Q000302:isolation & purification* / Q000502:physiology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D001482:Base Composition; D016172:DNA Fingerprinting; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000302:isolation & purification; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific; D020459:Genes, rRNA; D006358:Hot Temperature; D008097:Lithuania; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D010802:Phylogeny; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012150:Polymorphism, Restriction Fragment Length; D011506:Proteins / Q000378:metabolism; D012329:RNA, Bacterial / Q000235:genetics; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D021521:Ribotyping; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D012988:Soil Microbiology; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D011506:Proteins; D012329:RNA, Bacterial; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S; C024669:endodeoxyribonuclease AluI; D015252:Deoxyribonucleases, Type II Site-Specific