Comparative Genomic Analysis of Three Paenibacillus polymyxa Strains Isolated from Termitarium and Identification of Novel Biosynthetic Gene Clusters.

The emergence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) pathogens poses a significant global threat in healthcare settings, emphasizing the critical need for novel antibiotic discovery. Consequently, international efforts are continuously directed towards identifying new antibiotics from diverse microbial sources. We investigated the biosynthetic potential of three Paenibacillus polymyxa strains isolated from a termitarium, WGTm-28, WGTm-93, and WGTm-147. These strains exhibited a broad-spectrum of antimicrobial activity against clinical and plant pathogens. Whole-genome sequencing using the Illumina platform and subsequent annotation revealed 112 biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) responsible for synthesizing diverse secondary metabolites. Notably, BGCs encoding polymyxin, fusaricidin B, and tridecaptin were identified in all three strains. Anabaenopeptin NZ857/nostamide A was found in WGTm-28 and WGTm-93, while paenibacillin and paenilan were found only in WGTm-93. A BGC coding for rhizomideA/B/C was exclusively present in WGTm-147. BGCs encoding marthiapeptide A, aurantinin B/C/D, cerecidin, paenibacterin, paenicidin B, and calyculin A were identified with lower identity (from 28 to 60%) with previously reported organisms. Interestingly, 33 putative NRPS BGCs, hybrid clusters, and PKSs BGC were discovered with ≤ 25% or no identity to known antibiotics, suggesting the potential of synthesizing novel antimicrobial agents by these strains.