Bacillus species

A large aerobic, gram-positive, gram-variable, or rarely gram-negative bacillus that produces endospores. Colonies appearing on agar medium may be smooth, wrinkled, mucoid, or may have hair-like outgrowths from the edge. They are ubiquitous in nature being found in soil, dust, water, plants, humans and animals. The majority of species are nonpathogenic or opportunistic pathogens for humans. Exceptions are Bacillus anthracis, the cause of anthrax, and Bacillus cereus as an agent of food poisoning. Several species are plant and insect pathogens

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