|
''Bacillus'' is a genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped (bacillus) bacteria and a member of the phylum Firmicutes. ''Bacillus'' species can be obligate aerobes (oxygen reliant), or facultative anaerobes (having the ability to be aerobic or anaerobic). They will test positive for the enzyme catalase when there has been oxygen used or present. Ubiquitous in nature, ''Bacillus'' includes both free-living (nonparasitic) and parasitic pathogenic species. Under stressful environmental conditions, the bacteria can produce oval endospores that are not true 'spores', but to which the bacteria can reduce themselves and remain in a dormant state for very long periods. These characteristics originally defined the genus, but not all such species are closely related, and many have been moved to other genera of the Firmicutes. Many species of ''Bacillus'' can produce copious amounts of enzymes which are made use of in different industries. Some species can form intracellular inclusions of polyhydroxyalkanoates under certain adverse environmental conditions, as in a lack of elements such as phosphorus, nitrogen, or oxygen combined with an excessive supply of carbon sources. ''B.subtilis'' has proved a valuable model for research. Other species of ''Bacillus'' are important pathogens, causing anthrax and food poisoning. ==Industrial significance== Many ''Bacillus'' species are able to secrete large quantities of enzymes. ''Bacillus amyloliquefaciens'' is the source of a natural antibiotic protein barnase (a ribonuclease), alpha amylase used in starch hydrolysis, the protease subtilisin used with detergents, and the BamH1 restriction enzyme used in DNA research. A portion of the ''Bacillus thuringiensis'' genome was incorporated into corn (and cotton) crops. The resulting GMOs are therefore resistant to some insect pests. 抄文引用元・出典: フリー百科事典『 ウィキペディア（Wikipedia）』 ■ウィキペディアで「Bacillus」の詳細全文を読む スポンサード リンク
|