Bacillaceae

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Bacillaceae
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria Division: Firmicutes Class: Bacilli Order: Bacillales Family: Bacillaceae Garrity et al. 2001
Genera
Alkalibacillus Amphibacillus Anoxybacillus Bacillus Caldalkalibacillus Cerasibacillus Exiguobacterium Filobacillus Geobacillus Gracilibacillus Halalkalibacillus Halobacillus Halolactibacillus Jeotgalibacillus Lentibacillus Lysinibacillus Marinibacillus Oceanobacillus Ornithinibacillus Paraliobacillus Paucisalibacillus Pelagibacillus Piscibacillus Pontibacillus Saccharococcus Salibacillus Salimicrobium Salinibacillus Salirhabdus Salsuginibacillus Tenuibacillus Terribacillus Thalassobacillus Ureibacillus Virgibacillus Vulcanibacillus

Bacillaceae is a family of Gram-positive, heterotrophic, rod-shaped bacteria that may produce endospores.^[1] Motile members of this family are characterized by peritrichous flagellae. Some Bacillaceae are aerobic, while others are facultative or strict anaerobes. Most are non-pathogenic, but Bacillus and Clostridium species are known to cause disease in humans.

[edit] Gram-variable cell wall

Some Bacillaceae, such as the genera Filobacillus, Lentibacillus and Halobacillus, stain Gram-negative or Gram-variable, but are known to have a Gram-positive cell wall.^[2]

[edit] Nomenclature

Genera within this family are sometimes colloquially identified as bacilli. However, this term is a misnomer because it does not distinguish between class Bacilli, order Bacillales, family Bacillaceae and genus Bacillus.

[edit] References