Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Classification
Bacteria; Firmicutes; Bacilli; Bacillales; Bacillaceae; Bacillus
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens
Description and Significance
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a gram positive soil bacteria closely related to the species Baciullus subtilis. The two species share many homologous genes and appear so similar it is not possible to visually separate the two species. [1] This species is also the source of the commercially available restriction enzyme BamHI which cuts at the palindrome CGATCC. [2]
Structure, Metabolism, and Life Cycle
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens are gram positive rods with peritrichous flagella allowing motility. The cells often appear as long chains unlike many other Bacillus species that form as single cells. The optimal temperature for cellular growth is between 30 and 40 degrees Celsius. Similar to other Bacillus species, B. amyloliquefaciens forms endospores allowing survival for a long period of time. Endospores appear centrally in the cells which do not have a swollen appearance. [1]
Ecology and Pathogenesis
Bacillus amyloliquefaciens is a non-pathogenic soil bacterium. Similar to other Bacillus species, B. amyloquefaciens is capable of producing endospores allowing it to survive for extended periods of time. The species also shows some antifungal properties which are influenced by environmental nitrogen availability. [3]
References
[1] Priest, F., Goodfellow, M., Shute, L., and Berkeley, R. 1987. "Bacillus amyloliquefaciens sp. nom., nom. rev." International Journal of Sytematic Bacteriology. 37: 69-71. http://ijs.sgmjournals.org/content/37/1/69.full.pdf
[2] Roberts, R., Wilson, G., and Young, F. 1977. "Recognition sequence of specific endonuclease BamHI from Bacillus amyloliquefacienss H". Nature. 265: 82-84. http://www.nature.com/nature/journal/v265/n5589/abs/265082a0.html
[3] Caldeira A. et. al. 2007. "Environmental dynamics of Bacillus amyloquefaciens CCMI 1051 antifungal activity under different nitrogen patterns." Journal of Applied Microbiology. 104: 806-816. http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/j.1365-2672.2007.03601.x/abstract;jsessionid=0A5A7A16B5CD48BB1390526B984CCFC7.d03t01
Author
Page authored by Michael Muradian, student of Mandy Brosnahan, Instructor at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities, MICB 3301/3303: Biology of Microorganisms.
