Margalitia

rdf:langString Margalitia

rdf:langString Margalitia (Gupta et al. 2020)

rdf:langString *M. camelliae *M. shackletonii (Information based on LPSN 2021)

rdf:langString Species

rdf:langString Margalitia is a genus of Gram-Positive or Gram-variable rod-shaped bacteria in the family Bacillaceae from the order Bacillales. The type species of this genus is Margalitia shackletonii. Members of Margalitia are previously species belonging to Bacillus, a genus that has been recognized as displaying extensive polyphyly and phylogenetic heterogeneity due to the vague criteria (such as the ability to form endospores in the presence of oxygen) previously used to assign species to this clade. Multiple studies using comparative phylogenetic analyses have been published in an attempt to clarify the evolutionary relationships between Bacillus species, resulting in the establishment of numerous novel genera such as Alkalihalobacillus, Brevibacillus, Solibacillus, Alicyclobacillus, Virgibacillus and Evansella. In addition, the genus Bacillus has been restricted to only include species closely related to Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus. The name Margalitia was named to celebrate Professor Joel Margalit (1933-2011, Ben-Gurion University, Israel), and his discovery of the insecticide action of Bacillus thuringiensis var. israelensis, used for controlling mosquitoes and black flies.