Alkalihalobacillus

Alkalihalobacillus 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 Alkalihalobacillus alcalophilus.

This genus comprises species formerly belonging to the genus 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 and Virgibacillus. The genus Bacillus is now restricted to species closely related to Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus cereus.

The name Alkalihalobacillus is composed of the prefix "alkali-" (from the Arabic article and noun al galiy, which translates to 'the ashes of saltwort'), the prefix "halo-" (from the Greek noun hals/halos, meaning salt) and suffixed by "-bacillus" (from the Latin noun bacillus, referring to 'a small staff or rod' and Bacillus, a bacterial genus). Together, the name refers to bacillus living in salty or alkaline conditions, or salty and alkaline conditions.