title: Taxonomic revision of the genus Geobacillus: emendation of Geobacillus, G. stearothermophilus, G. jurassicus, G. toebii, G. thermodenitrificans and G. thermoglucosidans (nom. corrig., formerly 'thermoglucosidasius'); transfer of Bacillus thermantarcticus to the genus as G. thermantarcticus comb. nov.; proposal of Caldibacillus debilis gen. nov., comb. nov.; transfer of G. tepidamans to Anoxybacillus as A. tepidamans comb. nov.; and proposal of Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus sp. nov.
abstract: Sixty-two strains of thermophilic aerobic endospore-forming bacteria were subjected to polyphasic taxonomic study including 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, polar lipid and fatty acid analysis, phenotypic characterization, and DNA-DNA hybridization experiments. Distinct clusters of the species Geobacillus stearothermophilus, Geobacillus thermodenitrificans, Geobacillus toebii and Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius were formed, allowing their descriptions to be emended, and the distinctiveness of the poorly represented species Geobacillus jurassicus, Geobacillus subterraneus and Geobacillus caldoxylosilyticus was confirmed. It is proposed that the name Geobacillus thermoglucosidasius be corrected to Geobacillus thermoglucosidans nom. corrig. Bacillus thermantarcticus clustered between Geobacillus species on the basis of 16S rRNA gene sequence analysis, and its transfer to the genus Geobacillus as Geobacillus thermantarcticus comb. nov. (type strain LMG 23032(T)=DSM 9572(T)=strain M1(T)=R-35644(T)) is proposed. The above-mentioned species, together with Geobacillus thermoleovorans and Geobacillus thermocatenulatus, form a monophyletic cluster representing the genus Geobacillus. The distinctiveness of 'Geobacillus caldoproteolyticus' was confirmed and it is proposed that it be accommodated, along with Geobacillus tepidamans, in the genus Anoxybacillus as Anoxybacillus caldiproteolyticus sp. nov. (type strain DSM 15730(T)=ATCC BAA-818(T)=LMG 26209(T)=R-35652(T)) and Anoxybacillus tepidamans comb. nov. (type strain LMG 26208(T)=ATCC BAA-942(T)=DSM 16325(T)=R-35643(T)), respectively. The type strain of Geobacillus debilis was not closely related to any members of the genera Anoxybacillus and Geobacillus, and it is proposed that this species be placed in the new genus Caldibacillus as Caldibacillus debilis gen. nov. comb. nov. The type strain of the type species, Caldibacillus debilis, is LMG 23386(T) (=DSM 16016(T)=NCIMB 13995(T)=Tf(T)=R-35653(T)).
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.|Department of Applied Engineering Sciences, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Brewing, University College Ghent, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: An
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Coorevits
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK.
authors.forename: Anna E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Dinsdale
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK.
authors.forename: Gillian
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Halket
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Liesbeth
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lebbe
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: De Vos
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Microbiology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, K. L. Ledeganckstraat 35, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.|Department of Applied Engineering Sciences, Laboratory of Biochemistry and Brewing, University College Ghent, Valentin Vaerwyckweg 1, 9000 Ghent, Belgium.
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Van Landschoot
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK.
authors.forename: Niall A
authors.initials: NA
authors.lastname: Logan
mesh_terms: D000332:Aerobiosis; D056449:Bacillales / Q000145:classification* / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology; D015373:Bacterial Typing Techniques; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004269:DNA, Bacterial / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal / Q000737:chemistry / Q000235:genetics; D005227:Fatty Acids / Q000032:analysis; D008969:Molecular Sequence Data; D009693:Nucleic Acid Hybridization; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D010802:Phylogeny; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S / Q000235:genetics; D017422:Sequence Analysis, DNA; D013171:Spores, Bacterial / Q000166:cytology
chemical_list: D004269:DNA, Bacterial; D004275:DNA, Ribosomal; D005227:Fatty Acids; D010743:Phospholipids; D012336:RNA, Ribosomal, 16S