Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros

Abstract The genus Paenibacillus, known for its diverse sources, is a valuable reservoir of antimicrobial compounds, enzymes and other valuable chemicals, with applications in medicine, agriculture, and bioremediation. Despite this, Paenibacillus strains, particularly those isolated from unique envi...

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Main Authors: Xue Li, Shuyu Zuo, Ming Li, Qin Li, Lei Su
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Nature Portfolio 2025-07-01
Series:Scientific Reports
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06760-w
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author Xue Li
Shuyu Zuo
Ming Li
Qin Li
Lei Su
author_facet Xue Li
Shuyu Zuo
Ming Li
Qin Li
Lei Su
author_sort Xue Li
collection DOAJ
description Abstract The genus Paenibacillus, known for its diverse sources, is a valuable reservoir of antimicrobial compounds, enzymes and other valuable chemicals, with applications in medicine, agriculture, and bioremediation. Despite this, Paenibacillus strains, particularly those isolated from unique environments, remain underexplored, limiting our understanding of their potential, capabilities and taxonomic classifications. The gut microbiome of large herbivores, such as rhinoceroses, harbors underexplored microbial diversity with unique metabolic capabilities. In this study, a Gram-stain-negative, facultatively aerobic, motile, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, NGMCC 1.200843T (= CGMCC 1.64763T = JCM 37214T), was isolated from fresh rhinoceros feces and characterized its taxonomic status and metabolic potential. Phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed the isolate as a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, closely related to Paenibacillus lautus DSM 3035T (98.62% 16S rRNA gene similarity). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were below the threshold for species delineation. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, C16:0 and iso-C16:0 (> 10%) and the polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1–2) and one phosphatidyl choline (PC). The total DNA G + C content was 49.69 mol%. The isolate exhibited significant phosphate solubilization and starch hydrolysis activities in plate assays, suggesting a role in nutrient cycling within the rhinoceros gut. We propose the name Paenibacillus ilasis sp. nov. for this strain. These findings enhance our understanding of gut microbial diversity in herbivores and lay the foundation for future applications in agriculture or industry.
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spelling doaj-art-786ab88e18e64f3491b3c73eaa90bea92025-08-20T03:03:25ZengNature PortfolioScientific Reports2045-23222025-07-0115111410.1038/s41598-025-06760-wNovel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinocerosXue Li0Shuyu Zuo1Ming Li2Qin Li3Lei Su4NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource Center, International center for technology and innovation of animal model, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)NHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource Center, International center for technology and innovation of animal model, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Technology Support PlatformCollege of Biological Sciences, China Agricultural UniversityNHC Key Laboratory of Human Disease Comparative Medicine, National Human Diseases Animal Model Resource Center, International center for technology and innovation of animal model, Institute of Laboratory Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (CAMS) and Peking Union Medical College (PUMC)Abstract The genus Paenibacillus, known for its diverse sources, is a valuable reservoir of antimicrobial compounds, enzymes and other valuable chemicals, with applications in medicine, agriculture, and bioremediation. Despite this, Paenibacillus strains, particularly those isolated from unique environments, remain underexplored, limiting our understanding of their potential, capabilities and taxonomic classifications. The gut microbiome of large herbivores, such as rhinoceroses, harbors underexplored microbial diversity with unique metabolic capabilities. In this study, a Gram-stain-negative, facultatively aerobic, motile, spore-forming, rod-shaped bacterial strain, NGMCC 1.200843T (= CGMCC 1.64763T = JCM 37214T), was isolated from fresh rhinoceros feces and characterized its taxonomic status and metabolic potential. Phylogenetic, phenotypic, and chemotaxonomic analyses confirmed the isolate as a novel species within the genus Paenibacillus, closely related to Paenibacillus lautus DSM 3035T (98.62% 16S rRNA gene similarity). The average nucleotide identity (ANI) and the digital DNA–DNA hybridization values were below the threshold for species delineation. The major cellular fatty acids were anteiso-C15:0, C16:0 and iso-C16:0 (> 10%) and the polar lipid profile contained diphosphatidylglycerol (DPG), phosphatidylglycerol (PG), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), two unidentified phospholipids (PL1–2) and one phosphatidyl choline (PC). The total DNA G + C content was 49.69 mol%. The isolate exhibited significant phosphate solubilization and starch hydrolysis activities in plate assays, suggesting a role in nutrient cycling within the rhinoceros gut. We propose the name Paenibacillus ilasis sp. nov. for this strain. These findings enhance our understanding of gut microbial diversity in herbivores and lay the foundation for future applications in agriculture or industry.https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06760-wOrganophosphorus solubilizationSoluble starch hydrolysisPolyphasic taxonomyPaenibacillus ilasis sp. nov.
spellingShingle Xue Li
Shuyu Zuo
Ming Li
Qin Li
Lei Su
Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
Scientific Reports
Organophosphorus solubilization
Soluble starch hydrolysis
Polyphasic taxonomy
Paenibacillus ilasis sp. nov.
title Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
title_full Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
title_fullStr Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
title_full_unstemmed Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
title_short Novel gut bacteria species Paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
title_sort novel gut bacteria species paenibacillus ilasis with phosphorus degrading and soluble starch hydrolysis abilities isolated from fresh feces of rhinoceros
topic Organophosphorus solubilization
Soluble starch hydrolysis
Polyphasic taxonomy
Paenibacillus ilasis sp. nov.
url https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-06760-w
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