Deoxyribonucleic Acid Relatedness of Bacillus circulans Jordan 1890 Strains

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Abstract
DNA reassociation measurements revealed that 50 of 111 B. circulans Jordan 1890 strains examined could be separated into 10 groups of genetically related organisms. The results of DNA relatedness studies and phenotypic comparisons suggested that 5 of these groups were previously undescribed species and that 4 others probably represented previously, but inadequately, described species. The tenth group, which included the type strain, represented the species B. circulans sensu stricto. The data show that B. circulans and B. macerans Schardinger 1905 are genetically and phenotypically distinct species. The phenotypic heterogeneity of the species B. circulans sensu lato is not due to inherent variability of genetically related strains, but rather is due to inclusion of genetically unrelated organisms in this taxon.