Bacillus pumilus

Bacillus pumilus
Scientific classification
Kingdom: Bacteria
Phylum: Firmicutes
Class: Bacilli
Order: Bacillales
Family: Bacillaceae
Genus: Bacillus
Species: B. pumilus
Binomial name
Bacillus pumilus

Bacillus pumilus is a Gram-positive aerobic spore-forming bacillus commonly found in soil. [1]

B. pumilus spores - with the exception of mutant strain ATCC 7061 - generally show high resistance to environmental stresses including UV light exposure, dessication, and the presence of oxidizers such as hydrogen peroxide. [2] Strains of B. pumilus found at the NASA Jet Propulsion Laboratory were found to be particularly resistant to hydrogen peroxide. [3]

A strain of B. pumilus isolated from black tiger shrimp (Penaeus monodon) was found to have high salt tolerance and to inhibit the growth of marine pathogens including Vibrio alginolyticus when cultured together. [4]

Use in agriculture

Bacillus pumilus strain GB34 is used as an active ingredient in agricultural fungicides. Growth of the bacterium on plant roots prevents Rhizoctonia and Fusarium spores from germinating.[5]

See also

References

  1. ^ Priest FG (1993) Systematics and Ecology of Bacillus. In: Sonenshein AL, Hoch JA, Losick R, editors. Bacillus subtilis and Other Gram-Positive Bacteria: Biochemistry, Physiology, and Molecular Genetics. Washington, D.C.: ASM Press. pp. 3–16.
  2. ^ "Pathema - Bacillus". J. Craig Venter Institute. http://pathema.jcvi.org/cgi-bin/Bacillus/shared/GenomePage.cgi?org=gbat. 
  3. ^ Kempf, MJ; Chen, F, Kern, R, Venkateswaran, K (2005 Jun). "Recurrent isolation of hydrogen peroxide-resistant spores of Bacillus pumilus from a spacecraft assembly facility.". Astrobiology 5 (3): 391-405. PMID 15941382. 
  4. ^ Hill, J E; Baiano, J C F, Barnes, A C (1 December 2009). "Isolation of a novel strain of Bacillus pumilus from penaeid shrimp that is inhibitory against marine pathogens.". Journal of Fish Diseases 32 (12): 1007–1016. doi:10.1111/j.1365-2761.2009.01084.x. 
  5. ^ "Bacillus pumilus strain GB 34 (006493) Fact Sheet". United States Environmental Protection Agency. http://www.epa.gov/oppbppd1/biopesticides/ingredients/factsheets/factsheet_006493.htm.