Brachybacterium netajii sp. nov.: A halotolerant bacterium capable of p-Nitrophenol degradation, isolated from the Ganges river, West Bengal, India

Brachybacterium netajii strain DNPG3 was isolated in 2018 from the Ganges River in West Bengal, India. The Gram-positive, halotolerant, and heavy metal tolerant bacterium, demonstrated the capability to biodegrade p-nitrophenol (PNP) catabolically. Analysis of 16S rRNA gene sequence indicated that Brachybacterium zhongshanense strain JBT was the closest relative of DNPG3, sharing 97.08% sequence similarity. Genome-based ANI value calculated using the EzBioCloud server revealed that B. zhongshanense JCM 15471 was the closest genomic relative (85.49%). These values were further substantiated by digital DNA–DNA hybridization (dDDH) estimates calculated using the GGDC server. Comprehensive biochemical, physiological, chemotaxonomic, and phylogenetic analyses supported the assignment of strain DNPG3 to the genus Brachybacterium while clearly distinguishing it from all currently described species within the genus. Accordingly, strain DNPG3 was proposed to represent a novel species, for which the name Brachybacterium netajii sp. nov. is suggested. The type strain was DNPG3T (= MTCC13125T).