BACILLUS

(genus Bacillus), any of a group of rod-shaped, gram-positive, aerobic or (under some conditions) anaerobic bacteria widely found in soil and water. The term bacillus in a general sense has been applied to all cylindrical or rodlike bacteria. The largest species are about 2 mm (micrometres; 1 mm = 10-6 m) across by 7 mm long and frequently occur in chains. Bacillus species form dormant spores (endospores) under adverse environmental conditions. These endospores may remain viable for long periods of time. Endospores are resistant to heat, chemicals, and sunlight and are widely distributed in nature, primarily in soil, from which they invade dust particles. Bacillus cereus sometimes causes spoilage in canned foods. B. subtilis, also widely disseminated, is a common contaminant of laboratory cultures (it plagued Louis Pasteur in many of his experiments) and is often found on human skin. Most strains of Bacillus are not pathogenic for humans and only infect them incidentally in their role as soil organisms; a notable exception is B. anthracis, which causes anthrax (q.v.) in humans and domestic animals. B. thuringiensis causes disease in insects; B. thuringiensis insecticides are harmless to vertebrates but effective against pests of agricultural products. Medically useful antibiotics are produced by B. subtilis (bacitracin) and B. polymyxa (polymyxin B).