Genome Sequence and Characterisation of Peribacillus sp. Strain AS_2, a Bacterial Endophyte Isolated from Alectra sessiliflora

Abstract

Peribacillus sp. AS_2, a leaf endophytic bacterium isolated from the medicinal plant Alectra sessiliflora, was previously identified using the 16S rRNA gene sequence. The draft genome of AS_2 had a 5,482,853 bp draft circular chromosome, 43 contigs, N50 of 360,633 bp and an average G + C% content of 40.5%. Whole genome sequencing and phenotypic analysis showed that AS_2 was Gram-positive, endospore-forming, motile, and rod-shaped and it showed a high sequence similarity with P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801T. Genomic digital DNA–DNA hybridisation (dDDH) between strain AS_2 and Peribacillus frigoritolerans DSM 8801T and P. castrilensis N3T was 84.8% and 79.2%, respectively, and the average nucleotide identity (ANI) of strain AS_2 with P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801T and P. castrilensis N3T was 97.0% and 96.7%, respectively. The antiSMASH software predicted a total of eight secondary metabolite gene clusters comprising non-ribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) type koranimine, terpenes, and siderophore clusters. Strain AS_2 also displayed genes involved in endophytic lifestyle and antibiotic resistance gene clusters such as small multidrug resistance antibiotic efflux pumps (qacJs). Using the multilocus sequence analysis (MLSA), together with the phenotypic data and genomic analysis, we demonstrated that strain AS_2 is a subspecies of P. frigoritolerans DSM 8801T. Genome sequencing of Peribacillus sp. AS_2 from medicinal plants provides valuable genomic information and allows us to further explore its biotechnological applications.