Bacillus subtilis

Bacillus subtilis, known also as the hay bacillus or grass bacillus, is a Gram-positive, catalase-positive bacterium, found in soil and the gastrointestinal tract of ruminants, humans, and marine sponges. Bacillus subtilis is motile and amylase-positive. It forms biofilms through the formation of extracellular polymeric matrix containing sugars and proteins. As a member of the genus Bacillus, B. subtilis is rod-shaped and can form a tough, protective endospore, allowing it to tolerate extreme environmental conditions. It historically has been classified as an obligate aerobe, though evidence exists that it is a facultative anaerobe. B. subtilis is considered the best-studied Gram-positive bacterium and a model organism to study bacterial chromosome replication and cell differentiation. It is one of the bacterial champions in secreted enzyme production and used on an industrial scale by biotechnology companies.