Correlation of 16S ribosomal DNA signature sequences with temperature-dependent growth rates of mesophilic and psychrotolerant strains of the Bacillus cereus group

Research was conducted to determine the proportion of mesophilic and psychrotolerant signatures of the intermediate strains of the Bacillus cereus group and to establish a correlation with growth at extreme temperatures. Results demonstrate that the B. cereus group strains contain between six to 10 copies of 16S rDNA. Findings also demonstrate that specific nucleotides within the 16S rRNA play an important role in psychrotolerance.