Paenibacillus mellifer sp. nov., isolated from gut of the honey bee Apis mellifera

An isolate, designated MBLB2552^T, was isolated from the gut of the honey bees (Apis mellifera L.) and identified as a member of the genus Paenibacillus based on the sequences of the 16S rRNA gene sequences. The most closely related species to strain MBLB2552^T were Paenibacillus timonensis 2301032 ^T, Paenibacillus barengoltzii NBRC 101215 ^T, and Paenibacillus macerans IAM 12467 ^T, with similarity values of 98.1, 97.21 and 97.0%, respectively, based on 16S rRNA gene sequences. The genome size and G + C content of MBLB2552^T were 5.2 Mb and 52.4%, respectively. The Ortho average nucleotide identity (OrthoANI) and in silico DNA-DNA hybridization (isDDH) values between strain MBLB2552^T and the type strains of the closest species were below the species delineation threshold. Comparative genomic analysis showed that most core POGs of strain MBLB2552^T and other related taxa were related to translation, ribosomal structure and biogenesis (J) and carbohydrate metabolism in the COG category and KEGG pathways, respectively. Strain MBLB2552^T was Gram stain-positive, spore-forming, rod-shaped, facultative anaerobic, motile, and grew at 20‒45 °C in 0‒2% (w/v) NaCl at pH 6.0‒9.0. The major polar lipids identified were diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylserine, unidentified polar lipids, and an unidentified glycolipid. We propose that strain MBLB2552^T represents the type strain of the genus Paenibacillus and its name Paenibacillus mellifer sp. nov. is proposed. The type of strain was MBLB2552^T (= JCM 35371 ^T = KCTC 43386 ^T).