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[[File:Bacillus.jpg|right|thumb|250px|<small><center> Unidentified species of Bacillus grown on Blood agar. (Microrao
unknown date, Wikimedia commons)</center></small>]]
===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]]''.
''[[Bacillus licheniformis]]'' forms dull, rough, wrinkled colonies, with hair-like outgrowths.
''Bacillus'' species can often tolerate adverse environmental conditions.
[[Category:To_Do_-_AimeeHicks]][[Category:Bacillus_species]]