Biotechnology and Bioinformatics (1+1)

6.4.3.1 Bacillus spp.

The genus Bacillus is Gram-positive rods that form a single endospore (spore) and represent a peculiar case among the bacteria used as probiotics.

The species B. subtilis, B. cereus, B. coagulans, B. clausii, B. megaterium and B. licheniformis, are used as probiotics.

Due to the physical and biological characteristics of the spore, these preparations (powders or spore suspensions in distilled water) are extremely resistant to the environment and have a prolonged shelf life. Also the cost of production of spores for aquaculture is low with respect to production of purified components. The option to use these organisms as probiotics is made even more feasible by the well-described systems including the specific plasmid s available for genetic engineering of B. subtilis. Bacillus spp. possess adhesion abilities, produce bacteriocins (antimicrobial peptide s) and provide immunostimulation and can be kept in the spore form and therefore stored indefinitely on the shelf.