Insights into Brevibacillus borstelensis AK1 through Whole Genome Sequencing: A Thermophilic Bacterium Isolated from a Hot Spring in Saudi Arabia

Abstract EN

Brevibacillus borstelensis AK1 is a thermophile which grows between the temperatures of 45°C and 70°C.

The present study is an extended genome report of B.

borstelensis AK1 along with the morphological characterization.

The strain is isolated from a hot spring in Saudi Arabia (southeast of the city Gazan).

It is observed that the strain AK1 is rod-shaped, motile, and strictly aerobic bacterium.

The whole genome sequence resulted in 29 contigs with a total length of 5,155,092 bp.

In total, 3,946 protein-coding genes and 139 RNA genes were identified.

Comparison with the previously submitted strains of B.

borstelensis strains illustrates that strain AK1 has a small genome size but high GC content.

The strain possesses putative genes for degradation of a wide range of substrates including polyethylene (plastic) and long-chain hydrocarbons.

These genomic features may be useful for future environmental/biotechnological applications.