The genus Bacillus comprises a large number of phylogenetically unrelated bacteria species with a diverse range of biochemical characteristics.
[6] Comparative genomic analyses and phylogenetic studies have set out to clarify the complex taxonomic relationship of this genus, resulting in the transfer of many species into novel genera such as Virgibacillus, Solibacillus, Brevibacillus and Alteribacter.
[10][1] The name Ectobacillus is derived from its taxonomic position in relation to Bacillus.
[1] Analyses of genome sequences from Ectobacillus have identified five conserved signature indels (CSIs) that are exclusive for Ectobacillus species in the proteins 3-isopropylmalate dehydratase small subunit, bacillithiol biosynthesis deacetylase BshB1, aldo or keto reductase, MBL fold metallo-hydrolase, and CYTH domain-containing protein.
[1] This branching pattern could also be seen in the Genome Taxonomy Database (GTDB), further supporting this classification.