Re-identification of the halotolerant, biosurfactant-producing Bacillus licheniformis strain JF-2 as Bacillus mojavensis strain JF-2

Bacillus strain JF-2 (ATCC 39307) is a halotolerant, biosurfactant-producing bacterium that was initially described as a member of the species Bacillus licheniformis based on a limited set of phenotypic characteristics. Here, genetic and phenotypic analyses were employed to determine the relationship of Bacillus strain JF-2 to other Bacillus strains. The restriction patterns with AluI and analysis of gyrA and 16S rRNA gene sequences grouped Bacillus strain JF-2 with B. mojavensis^T and not with B. licheniformis^T. DNA–DNA similarity showed JF-2 was 75% similar to B. mojavensis^T and only 11% similar to B. licheniformis^T. Both strain JF-2 and B. mojavensis^T required DNA for anaerobic growth, but B. licheniformis^T did not. B. mojavensis^T and strain JF-2 did not grow anaerobically in thioglycollate medium or aerobically with propionate while B. licheniformis^T grew under these conditions. DNA–DNA similarity, gene sequence data and phenotypic characteristics all support the assignment of JF-2 as a member of the species B. mojavensis.