Gibbsi

Gibbsi is a genus of bacteria in the family Bacillaceae. It was proposed in 2012 by Patel and Nguyen to classify several soil isolates from the Gibba Nature Reserve in northern California. The genus currently comprises two described species, Gibbsi terrae and Gibbsi littorae, though additional isolates are being characterized. Gibbsi strains are Gram-positive, facultatively anaerobic, rod-shaped cells that form endospores. They are typically mid-sized, with cells measuring about 0.5–0.8 μm in width and 2–5 μm in length. The temperature range for growth spans roughly 20–37°C, and the organisms tolerate moderate salinity. Genomic analyses show a genome size around 3.8–4.2 megabase pairs and a GC content near 42–44%.

In taxonomy, Gibbsi is placed within the family Bacillaceae and is distinguished from related genera by distinct 16S rRNA gene sequences and whole-genome comparisons, supporting its status as a separate lineage. The etymology honors microbiologist James Gibbs for his early work on soil microbial ecology.

Ecology and applications: Gibbsi strains have been isolated from forest soils and coastal sands. They participate in carbon cycling through heterotrophic metabolism, and some strains exhibit the capacity to degrade simple hydrocarbons, suggesting potential use in bioremediation. The genus is of interest for studies on soil microbiome diversity and the evolution of endospore formation.