dbo:abstract
- Peribacillus is a genus of rod-shaped bacteria that exhibits Gram-positive or Gram-variable staining that belongs in the family Bacillaceae within the order Bacillales. The type species for this genus is Peribacillus simplex. Members of Peribacillus were originally part of the genus Bacillus, a large, phylogenetically complicated genus with unclear evolutionary relationships. The polyphyletic nature of the genus could be partially attributed to the vague criteria used to classify new species into this genus. To clarify the taxonomic relationships of Bacillus, multiple phylogenetic and comparative genomic analyses have been conducted, resulting in the transfer of many Bacillus species into novel genera such as Virgibacillus, Solibacillus, Brevibacillus and Ectobacillus. In addition, the genus was restricted to only include species closely related to Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus. The name Peribacillus is derived from its placement in phylogenetic trees. The prefix "peri-" comes from the Greek preposition peri, and translates to "about, around or nearby". Bacillus comes from the Latin noun bacillus, referring to both 'a small staff or rod' and Bacillus, the bacterial genus. Put together, the name Peribacillus refers to a genus around or nearby Bacillus. (en)