Gram positive, motile, spores found in soil, water, air and common
contaminants of bacteriological media.Two important pathogenic species are B.anthracis
and B.cereus. Genus Bacillus has numerous applications such as:
·
Filter paper strips impregnated with spores of B.
subtilis have been used to test the efficacy of hot air oven, and B.
staerothermophilus to test the autoclave and low-temperature
steam-formaldehyde sterilizer. B. globigi used to test EtO
sterilizer, B. pumilis to test the efficacy of ionising
radiation.
·
These produce antibiotics such as bacitracin,
polymyxin and gramicidin and act as biological controls in assays of folic
acid, aflatoxins and hexachlorophane.
·
B. thuringiensis has been widely used as an insecticide mainly for
pest control on food crops.
·
B. subtilis and other species have
provided a model for microbial genetics.
The
resistance of spores of Bacillus species to drying, UV, heat and
chemical disinfectants make these organisms troublesome contaminants of food
leading to a variety of food spoilage defect and pharmaceutical products. Their
absence from these products acts as a good indicator of cleanliness of the
product.
