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Bacillus licheniformis

Bacillus licheniformis

Bacillus licheniformis is a bacterium commonly found in the soil. It is found on bird feathers, especially chest and back plumage, and most often in ground-dwelling birds (like sparrows) and aquatic species (like ducks).

Morphology:
It is a gram-positive bacterium.
It is rod shaped (straight or slightly curved rods)
Size: 1.5-3.0 X 0.6-0.8 µm in diameter.
Motile by peritrichous flagella.
No capsule present.

Cultural characteristics:

Aerobic, facultatively anaerobic.
Colonial morphology is variable and may give a appearance of the mixed culture.
On agar media: Colonies become opaque with dull to rough surface, hair-like outgrowths (“licheniform”), attached strongly to agar.
On blood agar: Non-hemolytic.
Growth in 2-7% NaCl.
Temp. Requirement: Mesophilic (temperature optimum: +30°C) and may

Biochemical properties:

Citrate + Vogues-Proskauer + Oxidase variable. Ecology: • Bacillus licheniformis forms spores in soil. A pathway that leads to endospore formation is initiated when the bacterium is starved. • It is a mesophilic bacterium. Its optimal growth temperature is around 30 °C, though it can survive at much higher temperatures. • Growth in the presence of lysozyme variable. •

Bacillus subtilis and Bacillus pumilus bacteria are commonly known to cause food poisoning and food spoilage. Bacillus licheniformis also is known for contaminating dairy products. Food borne outbreaks usually involve cases of cooked meats and vegetables, raw milk, and industrially produced baby food contaminated with B. licheniformis.

Antibiotics produced: Bacitracin.

Genus Bacillus  
Bacillus anthracis
Bacillus cereus
Bacillus subtilis