Bacillus | |
---|---|
Bacillus subtilis, Gram stained | |
Scientific classification | |
Domain: | |
Division: | |
Class: | |
Order: | |
Family: | Bacillaceae
|
Genus: | Bacillus Cohn, 1872
|
Bacillus is a genus of rod shaped bacteria. They are Gram-positive, meaning they have an extra outside cell layer.
Bacilli are partly or wholly aerobic. They do aerobic respiration. They are every where in nature. Bacillus includes both free-living (non-parasitic) and parasitic pathogenic species.[1]
Under stressful conditions, they produce endospores. These are not true spores, but like survival pods they can stay in a dormant state for long periods.
Some species of Bacillus are worth noting: