A Gram-staining-positive, endospore-forming, aerobic strain, designed WN066T, was isolated from saline-alkali wetland soil of Tianjin, China. Phylogenetic analysis based on 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated WN066T was a member of the genus of Bacillus, and most closely related to Bacillus drentensis DSM 15600T (98.9%), Bacillus cucumis CCM 8651T (98.8%), Bacillus bataviensis DSM 15601T (98.7%) and Bacillus niacini DSM 2923T (98.7%). However, the average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (DDH) values between strain WN066T and the most closely related species were less than the previously proposed cutoff values for differentiating species within the genus, suggesting that this strain represented a novel Bacillus species. The strain grew at 19-42 °C (optimally 33-37 °C) in the presence of 3-20% (w/v) NaCl (optimally 8-12%(w/v)), and at pH 6.5-11.0 (optimally 7.5-8.5). The major cellular fatty acids were iso-C15:0 (24.8%) and anteiso-C15:0 (38.9%). The predominant polar lipids consisted of diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG) and phosphatidylethanolamine (PE). The size of the draft genome was 6,213,503 bp in size and had a G + C content of 38.6 mol %. The peptidoglycan contained meso-diaminopimelic acid as the diagnostic diamino acid. On basis of phenotypic, phylogenetic, chemotaxonomic and genomic features, strain WN066T represented a novel species within the genus Bacillus, for which the name B. salipaludis sp. nov. is proposed. The type strain is WN066T (= KCTC 33953T = ACCC 60085T).
Keywords: 16S rRNA gene sequence; Bacillus salipaludis; Saline–alkaline soil.