Open AccessCrystalliferous Bacillus cereus group bacteria from a M aryland hardwood forest are dominated by psychrotolerant strains
Author(s) -
Blackburn Michael B.,
Martin Phyllis A. W.,
Kuhar Daniel,
Farrar Robert R.,
GundersenRindal Dawn E.
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
microbiologyopen
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.881
H-Index - 36
ISSN - 2045-8827
DOI - 10.1002/mbo3.189
Subject(s) - bacillus cereus , phylogenetic tree , biology , cereus , hardwood , bacillus (shape) , bacteria , bacillus thuringiensis , botany , microbiology and biotechnology , genetics , gene
Abstract Crystal‐forming bacteria of the Bacillus cereus group were isolated from soil samples collected at different elevations within a mixed hardwood forest in central Maryland, and their phylogenetic relationships determined by multilocus sequence analysis. The vast majority of isolates obtained were associated with two phylogenetic groups known to be psychrotolerant, with very few isolates representing phylogenetic groups more typically associated with Bacillus thuringiensis . Isolates from the psychrotolerant groups were found to grow on solid media at 7°C. Isolates of 11 highly related, novel sequence types ( ST s) from the psychrotolerant group that includes Bacillus weihenstephanensis were generally found at higher elevations, and were not associated with soils near streams. Isolates of two related ST s from the second psychrotolerant group were nearly always found at the bottoms of ravines near streams, in areas abundant in earthworm castings.