Isolation, Characterization and Whole-Genome Analysis of Paenibacillus andongensis sp.nov. from Korean Soil

The genus Paenibacillus contains a variety of biologically active compounds that have potential applications in a range of fields, including medicine, agriculture, and livestock, playing an important role in the health and economy of society. Our study focused on the bacterium SS4T (KCTC 43402T = GDMCC 1.3498T), which was characterized using a polyphasic taxonomic approach. This strain was analyzed using antiSMASH, BAGEL4, and PRISM to predict the secondary metabolites. Lassopeptide clusters were found using all three analysis methods, with the possibility of secretion. Additionally, PRISM found three biosynthetic gene clusters (BGC) and predicted the structure of the product. Genome analysis indicated that glucoamylase is present in SS4T. 16S rRNA sequence analysis showed that strain SS4T most closely resembled Paenibacillus marchantiophytorum DSM 29850T (98.22%), Paenibacillus nebraskensis JJ-59T (98.19%), and Paenibacillus aceris KCTC 13870T (98.08%). Analysis of the 16S rRNA gene sequences and Type Strain Genome Server (TYGS) analysis revealed that SS4T belongs to the genus Paenibacillus based on the results of the phylogenetic analysis. As a result of the matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS) results, SS4T was determined to belong to the genus Paenibacillus. Comparing P. marchantiophytorum DSM 29850T with average nucleotide identity (ANI 78.97%) and digital DNA-DNA hybridization (dDDH 23%) revealed values that were all less than the threshold for bacterial species differentiation. The results of this study suggest that strain SS4T can be classified as a Paenibacillus andongensis species and is a novel member of the genus Paenibacillus.