| Summary: | Bacteria belonging to the genus <i>Aneurinibacillus</i> within the family <i>Paenibacillaceae</i> are Gram-positive, endospore-forming, and rod-shaped bacteria inhabiting diverse environments. Currently, there are eight validly described species of <i>Aneurinibacillus</i>; however, several unclassified species have also been reported. <i>Aneurinibacillus</i> spp. have shown the potential for producing secondary metabolites (SMs) and demonstrated diverse types of enzyme activities. These features make them promising candidates with industrial implications. At present, genomes of 9 unique species from the genus <i>Aneurinibacillus</i> are available, which can be utilized to decipher invaluable information on their biosynthetic potential as well as enzyme activities. In this work, we performed the comparative genome analyses of nine <i>Aneurinibacillus</i> species representing the first such comprehensive study of this genus at the genome level. We focused on discovering the biosynthetic, biodegradation, and heavy metal resistance potential of this under-investigated genus. The results indicate that the genomes of <i>Aneurinibacillus</i> contain SM-producing regions with diverse bioactivities, including antimicrobial and antiviral activities. Several carbohydrate-active enzymes (CAZymes) and genes involved in heavy metal resistance were also identified. Additionally, a broad range of enzyme classes were also identified in the <i>Aneurinibacillus</i> pan-genomes, making this group of bacteria potential candidates for future investigations with industrial applications.
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