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Taxonomic refinement of Bacillus thuringiensis
Nagham Shiekh Suliman1, Reza Talaei-Hassanloui1, Hamid Abachi1
1Department of Plant Protection, College of Agriculture, University of Tehran, Karaj, Iran.
Frontiers in Microbiology
|February 24, 2025
Summary
This study validated 885 bacterial strains labeled as Bacillus thuringiensis using whole genome sequencing. Results show 803 strains are authentic, while 82 were misidentified, highlighting the need for accurate taxonomic classification of biocontrol agents.
Area of Science:
- Microbiology
- Genomics
- Taxonomy
Background:
- Bacillus thuringiensis is a key biological control agent against agricultural pests.
- It belongs to the Bacillus cereus group, which includes human pathogens like Bacillus anthracis.
- Accurate identification of B. thuringiensis strains is crucial for public health and biosecurity.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the taxonomic authenticity of 885 bacterial strains labeled as B. thuringiensis in the NCBI GenBank database.
- To re-evaluate the classification of misidentified strains using whole genome sequencing data.
- To ensure the reliability of B. thuringiensis for agricultural applications.
Main Methods:
- Whole genome sequencing (WGS) was used to analyze 885 bacterial strains.
- DNA similarity indexes, including average nucleotide identity (ANI) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH), were calculated.
- Strains were compared against the type strain of B. thuringiensis (ATCC 10972T).
Main Results:
- 803 out of 885 strains were confirmed as authentic Bacillus thuringiensis.
- 82 strains were misidentified, showing dDDH and ANI values below established thresholds.
- 39 misidentified strains were reclassified into Bacillus anthracis, Bacillus toyonensis, and Bacillus mycoides; others were identified as new species or other known species.
Conclusions:
- This study provides a comprehensive taxonomic refinement of B. thuringiensis strains.
- Accurate taxonomic identification is essential for selecting authentic B. thuringiensis strains for effective biological control.
- The findings underscore the importance of genomic-based taxonomic investigations for biosecurity and agricultural safety.
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