Two Gram-positive, endospore-forming bacterial strains, CR-502^T and CR-14b, which produce surfactant molecules are described. Phenotypic tests and phylogenetic analyses showed these strains to be members of the genus Bacillus and related to the species Bacillus atrophaeus, Bacillus mojavensis, Bacillus subtilis, Bacillus vallismortis and Bacillus amyloliquefaciens, although they differ from these species in a number of phenotypic characteristics. DNA–DNA hybridization confirmed that they show less than 20 % hybridization with the above-mentioned species and therefore represent a novel species of Bacillus. The DNA G+C content is 46·4 mol% in strain CR-502^T and 46·1 mol% in strain CR-14b. The main fatty acids in strain CR-502^T are 15 : 0 anteiso (32·70 %), 15 : 0 iso (29·86 %) and 16 : 0 (13·41 %). The main quinone in strain CR-502^T is MK-7 (96·6 %). In the light of the polyphasic evidence gathered in this study, it is proposed that these strains be classified as a novel species of the genus Bacillus, with the name Bacillus velezensis sp. nov. The type strain (CR-502^T=CECT 5686^T=LMG 22478^T) was isolated from a brackish water sample taken from the river Vélez at Torredelmar in Málaga, southern Spain.

This work aims to explore the capacity of a Bacillus methylotrophicus (later heterotypic synonym of Bacillus velezensis) strain named XT1 CECT 8661 against the necrotrophic plant pathogen Botrytis cinerea and to identify the compounds responsible for its activity. Q_TOF electrospray mass spectrometry analysis allows us to detect several lipopeptides – surfactin, bacillomycin, and fengycin – in XT1 cultures. In vitro antibiosis studies demonstrated the efficiency of the lipopeptide fraction for the inhibition of fungal growth. In fact, microscopy studies (SEM/TEM) revealed, an alteration of the morphology of the phytopathogen in interaction with lipopeptides, with resistance structures appearing in the early stages of growth of the fungus. Our studies, carried out with tomatoes, grapes, and strawberries have demonstrated the efficiency of Bacillus XT1 CECT 8661 lipopeptides against B. cinerea infection and it capability to trigger the antioxidant activity in fruit. Overall, the results of this study highlight the potential of lipopeptides of this strain as an effective biological control agent against the colonisation of B. cinerea.

A formal proposal is made to rename the order Haloanaerobiales as Halanaerobiales, the family Haloanaerobiaceae as Halanaerobiaceae, the genera Haloanaerobium and Haloanaerobacter as Halanaerobium and Halanaerobacter, respectively, and to change the specific epithets of Halanaerobium acetoethylicum, Halanaerobacter lacunaris, Halocella cellulolytica and Halanaerobium chitinovorans to acetethylicum, lacunarum, cellulosilytica and chitinivorans, respectively. These changes are required in view of Rule 61, Appendix 9, of the Bacteriological Code.