Difference between revisions of "Bacillus species - Overview"
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The bacteria are large, motile, Gram positive rods that produce endospores. They are aerobes or facultative anaerobes and are catalase positive and oxidase negative. They grow on non-enriched media. | The bacteria are large, motile, Gram positive rods that produce endospores. They are aerobes or facultative anaerobes and are catalase positive and oxidase negative. They grow on non-enriched media. | ||
| − | ''[[Bacillus anthracis]]'' colonies are up to 5mm diameter, flat, dry and grey with a ground-glass appearance. Curled outgrowths from the edge of the colony give a 'medusa head' appearance. They are non-haemolytic and can be differentiated from ''[[Bacillus cereus]]''. | + | ''[[Bacillus anthracis]]'' colonies are up to 5mm diameter, flat, dry and grey with a ground-glass appearance. Curled outgrowths from the edge of the colony give a 'medusa head' appearance. They are non-haemolytic and can be differentiated from ''[[Bacillus cereus]]'' as ''B.cereus'' is a beta hemolytic bacterium. |
''[[Bacillus licheniformis]]'' forms dull, rough, wrinkled colonies, with hair-like outgrowths. | ''[[Bacillus licheniformis]]'' forms dull, rough, wrinkled colonies, with hair-like outgrowths. | ||
''Bacillus'' species can often tolerate adverse environmental conditions. | ''Bacillus'' species can often tolerate adverse environmental conditions. | ||
Revision as of 08:16, 23 July 2010
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This article is still under construction. |
Overview
Bacillus species are mostly non-pathogenic, environmental organisms.
Characteristics
The bacteria are large, motile, Gram positive rods that produce endospores. They are aerobes or facultative anaerobes and are catalase positive and oxidase negative. They grow on non-enriched media. Bacillus anthracis colonies are up to 5mm diameter, flat, dry and grey with a ground-glass appearance. Curled outgrowths from the edge of the colony give a 'medusa head' appearance. They are non-haemolytic and can be differentiated from Bacillus cereus as B.cereus is a beta hemolytic bacterium. Bacillus licheniformis forms dull, rough, wrinkled colonies, with hair-like outgrowths. Bacillus species can often tolerate adverse environmental conditions.