Comparative Genomic Analysis of Brevibacillus brevis: Insights into Pan-Genome Diversity and Biocontrol Potential

The promising biocontrol agent <i>Brevibacillus brevis</i> is a broadly dispersed bacterium exhibiting significant antibacterial properties against plant diseases. This study conducted a comprehensive comparative genomic analysis of 25 <i>B. brevis</i> strains to examine their taxonomic classification, genetic diversity, and biocontrol potential. The genome sizes, excluding strain NEB573, varied from 5.95 to 6.73 Mb, with GC content between 47.0% and 47.5%. Notably, strain NEB573 exhibited distinct genomic characteristics based on Average Nucleotide Identity (ANI), digital DNA-DNA hybridisation (dDDH), and phylogenetic analyses, suggesting it may represent a novel <i>Brevibacillus</i> species pending additional phenotypic confirmation. The remaining 24 strains were grouped into six phylogenetic clades. The pan-genome study demonstrated significant genomic flexibility, demonstrating an open architecture with 2855 core gene families (33.08%) and 1699 distinct genes. Functional annotations indicated that unique genes were enriched in tasks related to DNA repair and environmental adaptation, while core genes predominantly participated in amino acid metabolism and transcription. The examination of biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) identified multiple antimicrobial compounds, such as gramicidin and tyrocidine, which have been reported to exhibit both antibacterial and antifungal activities, thereby underscoring the broad-spectrum biocontrol potential of <i>B. brevis</i>. These findings endorse the application of biocontrol in sustainable plant disease management and offer novel perspectives on its genetic basis in <i>B. brevis</i>. Future investigations of its metabolic repertoire may unveil novel agro-biotechnological applications.